Lenoir County restaurant inspections

Lenoir County restaurant inspections

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

Blue Hornet Country Store & Grill 

6409 Hwy 258 S, Deep Run

Date: 6/20

Score: 100

Observations: 

No ServSafe certified manager at establishment. 

Employee observed not wearing hair restraint. 

1 door reach in cooler in back room is currently not functioning. 

Employee food/drinks mixed in with food items in the bottom of the lift top. 

Chef & The Farmer

120 W Gordon Street, Kinston 

Date: 6/20

Score: 93.5

Observations: 

Pickled squash and cilantro buttermilk in refrigerator at room temperature. 

Several foods are either date marked incorrectly, not date marked, date marked for extended period past 7 days. 

Two stem-type thermometers are not accurate. 

Employee filling water containers with ice for drinking water wears arm and hand jewelry. Not permitted. 

Soiled linen stored beside clean linen. 

Slimy gaskets on wine refrigerator. 

Baron and The Beef

1631 Hwy 70 E, Kinston 

Date: 6/19

Score: 90

Observations: 

Two employees outside when EHS arrived. Neither of them washed their hands before beginning work after returning inside. 

One microwave cavity is heavily soiled. 

No ice put on salad bar. 

Consumer advisory is not worded correctly. 

Unlabelled spray bottle of chemical in cook area. 

Food employees do not wear effective hair restraints. 

Servers are wearing jewelry such as watches on wrists. 

Several wet wiping cloths on prep tables, etc. but not in solution of sanitizer. 

Ice scoop handle is laying in ice inside ice bin. 

Dish employee dries utensils with a towel, utensils shall be permitted to thoroughly air-dry. 

Utensils are stored in bins that have crumbs and crud. 

Mixer bowl and components are rusty and worn. Shelving is rusty, both ice machines and broken, equipment legs are rusty, etc. 

Multiple surfaces such as ledges, tops, equipment legs, rolling carts, etc. are soiled, have crumbs and small debris, etc. 

Cold water for hand-wash sink at entrance into kitchen does not work - due to a broken valve stem, per owner. 

Areas of damage on corners of walls, door frames, in dish room where floor grout is needed. Paint is worn, peeling on floor. Walls in several areas have much black crud, especially in dish room. Light fixtures and some bulbs have grease/soil build-up. 

Hugo Grocery & Grill 

2951 Hugo Road, Grifton 

Date: 6/19

Score: 98

Observations: 

No certified food protection manager on site. 

Few flies present. 

A few wet wiping cloths stored on refrigerator and draped across can opener. 

Green BBQ pan in pit has holes and is cracked and fiberglass fibers are exposed. 

Chopping block is not smooth and is hard to clean.

Wooden doors for front counter in kitchen have peeling paint and are worn. 

Commode seat in men's restroom is worn and getting hard to clean. 

Murrays BBQ and Seafood

123 E Washington Street, La Grange 

Date: 6/24

Score: 98

Observations: 

Current ServSafe certified staff member expired last year. 

Several flies observed in kitchen during inspection. 

Build up present on floors, walls, and ceiling. Two employee drinks observed on shelf above prep table, where food was thawing in ice bath. 


Neuse News is an independent, locally-owned startup based in downtown Kinston. We’re committed to providing free, hyper-local news across Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties—the kind of stories that matter most, delivered in a format built for today.

We don't charge subscriptions. Instead, we rely on readers like you—and the businesses that serve our community. When you shop local, dine local, and click on our sponsor ads, you help us keep real journalism free and accessible.


Mike Parker: Time to seriously consider term limits for elected officials

Mike Parker: Time to seriously consider term limits for elected officials

Help Wanted: Automotive Systems Technology Instructor

Help Wanted: Automotive Systems Technology Instructor