Filthy Ice Machines: Charlotte Area Kitchen Inspections

CHARLOTTE, NC — From a kitchen worker dressed an injury before handling clean dishes without washing their hands, dirty ice machines to raw beef “comingled” with cooked meat, recent health inspections in Charlotte area restaurants found numerous infractions that left an impact on health ratings.

Do you truly know how clean your favorite coffee shop or restaurant is? Find out with the most recent restaurant and food service inspections in Charlotte, Huntersville, Davidson, and elsewhere in Mecklenburg County, performed by the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

Six area restaurants and cafeterias were downgraded to a ‘B’ rating during recent inspections for a variety of infractions in the kitchen. The restaurants include:

• Lotus Buffet, 9605 N. Tryon Street
• Pho Plus, 128 Brevard Court
• La Romero Taqueria and Juice Bar, 6301 South Boulevard
• Johnson C Smith Cafeteria, 100 Beatties Ford Road
• Iacofano’s Catering and Food Service, 3000 Yorkmont Road
• Supermercado El Mariachi Restaurant/Market, 6301 N. Tryon Street

At Lotus Buffet, an inspector found several infractions inlcuding multiple containers of dry food in containers without covers, raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat food, a dirty can opener and “heavy microbial build-up” in the ice machine.

An inspection report of Pho Plus’ kitchen said there was “no overall control” of the facility and found sliced raw beef “comingled” with cooked meatballs and pork in a prep cooler. The inspector also “observed employee dress an injury and then move to handling dishes,” an inspection report said.

At Lo Romero Taqueria, a worker was spotted not washing hands after using a cell phone, employees doing numerous tasks without changing their gloves and raw eggs a fruit display case at the juice bar and food stored at improper temperatures.

In the kitchen of the cafeteria at Johnson C. Smith University, an employee was spotted improperly washing their hands, margarine and chicken stock were stored below raw pork, employees not changing gloves, and kitchen items with food debris.

An employee at Iacofano’s was also seen handling a cell phone before handling food without washing their hands, and the inspection report said there was no soap at the handwashing sink. Raw chicken was also found stored above ready-to-eat food. The inspection also found the ice machine had “significant dark build up.”

An employee’s open drink was found on a prep table at Supermercado El Mariachi, according to an inspector, who also noted another employee drink was found stored inside a meat display cooler next to meats. Pots of broth were left uncovered, raw animal foods were stored directly above the pico de gallo and a number of dishes that were stored as clean were found to have food still stuck on them. The ice machine also had pink build-up on the inside of the chute and ice bin guard, the report said.

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Results from the Mecklenburg County Health Department inspections done March 7 -- March 13, 2018 are listed below. You may look up your favorite restaurant or find more detailed information about this latest batch of inspections here.

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