Cockroach found in a Charlotte restaurant’s container of food: Sanitation scores (Nov. 15)
An uptown Charlotte restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of bugs inside food.
▪ Masti Indian Restaurant and Bar, 128 Brevard Ct. in Charlotte, received a score of 86% during its Thursday, Nov. 14 inspection.
The restaurant was cited after inspectors found “multiple cockroaches of various sizes and small gnats” and “multiple deceased pests” in the basement, county documents show. A small cockroach was also found in a container of rice.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
No soap at handwashing stations
Raw chicken stored above tilapia in freezer
Pizza boxes stored on the floor in the basement
Cardboard boxes used as floor mats
Gaskets of prep unit in need of cleaning
Non-functional ice machine
This is the restaurant’s first “B” grade.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 124 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 8-14.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Three restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
▪ Irie Nation Restaurant (3501 S. Tryon St. in Charlotte) received a score of 86% during an inspection on Thursday, Nov. 14.
The restaurant was in violation of 11 standards, including leaking water onto stoves and general cleaning needed throughout the facility.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 91% in July 2024.
▪ Vitality Bowls (1414 S. Tryon St. in Charlotte) received a score of 85.5% during an inspection on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards, including employees wearing jewelry while preparing food and small flies near sandwich cooler.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant previously scored 92% in May 2024.
How to search NC restaurant inspection scores
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 News & Observer previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated.
According to state law, permits are immediately revoked if a restaurant receives a score of less than 70%.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Mecklenburg County at public.cdpehs.com.
