8 Triangle restaurants earn ‘B’ grades for critical violations: Sanitation scores (Nov. 19)
The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots.
Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses.
You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated.
Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties for the week of Nov. 12-18.
Wake County sanitation scores
The Wake County inspection management system shows that 122 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 12-18.
Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
Four restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
Chanello’s Pizza Garner (3608 Benson Rd. in Garner) received a score of 88.5% during an inspection on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
The restaurant was in violation of 16 standards. Of these, seven were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included a container of meatballs dated for Friday, Nov. 1 and diced tomatoes dated for Thursday, Oct. 17 found in the prep coolers along with food residue on multiple pizza baking trays that were stored as clean.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 91% in April.
Mezeh (1286 W Williams St. in Apex) received a score of 85% during an inspection on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The restaurant was in violation of 14 standards. Of these, six were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included multiple foods held cold above necessary temperature in the glass display cooler, along with black lentils and falafel colder than necessary temperature.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 92% in July.
Olive Tree Market (270 Nottingham Dr. in Cary) received a score of 89.5% during an inspection on Friday, Nov. 14.
The restaurant was in violation of seven standards. Of these, six were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included chicken, lamb and rice in the hot display held 55 degrees below necessary temperature and the sausage stuffer, deli slicer and chicken rack found with food residues after being used the day prior.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 91.5% in August.
Torero’s Mexican Restaurant (4721 Atlantic Ave #101 in Raleigh) received a score of 86% during an inspection on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The restaurant was in violation of 12 standards. Of these, eight were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included an employee seen washing gloves in the sink instead of throwing away for a new pair, and several lids, plastic containers and knives with food debris stored as clean.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 94% in March.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Wake County at bit.ly/4dGbJN3.
Durham County sanitation scores
The Durham County inspection management system shows 37 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 12-18.
Most restaurants received an A grade.
Three restaurants received a B grade.
Kickback Jack’s (918 W Club Blvd. in Durham) received a score of 84% during an inspection on Monday, Nov. 18.
The restaurant was in violation of 20 standards. Of these, 10 were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included raw chicken above beef in walk-in cooler and above cooked chicken in the reach-in, plus pans, orange juice, can opener and cutting boards found soiled.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 97% in July.
Pure Vegan Cafe (2812 Erwin Rd #104 in Durham) received a score of 82% during an inspection on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
The restaurant was in violation of 16 standards. Of these, seven were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included multiple food items in the freezer and coolers stored with no lids, and there were plates and equipment stored on the clean dish rack with food debris on them.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 91.5% in April.
Randy’s Pizza (2121 TW Alexander Dr. in Morrisville) received a score of 86% during an inspection on Thursday, Nov. 14.
The restaurant was in violation of 19 standards. Of these, eight were considered critical violations.
Critical violations included a dirty can opener, strainer and slicer with “visible build-up and debris” stored as clean, plus multiple employees touching personal items without washing hands before preparing food.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 94.5% in June.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Durham County at bit.ly/3pVQfpG.
Orange County sanitation scores
The Orange County inspection management system shows that 21 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 12-18.
All restaurants received an A grade.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Orange County at bit.ly/3eQqpxc.
Johnston County sanitation scores
The Johnston County inspection management system shows that 15 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 12-18.
All restaurants received an A grade.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Johnston County at bit.ly/4eEDuGr.
Chatham County sanitation scores
The Chatham County inspections management system shows that seven restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 12-18.
Most restaurants received an A grade.
One restaurant received a B grade.
San Felipe Mexican Restaurant (102 Walmart Supercenter in Siler City) received a score of 87.5% during an inspection on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards. Of these, five were considered critical violations.
One critical violation included finding raw ground beef stored above steak fajita mix in the walk-in cooler.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 92% in July.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Chatham County at bit.ly/3JfiHwq.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 12:33 PM with the headline "8 Triangle restaurants earn ‘B’ grades for critical violations: Sanitation scores (Nov. 19)."
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