Lenoir County restaurant inspections

The following inspections were conducted by the Lenoir County Health Department:

Upstairs at The Market

222 North Herritage Street, Kinston

Score: 98.5

Inspection date: 12/4

Observations:

Sanitizer in three-compartment sink reads 0 ppm on test strips - shall be 200 to 400 ppm;

Ham in upstairs reach-in temped at 43-45F - shall be 41F;

Wet wiping cloths stored in sanitizer that read 0 ppm on test strips - store in proper strength sanitizer;

Olympian

601 West Vernon Avenue, Kinston

Score: 95.5

Inspection date: 12/10

Observations:

Rice pilaf and tomato sauce in steam were temped 116F - shall be held at 135F;

White cheese, potato salad and cucumber sauce in top of large prep unit temped between 45-46F; lasagna and sliced tomatoes in pizza prep unit temped between 42-44F - all potentially hazardous foods in cold holding shall be 41F or below;

Bottom of reach-in freezer near french fries has food debris;

Golden Corral

4468 U.S. 70 West, Kinston

Score: 91

Inspection date: 12/10

Observations:

Employees did not know the five reportable illnesses and symptoms they should not work with;

Knives, plastic food containers, stainless dishes, and plates were visibly dirty;

Fish in ice bath was 50F-60F; fish was thawed earlier in the morning - shall not be allowed to go above 41F during thawing process;

Food from delivery truck placed on wet floor in puddle;

Dirty wet wiping cloth stored on walk-in door handle - shall be stored in sanitizer;

Dishes stacked wet;

Inside and outside of equipment, dish area, shelving, carts, and surfaces in meat room need additional cleaning;

Holes in walls and cracked/missing floor tiles need to be repaired;

Floors, walls, and ceilings need additional cleaning;

Dos Marias Grill and Cantina

131 South Caswell Street, La Grange

Score: 92.5

Inspection date: 12/12

Observations:

Employees entered kitchen and began washing dishes and prepping food without washing hands;

One plate and single-use glove being used to move raw meat from prep unit to flat top - different utensils/dishes shall be used for each protein to prevent contamination;

Stainless dishes and plates were visibly dirty;

Queso from walk-in, chicken wings from prep, ad salsa in small refrigerator were above 41F; top of small refrigerator does not hold food below 41F; all ready-to-eat potentially hazardous food shall be at or below 41F;

Some chemical spray bottles not labeled;

Trash can and trash bag used to hold raw cut chips is not approved for food storage;

Employee was towel-drying dishes - shall be allowed to air-dry;

Single-use gloves left in dishes to be used multiple times;

Inside coating of frying pans are peeling;

Small glass door reach-in may not be commercially certified;

Not enough light provided in employee restroom;

Taqueria El Merendero

708 South Front Street, Pink Hill

Score: 100

Inspection date: 12/11

Observations:

None

La Fuente

107 North Central Avenue, Pink HIll

Score: 95

Inspection date: 12/11

Observations:

No certified food protection manager present;

No employee health policy in place;

Hand-wash sink in back bathroom does not have soap;

Bucket of sanitizer in backroom with drink machine was not strong enough;

Splash guard beside prep sink is cracked and has duct tape - all equipment shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and in good repair;

Toilet lid in back bathroom is in disrepair - have lid replaced;

Murray's

123 East Washington Street, La Grange

Score: 97

Inspection date: 12/12

Observations:

No certified food protection manager present;

Raw chicken stored above frozen cornbread sticks and raw pork in prep unit;

Two of three thermometers were not properly calibrated;

El Norteno

1701 West Vernon Avenue, Kinston

Score: 91

Inspection date: 12/16

Observations:

No certified food protection manager present;

Foods in reach-in near grill not separated by final cook temperature, with chicken stored above beef;

Several utensils and dishes had food residue;

Tomatoes and pico in prep unit were 42F-43F; foods in walk-in were between 43F-44F; all potentially hazardous foods in cold holding shall be 41F or below;

Thermometer was not properly calibrated;

Wet wiping cloths left lying around kitchen - shall be stored in proper strength saniziter;

Scoops in ice machines in waitress stations and container of dry frijoles stored with handle touching food;

Pots and pans stacked wet; allow to air-dry before stacking;

Baron and The Beef

1631 U.S. 70 East, Kinston

Score: 97

Inspection date: 12/17

Observations:

Bowl and spoon left in hand-sink in kitchen; hand-sinks shall be for washing hands only;

Ready-to-eat foods stored below raw fish in kitchen reach-in; raw sausage stored above raw fish;

Inside of microwave needs additional cleaning;

Bottle of chemical sanitizer left on counter while food was being prepped;

Employees preparing food are wearing hair restraints but not beard restraints;

Counter underneath grill, handles of prep unit behind grill, and utensil storage containers in dish room need additional cleaning;

New Main Moon

909-E West Vernon Avenue, Kinston

Score: 95

Inspection date: 12/18

Observations:

Flies present in kitchen;

Boxes of food stored on the floor of walk-in;

Some employees are not wearing hair-restraints;

Some scoops stored with handle in food;

Styrofoam trays and lids are stored face-up; should be stored face down or covered to prevent contamination;

Inside of walk-in door is in disrepair; some shelving in walk-in has rust;

Trash on ground around dumpster;

Be sure to change gloves when switching tasks;

Be sure to clean stove as often as needed to prevent food buildup;

Tokyo House

1201 West Vernon Avenue, Kinston

Score: 88

Inspection date: 12/30

Observations:

Mop is stored so that it is blocking hand-wash sink beside prep sink;

Ladles use for scooping raw chicken and cooked shrimp are stored in a manner that allows them to come into contact with each other; ladle for cooked shrimp was in pan of raw chicken; pan of cooked shrimp was covered with a lid, but raw chicken was not;

Rice and spring mix in two-door reach-in temped 42F; garlic in prep unit temped 55F; spicy crab meat in left dorm refrigerator temped 63F - all shall be kept at 41F or below;

Sushi rice on time as a public health control was not labeled with start and end times;

Consumer advisory is not complete; raw or undercooked items are marked, but no disclosure is provided;

Container of flour not labeled;

Fly strips hung over dish area;

Raw produce stored in grocery bags in several refrigeration units; grocery bags are not food grade bags and are not approved for storage of foods;

Scoops in dry goods are stored with handles touching food;

Spoons for rice are stored in 75F water - not an approved storage method;

Several refrigeration units are domestic and are not ANSI accredited;

Gaskets on chest freezers are in disrepair;

Shelving, counters, and inside refrigeration units need additional cleaning;

Floors and walls behind/underneath equipment need additional cleaning;