Durham restaurant earns ‘C’ for mouse droppings, ants crawling on produce

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 from June 23-29.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County inspection management system shows 133 restaurant inspections were completed June 23-29. Two restaurants received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%):

The Curry Club (3281 Avent Ferry Road, Suite 117, Raleigh) received a score of 86.5% on Monday, June 29.

• The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards.
• Violations include several gallon-sized containers of uncovered sauce and broth stored on the floor, walls in the kitchen area are “filthy with food splatter” and kitchen staff entering kitchen without washing their hands, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in November 2025.

Jade Garden (1207 Hillsborough St., Raleigh) received a score of 81% on Monday, June 29.

• The restaurant was in violation of 16 standards.
• Violations include staff restroom handwashing sink with no paper towels, raw eggs stored about cooked chicken in the walk-in cooler and dates missing on all perishable food, among others.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in February 2026.

Durham County sanitation scores

The Durham County inspection management system shows 52 restaurant inspections were completed June 23-29. Three restaurants received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%) and one restaurant received a C grade (a score of at least 70% but lower than 80%):

Jamaica Jamaica (4853 NC Highway 55, Durham) received a score of 74% on Monday, June 29.

• The restaurant was in violation of 28 standards.
• Violations include “numerous mouse droppings throughout the facility,” empanadas stored in a reach-in fridge at nearly 80 degrees, uncovered food in coolers and “an abundance of ants crawling on several produce items,” among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored a B grade in January 2026.

Bralie’s Sports Bar & Grill (1725 Carpenter Fletcher Road, Durham) received a score of 84% on Tuesday, June 23.

• The restaurant was in violation of 18 standards.
• Violations include "little to no handwashing” by employees during the inspection, shredded cheese with a March 4 date and other food that wasn’t dated in the kitchen and a “deep cleaning needed throughout the kitchen,” among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in February 2026.

Gym Taco 5 (102 City Hall Plaza, Durham) received a score of 86.5% on Monday, June 29.

• The restaurant was in violation of 18 standards.
• Violations include cooked chicken, cooked steak and raw shrimp held at improper cold temperatures, a salsa bar without approved sneeze guard and a few metal pans stored as clean with food debris, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in November 2025.

The Federal (914 W. Main St., Durham) received a score of 88% on Wednesday, June 24.

• The restaurant was in violation of 14 standards.
• Violations include cream cheese stored at room temperature, raw pork stored above cooked chicken in a cooler and dishes stored in the handwashing sink, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in November 2025.

Orange County sanitation scores

The Orange County inspection management system shows seven restaurant inspections were completed June 23-29. All received an A grade.

Johnston County sanitation scores

The Johnston County inspection management system shows 11 restaurant inspections were completed June 23-29. One restaurant received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%):

Seven Food Mart (11585 NC Highway 42, Middlesex) received a score of 89% on Tuesday, June 23.

• The restaurant was in violation of 11 standards.
• Violations include "lots of flies” in the facility, no sanitizer mixed and available to use, raw eggs stored over bacon in the walk-in cooler and no paper towels at the hand sink, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in February 2026.

Chatham County sanitation scores

The Chatham County inspection management system shows eight restaurant inspections were completed June 23-29. All received an A grade.

This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Durham restaurant earns ‘C’ for mouse droppings, ants crawling on produce."

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

919-829-4807

Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.