More than a dozen 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.
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The N&O reviewed restaurants with less than an A grade who were reinspected in July and August.
There were 31 Triangle restaurants that received B or C grades in July or August.
Restaurants in Johnston and Orange counties all received an A grade in July and August.
Wake County
The following Wake County restaurants were reinspected:
Marco’s Pizza (325 Carpenter Hill Drive, Cary) received a score of 90 on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Earlier in July, the restaurant scored an 85 after inspectors found food not held at the proper cold temperatures and containers of food kept past seven days, among other violations.Tadka Biryani Tandoor (9825 Chapel Hill Road, Suite F, Morrisville) received a score of 91 on Wednesday, July 22. Earlier that month the restaurant scored an 86.5 after inspectors found boiled eggs and cooked chicken without dates and employee that didn’t properly wash a handheld mixer, among other violations.Que Pashoo (1428 Garner Station Blvd., Raleigh) received a score of 95 on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Earlier in July, the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found raw meat stored next to bread slices and food not held at the proper temperatures, among other violations.Subway (234 Fayetteville St., Raleigh) received a score of 93 on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Earlier in July the restaurant received a score of 88.5 after inspectors found “thick black residue accumulation” on the soda machine nozzles” and vegetables held on the service line at too warm temperatures, among other violations.Anjappar (101 Ledgestone Way, Cary) received a score of 95 on Monday, Aug. 31. Earlier that month the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found an open container of raw chicken on the walk-in cooler floor and no paper towels at a handwashing sink, among other violations.Hibachi Sushi (3217 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh) received a score of 98.5 on Monday, Aug. 31. Earlier that month the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found “significant presence of flies” and heavily soiled kitchen equipment, among other violations.San Jose Mexican Restaurant (5811 Poyner Village Parkway, Raleigh) received a score of 96 on Monday, Aug. 31. Earlier the restaurant received a score of 87 after inspectors found no paper towels at the hand-washing sink and sauces not labeled, among other violations.Sullivan’s Steakhouse (410 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh) received a score of 94.5 on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Earlier the restaurant received a score of 85.5 after “several flies and fruit flies” in the kitchen and metal pans and plates with food debris, among other violations.
The following Wake County restaurants were not reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 17:
Anise Pho (222 Glenwood Ave, Suite 113, Raleigh) received a score of 84.5 on Tuesday, July 21, after inspectors found an employee rinsing noodles with a water hose connected to a mop sink and several dead roaches throughout the facility, among other violations.Pan India Kitchen & Bar (800 W. Williams St., Suite 176, Apex) received a score of 88 on Thursday, July 23, after inspectors found cold foods stored on a countertop warmer than allowed and foods without dates, among other violations. (Pan India Kitchen & Bar is Bawarchi Grill & Spirits’ business name.)Cracker Barrel 461 (955 Airport Blvd., Morrisville) received a score of 82 on Thursday, July 23, after inspectors found “black residue” on the ice machine and employees handling ready-to-eat pancakes with bare hands, among other violations.The Venue Raleigh (327 W. Davie St., Raleigh) received a score of 88.5 on Sunday, Aug. 30, after inspectors found multiple flies in the kitchen and residue on the inner surface of the friers, among other violations.Triangles Biryani (4121 Davis Drive, Morrisville) received a score of 87.5 on Monday, Aug. 24, after inspectors found cooked onions stored at room temperature for several days and several flies in the kitchen, among other violations.
Durham County
The following Durham County restaurants were reinspected:
Neo Japan (1125 NC 54 Highway, Suite 401, Durham) received a score of 93.5 on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Earlier in July the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found live cockroaches near the sink and chlorine test strips that expired in 2016, among other violations.Shuckin Shack Oyster Bar (2200 W. Main St., Suite A140, Durham) received a score of 90 on Monday, Sept. 14. In August, the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found several live roaches and food held in a reach-in cooler that was warmer than allowed, among other violations.Kiichi Ramen & Bar (730 Ninth St., Durham) received a score of 92 on Tuesday, Sept. 8. In August the restaurant received a score of 80.5 after inspectors found employees not washing their hands properly and food stored on the floor, among other violations.Big Bad Breakfast Restaurant (2608 Erwin Road, Suite 120, Durham) received a score of 90 on Friday, Aug. 21. Earlier the restaurant received a score of 85 after inspectors found food not stored for cooling and the life side of a cooler not cooling correctly, among other violations.Los Tres Mexican Restaurant (6905 Fayetteville Road, Durham) received a score 91.5 on Monday, Sept. 14. Earlier in August the restaurant received a score of 88 after inspectors found unwashed produce stored about ready-to-eat foods and items held at improper temperatures, among other violations.Fonda Lupita (905 W. Main St., Suite 21, Durham) received a score of 91 on Friday, Sept. 4. In August the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found employees using cold drawers to store food knowing the drawers weren’t working, among other violations.Church’s Chicken (942 N. Miami Blvd., Durham) received a score of 95 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Earlier in July the restaurant received a score of 84.5 after inspectors found “multiple live flies and gnats” and black build up at the front drink machine ice holder, among other violations.Cracker Barrel 345 (3706 Hillsborough Road, Durham) received a score of 96 on Thursday, Sept. 10. In July the restaurant received a score of 85.5 after inspector found a love roach in a cold drawer unit and unwashed produce stored over ready-to-eat foods, among other violations.
The following Durham County restaurants were not reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 17:
Kinya Ramen Sushi Bar (202 NC 54 Highway, Suite 506) received a score of 85.5 on Wednesday, July 8, after inspectors found employees washing hands without soap and curry sauce and miso soup with incorrect dates, among other violations.Waffle House (4203 NC 55 Highway, Durham) received a score of 87 on Friday, July 17 after inspectors found “black buildup” on the walls and crevices in the ice machine and “pink slime” growing and dripping in cabinets, among other violations.NYC Halal Eats (1013 W. Main St., Durham) received a score of 88 on Monday, Aug. 17, after inspectors found multiple items without dates and the walk-in cooler door held open for an extended period of time, among other violations.Taqueria Mi Pueblo (1000 N. Miami Blvd., Suite 223, Durham) received a score of 83 on Friday, Aug. 14, after inspectors found “visible growth” on an ice shield and raw chicken stored over beef in a reach-in cooler, among other violations.El Tesoro Mexican Grill (6118 Farrington Road, Suite G, Chapel Hill) received a score of 85.5 on Monday, Aug. 31, after inspectors found food held for more than seven days and raw eggs stored over salsa, among other violations.Sleep Inn RDU (5208 Page Road, Durham) received a score of 89.5 on Monday, Aug. 31, after inspectors found no staff monitoring the buffet line and a cooler with an ambient temperature of 75.5 degrees, among other violations.Courtyard by Marriott (1815 Front St., Durham) received a score of 87.5 on Wednesday, July 29, after inspectors found undated sour cream that was thrown out and multiple dairy products held in a cooler with an ambient temperature of 51 degrees, among other violations.
Chatham County
The following Chatham County restaurants were reinspected:
Jersey Mike’s Subs (1119 E. 11th St., Siler City) received a score of 99 on Monday, July 27. Earlier in July the restaurant received an 88.5 after inspectors found dirt build-up and mold on drink machine nozzles and employees not washing their hands, among other violations.Ni Armor Hawaiian BBQ (517 West St., Pittsboro) received a score of 91.5 on Thursday, Sept. 3. Earlier in August the restaurant received a score of 87.5 after inspectors found molded tomatoes in the reach-in cooler and excessive flies in the restaurant, among other violations.
The following Chatham County restaurants were not reinspected as of Thursday, Sept. 17:
El Calentano Taco Bar & Grill (50050 Governors Drive, Chapel Hill) received a score of 85.5 on Thursday, Aug. 20, after inspectors found employees not washing their hands properly and multiple flies in multiple areas of the restaurant, among other violations.
Anna Roman
The News & Observer
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.
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