Live roaches + staff not washing hands at Triangle restaurants: Sanitation scores (7/17)

The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots.

Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne 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 .

Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties for the week of July 10-17.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County sanitation grades database shows that at least 100 restaurant inspections were completed July 10-17.

▪ Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.

▪ Three restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

Aviator Smokehouse (525 Broad St. in Fuquay Varina) received a score of 87.5% during an inspection on July 16.

• The restaurant was in violation of 14 standards. Of these, four were considered critical violations.

• Critical violations included finding many live and dead roaches in the kitchen and storage areas, and there were “many residential combat roach bait stations” throughout the restaurant. The ice maker bin also had black residue, and the soda dispenser needed cleaning.

• Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

• The restaurant previously scored 96.5% in May 2024 and December 2023.

Bruegger’s Bagels #3698 (2302 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh) received a score of 88.5% during an inspection on July 12.

• The restaurant was in violation of 20 standards. Of these, four were considered critical violations.

• Critical violations included finding the staff not washing their hands after “touching face, between changing tasks, after handling soiled equipment, touching raw/ready to eat food products and before donning gloves.” The milk carafes were stored as clean but had “visible soil,” and foods like milk, cream cheese and eggs weren’t being held below 41 degrees as required.

• Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

• The restaurant previously scored 95.5% in March 2024 and 93% in November 2023.

Mezeh Grill #29 Twin Lakes (1125 Hatches Pond Ln. in Cary) received a score of 84% during an inspection on July 16.

• The restaurant was in violation of 24 standards. Of these, 13 were considered critical violations.

• Critical violations included finding many foods held at improper temperatures, as well as “a container of shredded lamb stored inside of an inoperable cooler with no date mark.” Many refrigeration units were inoperable or unable to hold foods at 41 degrees or below as required.

• Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

• The restaurant previously scored 96% in December 2023 and 93% in June 2023.
• Note: Google Maps and the restaurant’s website say this location is in Morrisville, not Cary.

▪ No restaurants received a C grade, or a score of at least 70% but less than 80%.

▪ No restaurants received a failing grade, or a score below 70%.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Wake County at wake-nc.healthinspections.us .

Durham County sanitation scores

The Durham County inspection management system shows 55 restaurant inspections were completed July 10-17.

▪ All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Durham County at bit.ly/3pVQfpG .

Orange County sanitation scores

The Orange County inspection management system shows that 11 restaurant inspections were completed July 10-17.

▪ All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Orange County at bit.ly/3eQqpxc .

Johnston County sanitation scores

The Johnston County sanitation inspections database shows that 17 restaurant inspections were completed July 10-17.

▪ All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Johnston County at johnston-nc.healthinspections.us .

Chatham County sanitation scores

The Chatham County inspections management system shows that that 11 restaurant inspections were completed July 10-17.

▪ Most restaurants received an A grade.

▪ One restaurant received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

La Posadita (316 E 3rd St. in Siler City) received a score of 87% during an inspection on July 10.

• The restaurant was in violation of 12 standards. Of these, five were considered critical violations.

• Critical violations included finding many items stored between 45 and 51 degrees in the walk-in cooler (they’re supposed to be held at 41 degrees or below), and items had been prepared the prior day.

• Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

• The restaurant previously scored 96% in February 2024 and 94.5% in November 2023.
• Note: Google says this spot is called “La Posadita II” and is a Mexican grocery store. The inspection report called it “La Posadita Reynaldo and Bryan Corporation.”

▪ No restaurants received a C grade, or a score of at least 70% but lower than 80%.

▪ No restaurants received a failing grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Chatham County at bit.ly/3JfiHwq .

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