Microbial growth on meat, no soap: Worst Triangle restaurant inspections in June
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- 11 Triangle restaurants received A grades after previous lower scores.
- State law requires health departments to inspect restaurants up to four times a year.
- Reinspections in June and early July raised several restaurants’ scores.
Eleven Triangle restaurants received A grades after previously receiving lower sanitation scores when inspected by 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 N&O 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 June and early July.
There were 15 Triangle restaurants that received B or C grades during the month of June.
Restaurants in Chatham and Orange counties all received an A grade in June.
Wake County
The following Wake County restaurants were reinspected:
- Beto El Poblano (13100 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh) received a score of 92% on Tuesday, June 16. Earlier in the month, they received a score of 88.5% after inspectors found “microbial growth” on cooked meat, mango habanero salsa and sour cream and raw pork “found stored in a black trash bag,” among other violations.
- Mamacita Apex (2045 Creekside Landing Drive, Apex) received a score of 92.5% on Wednesday, July 1. Earlier in May, they received a score of 89% after inspectors found raw eggs stored above produce in the walk-in cooler and the dishwasher not registering any chlorine for correct sanitizing, among other violations.
- Hyderabadi Biryani Pointe (2711 NC Highway 55, Cary) received a score of 92.5% on Tuesday, June 2. Earlier in May, they received a score of 83% after inspectors found no hand soap at any of the handwashing sinks, numerous flies around the kitchen and some dry ingredients uncovered and undated, among other violations.
- The Oaks at Whitaker Glen (501 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Raleigh) received a score of 95.5% on Tuesday, July 7. Earlier in June, they received a score of 87.5% after inspectors found food not discarded after being in use for seven days and employees portioning out soup without washing their hands, among other violations.
- O.M. Tea Boba & Bites (3901 Capital Blvd., Raleigh) received a score of 98.5% on Tuesday, July 7. Earlier in the June, they received a score of 88% after inspectors found no paper towels at two hand sinks and some spices with no labels, among other violations.
- New Asian Garden (13654 Capital Blvd, Suite 128, Wake Forest) received a score of 93.5% on Tuesday, June 23. Earlier in the month, they received a score of 87% after inspectors found ‘microbial growth build up” at the ice dispenser at the fountain drink machine and employees washing their hands without soap, among other violations.
- Taco Bamba Ridgewood (3518 Wade Ave., Raleigh) received a score of 93.5% on Thursday, June 4. Earlier in May, they received a score of 87% after inspectors found food held cooling at the wrong temperature and a sink in a bathroom where the water didn’t get hot enough, among other violations.
- The Curry Club (3281 Avent Ferry Road, Suite 117) received a score of 93% on Tuesday, July 14. Earlier in June, they received a score of 86.5% after inspectors found kitchen staff entering the kitchen without washing their hands and several gallon-sized containers of uncovered sauce and broth stored on the floor, among other violations.
The following restaurants received B or C grades and weren’t reinspected as of Wednesday, July 15:
- Jade Garden (1207 Hillsborough St., Raleigh) received a score of 81% in June after inspectors found staff restroom handwashing sink with no paper towels and dates missing on all perishable food, among other violations.
Durham County
The following Durham County restaurants were reinspected:
- Bulldega Urban Market (129 W. Parrish St.) received a score of 91% on Tuesday, June 16. Earlier in May, they received a score of 83.5% after inspectors found sour cream with a use-by date of April, little to no handwashing and other food stored on the floor, among other violations.
- Koki (104 City Hall Plaza, Suite 101) received a score of 94% on Wednesday, June 24. Earlier in May, they received a score of 88% after inspectors found several cartons of liquid eggs with a use-by date of May 13, raw chicken on a prep container during the inspection and cooked pasta with a prepared date of April 12, among other violations.
- Kabab and Curry (716 9th St.) received a score of 94.5% on Friday, June 5. Earlier in May, they received a score of 86.5% after inspectors found employees not washing their hands, food without dates on the containers and uncovered chicken stored near a wastewater pump in a cooler, among other violations.
- Kinya Ramen Sushi Bar (202 NC 54 Highway, Suite 506) received a scored of 85.5% on Wednesday, July 8. Earlier in June, they scored 85% after inspectors found a handwashing sink with no paper towels, multiple knives with food debris stored as clean and crab thawing in a “container filed with stagnant water,” among other violations.
The following Durham County restaurants received a B or C grade and were not reinspected as of Wednesday, July 15.
- Taqueria Mi Pueblo (1000 N. Miami Blvd., Suite 223) received a score of 86.5% in June after inspectors found raw chicken stored above pork in a walk-in cooler, a deep container of pork was discarded after it wasn’t cooled down properly and many foods, including queso fresco, pico de gallo and cooked beans did not have date markings, among other violations.
- The Tipsy Bull (800 Taylor St., Suite 9) received a score of 85.5% in June after inspectors found employees not washing hands while switching tasks, raw shrimp stored above other items in the walk-in cooler and buttermilk in the fridge with no date, among other violations.
- Jamaica Jamaica (4853 NC Highway 55, Durham) received a score of 74% in June after inspectors found “numerous mouse droppings throughout the facility” and uncovered food in coolers, among other violations.
- The Federal (914 W. Main St., Durham) received a score of 88% in June after inspectors found cream cheese stored at room temperature and raw pork stored above cooked chicken in a cooler. among other violations.
- Bralie’s Sports Bar & Grill (1725 Carpenter Fletcher Road, Durham) received a score of 84% in June after inspectors include "little to no handwashing” by employees during the inspection, shredded cheese with a March 4 date and other food that wasn’t dated in the kitchen, among other violations.
- Gym Tacos 5 (102 City Hall Plaza, Durham) received a score of 86.5% in June after inspectors found cooked chicken, cooked steak and raw shrimp held at improper cold temperatures and a salsa bar without approved sneeze guard, among other violations.
- Los Tres Mexican Restaurant (6905 Fayetteville Road) received a score of 87.5% in June after inspectors deli meat and hot dogs without dates and produce not held at proper cold temperatures, among other violations.
Johnston County
The following Johnston County restaurant received a B grade and were not reinspected as of Wednesday, July 15.
- Seven Food Mart (11585 NC Highway 42, Middlesex) received a score of 89% in June after inspectors found “lots of flies” in the facility, no sanitizer mixed and available to use, raw eggs stored over bacon in the walk-in cooler, among other violations.
Anna Roman
The News & Observer