20+ Triangle restaurants reinspected after health violations. See the new scores

Nearly two dozen Triangle restaurants received A grades after previously receiving lower scores when inspected by county health officials.

State law requires health departments to inspect restaurants up to four times a year to assess their overall risk factors that contribute to foodborne 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.

The N&O reviewed restaurants with less than an A grade who were reinspected in the first quarter of the year.

Restaurants in Chatham, Johnston and Orange counties all received an A grade in January, February and March.

Wake County restaurant reinspections

The following Wake County restaurants were reinspected:

• Asian Pot (3215 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh) received a score of 91.5% on Tuesday, March 3. A month earlier they received a score of 88.5% after inspectors found raw beef and chicken stored over ready-to-eat bags of produce and cooked food not stored at the proper temperatures, among other violations.
• Brunches at Crossroads (200 Crossroads Blvd., Suite 100, Cary) received a score of 95.5% on Friday, March 13. Earlier in the month they received a score of 77.5% after inspectors found “a lot of fruit flies,” odors from unclear cutting boards and shelving and food not stored at proper temperatures, among other violations.
• Mirchi’s Indian Kitchen (328 Sembler Lane, Cary) received a score of 97% on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Earlier in the month, they received a score of 89% after inspectors found raw chicken stored over ready-to-eat food and sauce with a month-old date, among other violations.
• TGI Friday’s (1100 Timber Drive, Garner) received a score of 97% on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Earlier in the month they received a score of 88.5% after inspectors found the dish waster was not hot enough and live roaches were found in the kitchen, among other violations.
• Village Draft House (428 Daniels St., Raleigh) received a score of 97% on Tuesday, Jan. 20. In late December, they received a score of 83% after inspectors found food not stored at the proper temperatures and several fruit flies were in the kitchen, among other violations.

Durham County restaurant reinspections

The following Durham County restaurants were reinspected:

• Aaktun (704 Ramseur St., Durham) received a score of 98.5% on Thursday, Jan. 29. Earlier in the month they received a score of 89.5% after inspectors found soiled knives stored as clean and employees leaving the kitchen and not changing gloves when returning, among other violations.
• Anjappar Chettinad Bar and Grill (201 E. Main St., Durham) received a score of 96.5% on Thursday, March 26. Earlier in the month they received a score of 84% after inspectors found raw chicken stored above sauces, shrimp and fish and dirty saute pans were labeled as clean, among other violations.
• Beau & Kales Backyard BBQ (5122 NC Highway 55, Durham) received a score of 93% on Monday, March 9. In February, they received a score of 87% after inspectors found employees handling food without washing their hands and multiple foods weren’t held at the proper temperatures, among other violations.
• China Kitchen (2121 TW Alexander Drive, Suite 122, Morrisville) received a score of 96% on Thursday, Jan. 15. Earlier in the month, they received a score of 89% after inspectors found heavily soiled gaskets and dirty utensils stored as clean, among other violations.
• China Wok (3825 S. Roxboro St., Space 124, Durham) received a score of 96% on Wednesday, March 25. In February, they received a score of 78.5% after inspectors found employees mopping the floor and then handling food without washing their hands and no dates on cooked food in the walk-in cooler, among other violations.
• Foster’s Market (2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham) received a score of 93% on Wednesday, Feb. 18. In January, they received a score of 86% after inspectors observed employees not washing their hands, pest traps and dead winged insects on some pans, among other violations.
• Michoacán Mexican Restaurant (3409 Hillsborough Road, Unit G, Durham) received a score of 94.5% on Friday, March 20. Earlier in the month they received a score of 89.5% after inspectors found food stored at incorrect temperatures in a cooler and cold draws and cooked foods without dates, among other violations.
• OK Asian Express (5324 New Hope Commons Blvd, Unit 1A, Durham) received a score of 91% on Monday, March 30. A month earlier they received a score of 85% after inspectors found raw chicken stored above beef in the freezer and raw food thawing together in the same sink, among other violations.
• Pei Wei Asian Express (6910 Fayetteville Road, Space 230, Durham, inside The Streets at Southpoint Mall) received a score of 88.5% on Thursday, March 19. Earlier in the month they received a score of 85.5% after inspectors found unwashed produce was stored on top of cooked noodles, a leak in a hand sink and employees not wearing hair restraints.
• Peony Asian Bistro (3515 Witherspoon Blvd., Suite 108, Durham) received a score of 90% on Wednesday, Feb. 18. A month earlier, they received a score of 86.5% after inspectors found missing light bulbs, a leak under a sink and food held at the wrong temperatures, among other violations.
• Pomodoro Italian Kitchen (1811 Hillandale Road, Durham) received a score of 97.5% on Friday, Feb. 27. Earlier in the month they received a score of 89.5% after inspectors founding “standing sewage” under a sink that was fixed during the inspection and covers were off some food in the freezer, among other violations.
• Spring Rolls (701 W. Main St., Durham) received a score of 95% on Thursday, Feb. 26. Earlier in the month they received a score of 87% after molded products were still in use and pots, pans and utensils labeled as clean “despite food debris on them,” among other violations.
• Szechuan Mansion Hotpot (746 Ninth St., Durham) received a score of 90% on Tuesday, March 10. In January, they received a score of 85% after inspectors found personal belongings stored on the dry good shelves and intermingled with food items, multiple food items were cooked or open with no date mark and multiple containers of food were stored directly touching food items in other containers, among other violations.
• Tacos Number Juan (910 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Durham) scored a 95.5% on Tuesday, March 10. A month earlier they received a score of 87.5% after inspectors found several items in the walk-in freezer uncovered and outdoor grease traps spill near the dumpster area, among other violations.
• Tobacco Road Sports Cafe (280 Mangum St., Suite 100, Durham) received a score of 95.5% on Thursday, Jan. 29. Earlier in the month they received a score of 85.5% after inspectors found employees didn’t wash their hands after eating, outdated milk and the dish machine not dispensing sanitizer, among other violations.

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

919-829-4807

Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.