Live roaches & moldy sauce: The 10 worst Charlotte restaurant inspection scores this year
More than 2,800 restaurants were inspected in Mecklenburg County this year, and some received less-than-perfect scores.
Restaurants usually receive grades of “A,” “B” or “C,” with the latter being the worst. They also receive scores out of 100, which correlate with the letter grades. (According to state law, permits are immediately revoked if a restaurant receives a score of less than 70%.)
During inspections, the worst offenders were eateries with critical violations, including issues with food storage, live bugs and employee hygiene.
Here were the worst inspection scores of 2024.
Did any restaurants get a ‘C’ grade?
Of the thousands of inspections conducted in Mecklenburg County this year, only one restaurant earned a “C” grade, or a score of lower than 80%.
▪ American Deli (5700 University Pointe Blvd. in Charlotte) received a score of 78% during its Thursday, Aug. 22 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 15 standards, including improper food storage, dirty dishes stored as clean, food residue on shelves and raw chicken stored above bread in the freezer.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant scored 91% in August 2024, its most recent inspection.
What were the worst ‘B’ grades this year?
At least 120 restaurants in Mecklenburg County this year, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
Of those, there were a handful of restaurants that were a few points shy of “C” grades:
▪ Guate Linda (6016 The Plaza in Charlotte) received a score of 80% during its Tuesday, April 23 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 20 standards, including chicken sauces and mayonnaise, that were open and stored in dry storage, refried beans and salsa stored below required temperatures and torn gaskets on two coolers in kitchen.
Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant scored 98% in October 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ Skyland Family Restaurant (4544 South Blvd. in Charlotte) received a score of 81% during its Monday, Sept. 16 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 20 standards, including the presence of “flying pests” and food residue on kitchen equipment.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection
The restaurant scored 91.5% in October 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ Biryani Nation (14027 Conlan Cir. in Charlotte) received a score of 81.5% during its Tuesday, Oct. 1 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 19 standards, including the presence of cockroaches and food residue on kitchen equipment.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection
The restaurant scored 90.5% in November 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ Little Caesars (228 Eastway Dr. in Charlotte) received a score of 82.5% during its Monday, March 4 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards, including finding “cheese sauce with mold on it,” improper food storage, employees preparing food with watches on and shelves and racks with large amounts of dust and debris buildup.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant scored 96% in September 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ Big View Diner (16637 Lancaster Hwy. in Charlotte) received a score of 82.5% during its Thursday, Aug 29 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 18 standards, including employees working on prep line without head coverings and a can opener blade soiled with black buildup.
Most violations were corrected during the inspection
The restaurant scored 95.5% in September 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ Popeyes (6107 The Plaza in Charlotte) received a score of 83% during its Tuesday, April 16 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards, including a “dead bug” in a women’s bathroom and near a walk-in cooler, employee drinks on prep tables and food debris in storage areas.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant scored 97.5% in November 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ Subway (6133 South Blvd. in Charlotte) received a score of 83% during its Tuesday, Oct. 1 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 19 standards, including the presence of flies and food stored on the floor.
Some violations were corrected during the inspection
The restaurant previously scored 95.5% in March 2024.
▪ Pho University (8932 J.M. Keynes Dr. in Charlotte) received a score of 83% during its Tuesday, Nov. 2 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards, including the employees making food without head coverings and food stored on the floor.
Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant scored 98.5% in November 2024, its most recent inspection.
▪ 7th Street NY Deli (401 Hawthorne Ln. in Charlotte) received a score of 83% during its Monday, Nov. 18 inspection.
The restaurant was in violation of 12 standards, including finding dirty dishes and food stored on the floor.
Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
The restaurant scored 98.5% in November 2024, its most recent inspection.
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.
You can search all restaurant inspections in Mecklenburg County at public.cdpehs.com.
