‘Large amount’ of bugs in kitchen at SouthPark restaurant. Latest inspections
A SouthPark area restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of insects and dirty dishes.
CO (4201 Park Rd. in Charlotte) received an 86.5% score during an inspection on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Inspectors cited the restaurant after finding a “large amount of small flying insects throughout the kitchen area,” county documents show.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
- Raw shrimp stored above ready-to-eat food
- Multiple plastic containers stored as clean with food debris on them
- Bean sprouts, cut cabbage and cooked chicken without date marks
- Staff preparing food without the use of a beard guard
- Boxes of single service items stored on the floor
- Shelving in dry storage area rusted
- Food debris in bottom of reach-in freezers
- Damaged flooring throughout the facility
This is the restaurant’s second “B” grade. The most recent prior case occurred in February 2022.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 155 restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 30-Feb. 5.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Three restaurants received B grades, or scores of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
▪ Soma Bistro Curry N Cake (2015 E. Arbors Dr. in Charlotte) received a score of 81.5% during an inspection on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
- The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards, including a roach smashed on the wall behind knives and gnats in the kitchen.
- Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 86% in August.
▪ Nick & Mike Bar and Grill (11524 N. Tryon St. in Charlotte) received a score of 88.5% during an inspection on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
- The restaurant was in violation of 11 standards, including an employee eating expired pic while preparing food and floors with exposed concrete.
- Some violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 91.5% in October.
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.
Most common restaurant violations
The Charlotte Observer previously spoke to Adam Dietrich, a local food safety expert, about five of the most common food safety violations restaurants get dinged for during health inspections:
- Handwashing lapses are common: Inspectors frequently cite workers for skipping required handwashing or recontaminating hands, a major risk for spreading illnesses like norovirus, Salmonella and E. coli.
- “Performative” glove use causes problems: Gloves are often misused, either by not changing them between tasks or worn instead of washing hands, which can spread bacteria just as easily as bare hands.
- 41°F is the cold-holding cutoff: The North Carolina Food Code requires cold foods to be held at 41 degrees or below, since bacteria multiply rapidly above that threshold and can reach dangerous levels within hours.
- Improper storage leads to cross-contamination: Limited space and poor organization can result in raw food juices dripping onto other foods, a known cause of outbreaks, prompting strict storage rules in the food code.
- Lack of food safety training costs points: Restaurants are often penalized for missing certifications or inadequate staff training in hygiene, allergens and safe food handling, issues experts say are preventable with proper education.
