Charlotte restaurant earns ‘C’ for insects & expired food: Scores (Oct. 10)
A west Charlotte restaurant received a “C” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of insects and repeatedly keeping expired food.
Runaway Whiskey & Wine (2135 Thrift Rd. in Charlotte) received a 78.5% score during an inspection on Monday, Oct. 6.
Inspectors placed the restaurant on a Risk Control Plan (RCP) due to repeatedly failing to follow date-marking rules, county documents show.
The restaurant “was discovered improperly date marking items, not putting date marks on everything, and using/holding onto items that were past their date marks,” meaning it was keeping and using food that had expired or was too old to be served safely.
According to the inspection report, the owner must fill out the RCP form, get it approved by the county, then weekly follow-up inspections will ensure the plan is being followed.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
- No paper towels at handwashing sink
- Cutting board stored as clean with food debris
- Unlabeled chemical spray bottle with blue liquid
- Fruit flies throughout the kitchen
- Floors of walk-in cooler with food debris, grease and grime
This is the restaurant’s first “C” grade. The restaurant was inspected again on Thursday, Oct. 9 and received a “B” grade.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores: ‘B’ Grades
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 169 restaurant inspections were completed Oct. 3-9.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Four restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
▪ Easy Like Sunday (1600 E. Woodlawn Rd. in Charlotte) a score of 87.5% during an inspection on Thursday, Oct. 9.
- The restaurant violated 14 standards, including molded strawberries in the walk-in cooler and multiple items kept past their expiration dates.
- Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 96.5% in June.
▪ Taco Boy Loso (3700 South Blvd. in Charlotte) a score of 88% during an inspection on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
- The restaurant violated 11 standards, including flying pests in the kitchen and stickers on washed avocados.
- Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 91% in June.
▪ Bulla Gastrobar (4310 Sharon Rd. in Charlotte) a score of 81.5% during an inspection on Monday, Oct. 6.
- The restaurant violated 12 standards, including no paper towels at handwashing sink and dishes wet stacked.
- Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 88% in May.
▪ Yakiko (710 W. Trade St. in Charlotte) a score of 89.5% during an inspection on Monday, Oct. 6.
- The restaurant violated 14 standards, including “large flies” in the dining room and a purple chemical substance in a spray bottle being used as sanitizer.
- Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 95.5% in May.
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.
