Restaurant ratings for Sept. 21-27, 2026
All 15 establishments included in Lenoir County inspection records for Sept. 21-27 received A grades, with scores ranging from 93.5 to 99.5.
The inspections covered restaurants, food stands, a meat market, a school cafeteria and institutional food services. Findings included improper food temperatures, sanitation concerns, pest activity and equipment maintenance needs. Several issues were corrected during inspections.
The summaries below highlight reported violations, including some that did not result in point deductions. Scores reflect conditions observed at the time of inspection.
Lenoir County
Prime Food Mart, LLC
1523 Hull Road, Kinston
Inspected Sept. 25. Score: 97, Grade: A.
Inspectors observed live cockroaches and required follow-up verification of pest control. A toilet was clogged with sewage reaching the rim; employees plunged it during the inspection, and the plumbing violation was marked corrected. Other findings included a damaged walk-in cooler gasket, shelving needing paint and cleaning needs involving sinks and the restroom toilet.
Quick & Chicken
802 W. Vernon Ave., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 25. Score: 95.5, Grade: A.
Raw chicken thawing under running water measured 68 to 72 degrees in thawed portions. It was moved to a walk-in freezer to cool, and the repeat thawing violation was marked corrected. Other repeat findings included reusing disposable containers and cleaning needs on cooking equipment, shelving, floors and walls. Inspectors also cited inadequate lighting in a rear storage area.
Two Dogs Pizza
104 S. Kinston Blvd., Pink Hill
Inspected Sept. 25. Score: 98, Grade: A.
Inspectors cited damaged equipment, deeply grooved cutting boards, unapproved residential equipment and repeat cleaning concerns involving kitchen equipment, shelving, ceilings and vents. A broken faucet handle limited hot water at a kitchen handwashing sink to 85 degrees. Unlabeled cleaning bottles were labeled during the inspection. Other findings involved waste storage and mop drying. The report noted that no staff member held food protection manager certification and listed an Oct. 8 deadline to obtain it.
Hibachi Express
2405-C N. Herritage St., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 24. Score: 97.5, Grade: A.
A large pan of previously cooled rice left on a counter measured 56 to 62 degrees. The owner said it had been removed from refrigeration for later use. The rice was discarded. Inspectors also cited a repeat violation because the person in charge lacked food protection manager certification.
Piggly Wiggly No. 78 meat market
2407 D N. Herritage St., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 24. Score: 98.5, Grade: A.
Employees with uncovered beards were cutting meat and handling opened disposable items, a repeat violation. Inspectors also found wrapped meat stored on damaged wooden pallets that were not easily cleanable, damaged walk-in cooler doors and a broken faucet handle at one women’s restroom sink. Two other sinks were available for handwashing.
San Juan Mexican Restaurant
2423 N. Herritage St., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 24. Score: 96, Grade: A.
Covered pans of queso were cooling in ice baths. Lids were removed, and the pans were moved to a walk-in cooler to speed cooling. Inspectors also cited soda coolers used to store foods outside their approved use, equipment repairs, a leaking handwashing sink and a clogged employee restroom urinal. Additional findings included missing covered restroom trash containers, dirty or peeling walls and a dented walk-in cooler floor.
Jennie’s Matters of the Heart
2310 Peppertree Road, La Grange
Inspected Sept. 23. Score: 99, Grade: A.
Repeat violations involved pots, pans and disposable items stored without protection from contamination. Inspectors also cited the storage order of opened raw meat packages in a freezer, with follow-up verification required. An opened jug of milk was dated during the inspection. The restroom toilet also needed cleaning.
Lovicks
320 N. Herritage St., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 23. Score: 95.5, Grade: A.
Inspectors found mildew inside an ice machine and observed dishes being washed without a sanitizing step. The dishwashing setup was corrected, and affected dishes were washed again with sanitizing included. Vegetable soup that had not reached the required reheating temperature was discarded. Other hot foods were below required holding temperatures and were reheated or discarded. Additional findings included fading date labels, improper food and utensil storage, a slow-draining sink and a restroom door lacking a self-closing device. Lettuce beneath unwashed tomatoes was discarded.
Midway Mart & Grill LLC No. 2
3555 N.C. 11 S., Deep Run
Inspected Sept. 23. Score: 97, Grade: A.
Repeat findings included employee food and drinks in a preparation area, improper date marking and employee belongings stored among kitchen supplies. Foods with incorrect or expired date labels, including chicken salad, slaw and sausage, were discarded. Inspectors also noted that no certified food protection manager was present, along with improper wiping cloth and scoop storage, a grooved cutting board, an unapproved residential slow cooker and cleaning needs. Employee food and drinks were removed, and scoops were taken for cleaning.
Skill Creations of Kinston
901 Doctors Drive, Kinston
Institutional food service inspected Sept. 23. Score: 97.5, Grade: A.
The report cited the absence of a person in charge with food safety certification and required follow-up verification. Opened packages of bologna and turkey had exceeded the permitted seven-day holding period and were discarded during the inspection.
McDonald’s No. 5421
612 E. New Bern Road, Kinston
Inspected Sept. 22. Score: 99, Grade: A.
Pans and other dishes were stacked while still wet. Inspectors also found two fryer skimmers with torn, frayed wires that could potentially break off into cooking oil. Both skimmers were removed from service and discarded, and replacements had been ordered.
Rose Vista Assisted Living
2130 Rose Vista Drive, Kinston
Institutional food service inspected Sept. 22. Score: 93.5, Grade: A.
Repeat sanitation findings included soiled plates, utensils, a can opener blade and ice bin surfaces. Flies were observed on utensils. Plates and utensils were sent for rewashing, and the inspector planned a verification visit to check ice machine cleaning. Other findings included numerous flies, damaged equipment, dirty surfaces, plumbing leaks and no cold water at the dishwashing prewash sink. During the inspection, an exterior door was closed, milk was date-marked and an improperly stored employee drink was removed.
Taco Bell No. 031431
1806 W. Vernon Ave., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 22. Score: 99, Grade: A.
Inspectors cited leaves and debris around and beneath an outdoor grease container. Wall repairs were also needed near a handwashing sink and beside dry storage shelving near the office and drive-thru area.
Moss Hill Elementary School cafeteria
6040 N.C. 55 W., Kinston
Inspected Sept. 21. Score: 99.5, Grade: A.
A leaking sanitizer dispensing assembly was unusable, and staff were using premixed sanitizer while awaiting repairs. The sanitizing compartment of a three-compartment sink could not hold water because of a faulty stopper mechanism, and a faucet was leaking. Maintenance had been notified. Inspectors also noted nonworking bulbs in dishwashing-room light fixtures.
The Pink Hill Grill
6018 N.C. 11 S., Pink Hill
Inspected Sept. 21. Score: 94.5, Grade: A.
Inspectors observed handwashing lapses that were corrected after instruction. Repeat findings included overly concentrated sanitizer, dirty food-contact surfaces, improper chemical storage and cleaning needs. A soap bottle was overturned on raw onions and spices. Sanitizer was remixed, utensils were sent for cleaning and an ice machine received partial cleaning, with additional cleaning needed. Other concerns included obstructed handwashing access, reused disposable containers, water collecting in a cooler, improper wiping cloth storage and employee items near food preparation areas. Reused containers were discarded, and employee drinks were relocated.
