North Charlotte Restaurant Faces Health Inspection Challenges
Charlotte, NC – In a recent health inspection, Chicken Box Cafe, located at 1331 W. Sugar Creek Rd. E., received a less than stellar score of 86.5%, marking it with a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department. This inspection, conducted on Wednesday, October 23, raised concerns among food safety advocates and local diners alike, especially as the cafe has now recorded its fourth B grade since March 2017.
During the inspection, several critical health violations were noted. Inspectors reported finding multiple flies buzzing within the kitchen, which is never a good sign when it comes to food preparation areas. Furthermore, there were issues like employees preparing food without washing their hands, leftover sticker residue on supposedly clean containers, and broccoli casserole not kept at the proper hot holding temperature. In addition to that, chitterlings were found thawing at above the required temperature, and food residue clung stubbornly to fryers, steam wells, and shelving.
Other Local Restaurants on the Radar
While Chicken Box Cafe is certainly grabbing attention for its health inspection woes, it wasn’t the only restaurant facing scrutiny during this inspection period. Across Mecklenburg County, it was reported that at least 199 inspections were conducted between October 18 and 24, with most places earning commendable grades.
Panzú Brewery, located at 7251 Matthews Mint Hill Rd. in Mint Hill, also found itself in a similar situation during an inspection on the same day as Chicken Box Cafe. Scoring 88.5%, Panzú Brewery faced violations for the presence of a “large flying insect” and food stored below required temperatures. Thankfully, many of the violations were promptly corrected, which is always a good sign.
Another participant in the ‘B’ grade club is Stoners Pizza Joint at 210 E. Trade St. in Charlotte. This establishment was inspected on Friday, October 18 and scored 85%, facing a total of 14 violations. Some of these included flies around the trash bins and an employee preparing food without wearing a beard guard, which is just as important as washing hands!
Fly Issues Abound
Moving on to Taqueria Los Altos at 8625 Monroe Rd., which scored an 86.5% during inspections conducted on Tuesday, October 22, fifteen violations were tagged including food being stored on the floor and concerning black buildup found in the ice machine. Most of these violations were corrected on the spot.
Lastly, Mama’s Caribbean Grill, located at 1504 Central Ave. and inspected on October 24, finished with a score of 87%. This restaurant had 13 violations, including an unsettling number of flies and food residue that needed immediate attention on kitchen surfaces. Again, many issues were rectified during the inspection.
Grading System Explained
For food lovers in Charlotte, the sanitation scores and corresponding letter grades are crucial in understanding how local eateries maintain hygienic conditions. These systems play a vital role in ensuring that restaurants adhere to health codes designed to reduce the spread of food-borne illnesses. If you’ve ever looked at the sanitation grade cards posted in restaurants, you know they’re important for keeping everyone safe and healthy!
It’s worth noting that North Carolina law mandates that if a restaurant receives a score under 70%, their permit is immediately revoked. So the stakes are high for food establishments striving to earn and maintain good grades.
Curious to keep an eye on local restaurant inspections? You can search through the extensive database at Mecklenburg County for any updates!
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