Charlotte’s 10 Worst Restaurant Health Scores in October 2024

As Charlotte’s restaurant selection continues to grow, many establishments are scrambling to attract customers and really letting their health standards slide in the process.

Some of the most common reasons for low scores were food handlers not washing their hands properly, contaminated food containers, and improper food temperatures (many restaurants are still lacking proper infrared thermometers).

These were the worst inspection scores in Charlotte for October 2024;

#10 Charminar Desi Adda 

8145 ARDREY KELL RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28277
Scored 87.5 (B) on 10/15/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed multiple employees handling and prepping food upon arrival, though neither hand sink was supplied and usable.
• Observed no soap at either hand sink upon arrival.
• Observed no paper towels at either hand sink upon arrival.
• Observed table top can opener encrusted with food debris. EHS also observed several dishes stored as clean with visible sticker and/or food debris.
• Observed an overall lack of date marking throughout the facility. Most items in fliptop and corresponding lowboys observed without date mark.
• Observed incomplete TPHC form not reflecting all items held on time.

#9 Mamas Caribbean Grill

1504 CENTRAL AV, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 87 (B) on 10/24/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed raw green pepper with white growth held in use on shelf in RIC.
• Observed raw liquid egg stored above cooked oxtail.
• Observed multiple items cooked yesterday, that were not taken out of RIC since placement during cooling, that were holding above 41F.
• Observed pastry pies with cooked vegetables and meat and chicken in hot well holding below 135F for approximately 2 hours.
• Observed the three RIC holding ambient and food items above 41F for unknown amount of time.
• Observed multiple items requiring date marking that were made the day before or more with no date marking.

#8 Lagz Restaurant Bar & Grille

2539 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 87 (B) on 10/2/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed no CFPM on duty during inspection.
• Observed food containers with pooling water and debris inside stored clean on shelf under steamtable.
• Observed several plates/bowl stored clean with food built up on dry rack and on shelf underneath steam table.
• Observed two in-use microwaves with food built up inside both units.
• Observed one container cooked chicken, cooked shrimp and cooked beef above 41*F in cold drawer #1.
• Observed two containers of cooked spicy pepper sauce, sliced American cheese, and shredded cheese above 41*F in cold drawer #2.
• Observed one container of cooked oxtail, cooked goat pieces, cooked rice, and cooked spicy pepper sauce without any date or labels in flip top unit.

#7 Taqueria Los Altos 

8625 MONROE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28212
Scored 86.5 (B) on 10/22/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed PIC unable to ensure food safety and handling are being met for date marking, food protection, reheating temperatures, maintaining proper hot and cold holding temperatures, food storage, food storage order, cleansing of food contact surfaces, storage and handling of toxic substances, maintenance of equipment and physical facility.
• Observed frying pan stored in hand sink and employee use same hand sink to fill pitcher with water.
• Observed no hand drying provisions available at hand washing sink near 3-compartment sink.
• Observed opened container of raw chicken stored directly above opened container of raw beef in the reach-in unit.
• Observed boxes of unwashed produce stored over opened container of hominy in the reach-in unit.
• Observed uncovered foods stored inside various refrigeration units.
• Observed black biofilm build-up on inner corner walls of ice machine.
• Observed lengua being reheated at steam well since beginning of inspection.
• Observed carnitas hot held at 52 degrees F.
• Observed cooked ground beef cold held at 46 degrees F.
• Observed no date marking on containers of cooked chicken, ground beef, birria meat and carnitas (2x ct).
• Observed unlabeled spray bottle containing lysol.
• Observed unlabeled spray bottle of lysol stored on prep table surrounding consumer goods and clean utensils.

#6 Shane’s Rib Shack

5220 NEW FASHION WY, CHARLOTTE NC 28278
Scored 86.5 (B) on 10/30/2024

They had the following violations;

• Employee states they are unsure when one could return to work following an incidence of vomiting.
• Observed signs of back hand sink used as dump sink.
• Observed spoiled potato inside WIC and bloated container of creamer inside lowboy breached by food spill inside equipment.
• Observed milk jug opened inside WIC and with food splatter present on outside of container. Milk observed not to be protected from contamination.
• Observed dishes stored as cleat at multiple racks with visible food and sticker debris.
• Observed baked beans prepped at 10:00 am still 48F at 4:15pm.
• Observed all TCS foods in salad fliptop above 41F.
• Observed unlabeled container of cleaning product at front hand sink.

#5 El Paisano 

5846 ALBEMARLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28212
Scored 86.5 (B) on 10/3/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed multiple priority violations during inspection including handwashing issues, dishes not being properly sanitized, improper cooling, and improper toxic substance storage.
• Observed hot water at the only handsink in the kitchen to be at 150F. Cold water does not work at the handsink. Water is too hot to allow for proper handwashing as required.
• Only one handsink is provided in the entire kitchen. Water at handsink observed to be too hot to allow for convenient use by employees.
• Observed chlorine sanitizer concentrations of 10ppm at dish machine.
• Observed chicken wings at 106F while cooling in RIF at 6:06PM.
• Observed no date mark labels on any TCS foods stored in facility.
• Observed one spray bottle of glass cleaner stored on top of prep unit directly above herbs.
• Observed live roaches throughout facility and inside of ice machine.

#4 Chicken Box Cafe

1331 W SUGAR CREEK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 86.5 (B) on 10/23/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed food employee “rinse” hands in prep sink after handing thawed Raw meat.
• Observed food employees doing food prep without handwashing (from one task to the next).
• Cold water at handsink was not turned on at start of inspection. Hand sink was located near back door. Hot water temp was 139 F.
• Observed sticker residue on exterior of containers that were stacked, stored in clean area of shelving.
• Observed container of broccoli casserole that temped at 130 F.
• Observed a container of meatloaf that was dated 10/16/24.

#3 Stoners Pizza Joint

210 E TRADE ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28202
Scored 85 (B) on 10/18/2024

They had the following violations;

• No PIC oversight/leadership of rules present.
• Back handsink had various random items in sink.
• No soap at back handsink.
• No paper towels at back handsink.
• Two containers of moldy meatballs observed.
• Pizza spatula has dry food debris on it.
• Cheese and chicken wings recorded above 41F.
• Two moldy meatballs were dated 8/04.
• One bottle of chemical unlabeled.

#2 Subway

6133 SOUTH BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28217
Scored 83 (B) on 10/1/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed no Person in Charge during inspection.
• Observed no paper towels at the one hand wash sink located in the kitchen.
• Observed a large build-up of syrup on the drink machine nozzles.
• Observed a large amount of microbial growth inside of the ice machine.
• Observed a large amount of grease or food debris on the salt shaker lids.
• Observed microbial growth on top of egg bites in the walk-in cooler.
• Observed a prep cooler holding foods from 66-70 degrees.
• Observed an under counter cooler holding foods at 70 degrees.
• Observed the Walk-in cooler holding foods at 43-49 degrees.
• Observed egg bites in the walk-in cooler from 9/17/24.
• Observed one spray bottle of chemicals with no label.

#1 Biryani Nation 

14027 CONLAN CIR, CHARLOTTE NC 28277
Scored 81.5 (B) on 10/1/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed no CFPM onsite during inspection.
• Observed food handler prepping raw vegetables touch their face and bare arms without washing hands before returning to vegetable prep.
• Observed no handwashing sign at hand sinks.
• Observed many dishes stored as clean with visible food debris and stickiness.
• Observed cutting board at back fliptop with signs of heavy use.
• Observed multiple microwaves in the facility with food splatter inside.
• Observed chicken finished frying at only 70F, and PIC states they will let it shortly cool, marinate, and cook to a higher temperature.
• Observed sauce on burner reheating for an hour, at temperature of 70F. 40 minutes later, the temperature had not increased, as burner was not on.
• Observed cooked chicken, raw beef, and sauce inside commercial beverage cooler above 41F. Ambient temperature inside unit with broken, unsealable door was 67F.
• Observed overall lack of date marking throughout facility.
• Observed no written procedures for TPHC onsite despite Biryani with and without chicken specifically labeled for a 4 hour hold time and TPHC log observed on the premises.
• Observed 3 dead American cockroaches on floor of kitchen, and one live German cockroach on back wall behind fliptop.

If you’d like to monitor health scores or do a quick search for a restaurant you’re about to eat at, check out North Carolina’s health inspection database here.