Plaza Midwood restaurant earns its 5th ‘B’ grade during Charlotte inspection
A Plaza Midwood restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of insects and contaminated storage containers.
Mama’s Caribbean Grill (1504 Central Ave. in Charlotte) received an 87.5% score during an inspection on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Inspectors cited the Plaza Midwood restaurant after finding flies in the kitchen, county documents show.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
- No paper towels at handwashing sink
- Multiple containers of flour and sugar with no labels
- Soiled wiping cloth on table
- No hand sanitizer available at the facility
- Dark residue buildup on dry storage containers
This is the restaurant’s fifth “B” grade. The most recent prior “B” grade occurred in January 2025.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 229 restaurant inspections were completed Feb. 20-26.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Four restaurants received B grades, or scores of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
▪ Fonda La Taquiza (5135 Albemarle Rd.) received a score of 87.5% during an inspection on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
- The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards, including salsa with no date marks and an employee preparing food while wearing a bracelet.
- Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 80.5% in January.
▪ The Imperial Treasure Ballantyne (14815 Ballantyne Village Way) received a score of 85.5% during an inspection on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
- The restaurant was in violation of 15 standards, including seasonings without labels and food stored on the floor.
- Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 93.5% in August.
▪ Nalan Indian Cuisine (1600 E. Woodlawn Rd.) received a score of 85.5% during an inspection on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
- The restaurant was in violation of 18 standards, including employee medication stored in the restaurant and large amounts of ice buildup in a walk-in freezer.
- Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 96% in September.
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.
