Southpoint Area Restaurant Inspection Scores for February 2024

On occasion, Southpoint Access will gather information from Durham County’s Public Health Department to get a snapshot of how facilities in this region are scoring on their inspections. In this report, we delve into recent reports on restaurants in the 27707 zipcode.

TL;DR Version: Top scores (100/100) went to Afrikiko’s Bistro, Bul Box, Joe Van Gogh, and Lakewood Social. Lowest score (93/100) went to Mariscos Los Cabos.

Afrikiko’s Bistro. 1619 Fayetteville St. Score: 100/100. Notes: No notes.

Azteca Grill. 1929 Chapel Hill Rd. Score: 99.5/100. Notes: Bottles in facility didn’t have names and weren’t easily identifiable. Gaskets in walk-in cooler had food debris. Employee food and drinks stored with food and drink for facility customers.

BB’s Crispy Chicken. 3109 Shannon Rd., Bldg. 3, Ste. 200. Score: 97/100. Notes: Certification for person in charge expired. Two uncovered containers of chicken in tall reach-in cooler.

Bob Evans Farm Restaurant No. 321. 5419 Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 95.5/100. Notes: Observed egg mix at the cook line holding at 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked foods in reach-in coolers on both ends of the make line without lids. In-use utensils stored on top of the lids of food at the grill station.

Bul Box. 3105 Shannon Rd. Score: 100/100. Notes: No notes.

Bull and Bean. 3710 Shannon Rd. Score: 94.5/100. Notes: Multiple drinks stored on wire shelf above bins of dry goods. Handwash sink in kitchen only reached 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Sanitizer in three-compartment sink and dishwasher read 0 ppm. Shell eggs stored in top of flip-top cooler were 52 degrees Fahrenheit. On menu, asterisk used to note consumer advisory and “emissions factors.” Many menu items had asterisk that didn’t require the consumer advisory.

Bull City Solera and Taproom. 4120 University Dr. Score: 99.5/100. Notes: Blanched French fries were 53 degrees Fahrenheit in the cold drawer of the salad flip top.

Checkers No. 3881. 2520 Fayetteville St. Score: 97/100. Notes: Wet wiping cloth stored on a prep table. Containers stacked wet in dry dish area. Employee bathroom sink cracked and hanging.

China Palace Express. 5210 Garrett Rd. Score: 95/100. Notes: Pork and duck thawing at room temperature. Two duck boxes on floor under prep sink and a dry chili box in dry storage area. Food employee wasn’t wearing hair restraints.

Chubby’s Tacos. 4711 Hope Valley Rd., Unit 5-H. Score: 95/100. Notes: Hot water below 100 degrees Fahrenheit in all handwashing sinks. Queso temperature below 135 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven. Margarine bottle and seasoning shakers in cook line without labeling.

Clean Eatz. 5320 McFarland Dr., Ste. 110. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Handwash sink by tall reach-in freezer blocked with two boxes. Utensils held in steamwell at 130 degrees Fahrenheit with steamwell on medium heat.

Dragon Inn. 3823 Guess Rd. Score: 96.5/100. Notes: Several seasonings in cook line unlabeled. Wet wiping clothes stored throughout kitchen. Stickers on exterior of containers stored as clean.

Dunkin Donuts. 1125 NC Hwy. 54. Score: 95/100. Notes: Employee finished sweeping, tried putting on clean gloves, did not wash hands. Employee dumped coffee and rinsed pot in handwashing sink. American cheese and sausage stacked high and had temperature about 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

El Chapin. 4600 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 98/100. Notes: Pot of chicken mixed with vegetables, zucchini, and chicken thighs stored on rack cooling at room temperature.

El Cuscatleco. 4212 Garrett Rd. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: All equipment soiled.

El Rodeo. 3404 Westgate Dr. Score: 99.5/100. Notes: Bottom shelves under three prep tables in kitchen starting to show rust. Plywood wall separating kitchen and entrance lobby must be replaced.

Eurest Dining at BCBSNC CSC Building. 1965 Ivy Creek Blvd. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Container of raw beef stored above container of raw eggs in grill reach-in. Items on salad bar in cold hold at grill and at main station not at required temperature.

Foster’s Market. 2694 Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Two cans of tuna had dented and compromised seams. Prepared and packaged “ready to eat” food should be disposed of after expiration. Shredded chicken, meatballs, squash, and roasted corn cooling from prep at room temperature with plastic wrapped top or lids tightly affixed.

Golden Pizza. 2300 Chapel Hill Rd. Score: 96/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager on premises during inspection. Food debris on a pan stored clean. Chicken in pan sitting partially on grill at 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Pizza sauce and cheese in walk-in cooler lacked date marks.

Guglhupf Bakery, Café, and Biergarten. 2706 Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat foods in walk-in cooler holding between 43 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Working spray bottle of glass cleaner lacked label.

Happy + Hale. 3103 Shannon Rd. Score: 96.5/100. Notes: Raw tenderloins stored above cooked beans. Washing machine chlorine sanitizer solution at 0 ppm. Almond milk in the fruit reach-in cooler holding at 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet wiping clothes stored throughout the kitchen.

Happy China. 2505 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 96/100. Notes: No hand soap at handwashing sink on the make line. Lighter stored with clean plates used for dine-in food. Soy sauce container stored on floor in dry storage. Two containers of egg rolls stored uncovered in walk-in cooler.

Hardee’s. 2721 Chapel Hill Rd. Score: 97/100. Notes: No written procedures for vomiting or diarrheal event. Sausage biscuit in the hot holding unit at 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Egg wash in tender station ice bath at 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Half gallon of low-fat milk in shake cooler with no date mark.

Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffett. 4600 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Ste. 2. Score: 98/100. Notes: Sanitizer bucket stored inside handwashing sink in sushi area. Utensils stored in container of water at 96 degrees Fahrenheit at hibachi station.

Hope Valley Diner. 3710 Shannon Rd. Score: 94.5/100. Notes: Sanitizer in three-compartment sink reading low. Chlorine dishwashing machine reading 0 ppm. Gravy in hot box holding at 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Liquid eggs holding at 44 degrees Fahrenheit in an ice bath with container not submerged in ice.

Jason’s Deli. 5408 New Hope Commons Rd. Score: 97/100. Notes: Sanitizer bucket stored in first handwashing sink at make line, making it difficult to wash hands. Cheese, tomatoes, and salami tightly covered and with a lid, not allowing proper cooling. Stickers left on avocados stored at make line.

Jersey Mike’s Subs. 1835 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Black and pink buildup on soda machine’s ice chute. Lettuce on service line was overfilled and at 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray bottle of water next to bread oven lacked label. Employee prepped food with bracelets on. Multiple pans stacked wet.

Joe Van Gogh. 4711 Hope Valley Rd., Ste. 19. Score: 100/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager on site at start of inspection, but arrived during middle of inspection.

Lakewood Social. 1920 Chapel Hill Rd. Score: 100/100. Notes: Kitchen handwash sink used as a drink dump sink. Torn gaskets on cold drawers. Lids to the left garbage bin were left open.

Mariscos Los Cabos. 4020 Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 93/100. Notes: Person in charge didn’t have food protection certification and couldn’t answer questions about cooling procedures or cold hold or hot hold temperatures. Wiping cloth stored in hand sink next to the three-compartment sink. About 25 pounds of cooked fish found on top shelf of walk-in cooler at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese filling stored in walk-in cooler without a date mark. Menu didn’t properly mark foods that could cause illness when undercooked.

Mi Peru Peruvian Cuisine. 4015 University Dr., A1. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Three spray bottles of purple solution lacked labels. No label on bottle of pink solution. Fish thawed in walk-in cooler while still in packaging. Box of beef stored on floor of walk-in cooler.

Mini Market Salvamex. 4226 Garrett Rd., Ste. C2. Score: 95/100. Notes: Tray of raw shelled eggs stored on top of storage bin containing flour. Large pot of tamales on griddle holding between 119 and 129 degrees Fahrenheit. Metal pans, plastic bowls, and serving dishes on dish rack stacked while wet. Front left burner of stove doesn’t work and the stove is missing two knobs.

Moe’s Southwest Grill. 5332 Macfarland Dr. Score: 99/100. Notes: All cutting boards discolored and scored. Soiled interior and exterior doors of the reach-in cooler.

Neo China. 4015 University Dr. Score: 97/100. Notes: Seasonings on cook line not labeled. One employee prepping food while wearing watch. Several wet wiping cloths throughout kitchen. Cutting boards scored and discolored. Interior and exterior of all cooking equipment soiled with food debris.

Neo Japan. 1125 NC Hwy 54. Score: 96.5/100. Notes: Wet wiping cloth stored on counter of make line. Utensil used to scoop rice directly submerged. Door to walk-in freezer unhinged and would not close. Black buildup on gaskets of walk-in cooler.

Nuvotaco. 2512 University Dr. Score: 97/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager on site at time of inspection. Shrimp and chicken on shelf below flip-top at 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Single-use articles above make line stored face up with no covering.

Outback Steak House. 3500 Mt. Moriah Rd. Score: 98/100. Notes: Food protection manager certification expired. Handwash sink in dish area lacked soap. Several stacks of dishes stored wet by dish machine. Cutting boards scored and discolored.

Peony Asian Bistro. 3515 Witherspoon Blvd. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Ice chute soiled with buildup. Vent hood above cook line needed cleaning.

Pop’s Backdoor South. 3710 Shannon Rd., Ste. 104. Score: 95.5/100. Notes: Second restroom lacked hand sanitizer. Chicken wings holding above fill line at 44 degrees Fahrenheit. No date label on containers of lettuce stored in walk-in cooler. Mushrooms, spinach, chicken breast, and chicken wings cooling at room temperature between 63 and 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet wiping cloths stored throughout kitchen.

Pure Soul. 4125 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Ste. 1. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Vegan shrimp holding between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Sanitizing solution at three-compartment sink and in buckets well over 400 ppm. Food employee wore no beard or hair restraint during food prep. Five deep freezers aren’t certified. Dishwashing sink found with water below 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q Shack. 2510 University Dr. Score: 98/100. Notes: One unlabeled chemical spray bottle. Brisket sitting at room temperature, loosely covered by lid. Tongs stored on door of oven between uses.

Randy’s Pizza. 4810 Hope Valley Rd., Ste. 112. Score: 96/100. Notes: Expired turkey should’ve been discarded. Oil, salt, and pepper lacked labels. Wet wiping cloth in prep area near three-compartment sinks.

Randy’s Pizza. 1813 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. Score: 99/100. Notes: Manager present with expired food protection certification. Three soiled knives stored on wall knives storage area. Soiled vent hood filters and top of wall behind stove.

Red Crab. 4600 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 97/100. Notes: Raw chicken stored above sausage in reach-in cooler. Eggs, potatoes, corn above fill line reading 84 to 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Eggs holding at 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet wiping clothes stored throughout kitchen.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. 5313 New Hope Commons Dr. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Marinara holding in steamwell at 121 degrees Fahrenheit. Second door gasket of reach-in freezer was torn. Multiple metal containers stored clean with food debris on the outside.

Sake Bomb. 4215 University Dr. Score: 96/100. Notes: Raw chicken stored above beef in first reach-in cooler. Chlorine dish machine concentration reading at 0 ppm. Bag of rice stored on floor in back of kitchen near walk-in cooler.

Saltbox Seafood Joint. 2637 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Cooked collard greens in sealed container found in walk-in cooler at 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Two out of three ice bath thermometers read inaccurately.

Subway. 2405 Chapel Hill Blvd. Score: 96/100. Notes: Person in charge wasn’t a certified food protection manager. Rusted grease trap with flaking paint in front of three-compartment sink. Back handwashing sink starting to hang off wall. Soiled gaskets in the low reach-in cooler behind the make line.

Taco Bell. 3509 Westgate Dr. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Two small metal pans stored as clean had wet debris at bottom. Food employee wore no facial hair restraint while preparing food. Open boxes of straws and cups stored on floor in dry storage room.

Tandoori Bites. 5318 New Hope Commons Dr., Ste. 201A. Score: 97.5/100. Notes: Person in charge wasn’t a certified food protection manager. Vegetable balls and vegetable samosa holding between 47 and 49 degrees Fahrenheit in sandwich unit. Chicken, lamb, rice, broccoli and goat in walk-in cooler holding between 46 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tasu Express Asian Grill and Poke. 3307 Watkins Rd., Ste. 100. Score: 99.5/100. Notes: Two sanitizer buckets stored on kitchen floor. Several bowls stacked wet.

Thai Café. 2501 University Dr. Score: 95.5/100. Notes: Chafing fluid stored above clean plates and cups. Tightly sealed bag of rice from prep. Shrimp thawing on the low prep shelf within the kitchen. Container of sauce uncovered on low prep shelf. Container of shrimp stored on floor of walk-in cooler. Wiping cloths on several prep surfaces.

Triangle Coffee House. 3109 Shannon Rd. Score: 98/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager on site during inspection. Exterior of tall reach-in cooler and gasket of reach-in freezer soiled.

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