Charlotte-area restaurant marked down for hair nets & handwashing issues: Scores (Jan. 3)
A Charlotte-area restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including improper food preparation procedures and food storage.
▪ IHOP (9253 E. Independence Blvd. in Matthews) received a score of 86% during its Tuesday, Dec. 31 inspection.
The restaurant was cited after inspectors observed employees preparing food without hair nets. Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
Incorrect handwashing procedure by staff
Employee slicing banana with bare hands
Strawberries being washed in hand sink
Unwashed produce stored above ready to eat produce and pancake batter
Sausage in hot holding below required temperature
Bulk ice machine and steam table at server station inoperable
Several tiles throughout kitchen missing grout
This is the restaurant’s first “B” grade.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 136 restaurant inspections were completed Dec. 27-Jan. 2
IHOP was the only restaurant that did not receive an “A” grade.
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.
