Check out this week’s Triangle restaurant sanitation scores (Dec. 15)
We’re launching this week a weekly round-up of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle 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 foodborne illnesses.
You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The News & Observer recently explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated.
Here’s what we found in Wake, Durham and Orange counties for the week of Dec. 8 to Dec. 15.
Wake County sanitation scores
Wake County’s sanitation grades database shows 100 restaurant inspections that took place between Dec. 8 and Dec. 15.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Two restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but less than 90%.
Hyderabad House Biryani Place (3735 Davis Drive #105 in Morrisville) received a score of 89% — a B grade.
- The restaurant was in violation of 14 state standards, with point deductions ranging from zero to 1.5 points.
- Violations included having no paper towels available in the main kitchen hand sink, having food uncovered in the reach-in freezer, having chicken stored on top of ready-to-eat food and having two food items at improper cooling temperatures after preparation.
- The restaurant had two repeat violations: one for having an unlabeled spray bottle of an unknown chemical, and another for having a prep unit leaking water at bottom of the cooler shelf and onto the floor.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection, the inspection report shows.
- The restaurant previously scored an 88.5% in May, but scored a 97% upon re-inspection in June.
Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant (2549 S. Saunders Street in Raleigh) received a score of 83% — also a B grade.
- The restaurant was in violation of 29 state standards, with point deductions ranging from zero to two points.
- Violations included multiple dead and trapped cockroaches being found on the wall above a kitchen hand sink, not having a properly functioning food thermometer available, having multiple dented cans in dry food storage and the food in the reach-in cooler not being cooled to the proper temperature.
- The restaurant had one repeat violation: tile damage was present on the floor and wall at the entrance to the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer, with pooling water also present. The state standards require physical facilities in restaurants be maintained in good repair. The inspector noted that the restaurant should repair these areas so they are smooth and cleanable.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection, the inspection report shows.
The restaurant previously scored a 93% in July, a 97.5% in May and a 93% in February.
▪ No restaurants in Wake County received a C grade, or a score of at least 70% but less than 80%.
▪ No restaurants received a failing grade, or a score below 70%.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Wake County by using the county’s inspection grades database.
Durham County sanitation scores
The Durham County inspection management system shows 32 restaurant inspections have been completed since last Wednesday, Dec. 8.
▪ All 32 restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Durham County using the county’s inspections database.
Orange County sanitation scores
The Orange County inspection management system shows 21 restaurants have been inspected over the past week.
▪ All 21 restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Four restaurants received a score of 100%:
- Coronato Pizza (101 Two Hills Road, #140 in Carrboro). Records show the restaurant has received a 100% on every inspection since September 2019.
- Il Palio at The Siena Hotel (1505 E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill)
- Neal’s Deli (100 E. Main Street, Suite C in Carrboro)
- UNC Corner Cafe (101 Manning Drive in Chapel Hill)
You can search all restaurant inspections in Orange County using the county’s inspections database.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Check out this week’s Triangle restaurant sanitation scores (Dec. 15)."
