Ants crawling near yogurt, sauces at Charlotte restaurant: Scores (Oct. 24)
A University City restaurant received a “B” grade from the Mecklenburg County Health Department for numerous health violations, including the presence of insects and dirty facilities.
Honest Indian Vegetarian Restaurant (8109 University City Blvd. in Charlotte) received an 83.5% score during an inspection on Monday, Oct. 20.
Inspectors cited the restaurant after finding ants crawling on the wall near the cold holding station, where yogurts, chutneys and sauces were held, as well as “flying pests” throughout the facility, county documents show.
Other violations the restaurant was cited for include:
- Items stored in handwashing sink
- Microwaves in need of cleaning
- Squeeze bottles and containers missing labels
- Box of oil stored on floor
- Employees preparing food with bracelets
- Exterior surfaces of all cooking equipment in need of cleaning
- Microbial growth on oven vent cover and on walls
This is the restaurant’s first “B” grade.
Mecklenburg County sanitation scores
The Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database shows that at least 173 restaurant inspections were completed Oct. 17-23.
▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
▪ Two restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.
▪ Las Meras Tortas (14601 Statesville Rd. in Huntersville) received a score of 88.5% during an inspection on Thursday, Oct. 23.
- The restaurant violated 14 standards, including employee drinks stored near food prep areas and metal pans stacked wet.
- Most violations were corrected during the inspection.
- The restaurant previously scored 94.5% in June.
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.
