Live roach in Charlotte restaurant meat slicer: Sanitation scores (Aug. 29)
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Joy’s Biryani N Kababs scored 89% after inspectors found multiple violations.
- Infractions included live insects, missing date labels and unsanitary storage.
- Restaurant later improved to 97.5% during a follow-up inspection on Aug. 27.
A Charlotte-area restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of insects and kitchen equipment in disrepair.
Joy’s Biryani N Kababs (212 N. Polk St. in Pineville) received an 89% score during an inspection on Friday, Aug. 22.
Inspectors cited the restaurant after they found “multiple live flies” in the kitchen and a live roach in the pull out tray of a meat slicer, county documents show.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
- No paper towels at handwashing sink
- Cooked chicken, milk, cream and paneer without date marks
- Can of residential bug killer in kitchen
- Numerous pans stacked wet
- Prep sink in need of resealing
- Handwashing sink pulling away from wall
- Employee wallet stored on shelf above prep unit
This is the restaurant’s first “B” grade. The restaurant was reinspected on Aug. 27 and received a 97.5% score.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 171 restaurant inspections were completed Aug. 22-28.
▪ 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%.
▪ El Cilantro (4709 Margaret Wallace Rd. in Matthews) a score of 87% during an inspection on Friday, Aug. 22.
- The restaurant violated 18 standards, including food debris on dishes and a dumpster missing a lid.
- Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 93.5% in May.
▪ Soma Bistro Curry N Cake (2015 E. Arbors Dr. in Charlotte) received a score of 86% during an inspection on Friday, Aug. 22.
- The restaurant violated 18 standards, including food debris on kitchen surfaces and several bowls of chicken thawing at room temperature.
- Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 96% in June.
- Note: This restaurant is now called “SOMA Bistro and Cafe” according to its website.
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.
