Southpoint Area Restaurant Inspection Scores for January 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 27713 zipcode.

TL;DR Version: Top scores (100/100) went to Bento Nouveau, Mediterranean Grill and Grocery, Penn Station East Coast Subs, Super Target Food Avenue 2069. Lowest score (88/100) went to Orient Garden.

AMC Southpoint 17. 8030 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 99/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager in charge at time of inspection. Missing handwashing sign at sink near prep area. Observed open hot dog bag without date marking.

Anissa’s Spot. 5111 NC Hwy 55, Ste. 101. Score: 99/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager present during inspection. Heavy black buildup in back of ice machine.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. 8030 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 99/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager present during inspection. Debris on the walk-in floor and under handwashing sink.

Bento Nouveau. Duke South Food Court. Score: 100/100. Notes: Container of sushi ginger on floor during inspection.

Blue Ridge Deli & Café. 3530 S. Alston Ave. Score: 99.5/100. Notes: Clean cutting board stored behind faucet/handles of three-compartment sink. Two-door reach-in freezer gaskets and caulking needed cleaning.

Bojangle’s No. 4. 4831 NC Hwy 55. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Sanitizer buckets throughout facility exceeding 200 PPM chlorine. Wet stacking of multiple deep pans in clean dish area. Door to ice machine on floor of facility during inspection.

Bua Thai. 5850 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 101. Score: 92.5/100. Notes: Person in charge lacked unexpired food protection certification. No vomit and diarrhea cleanup plan. Tofu, cooked and raw chicken, and dumplings above 41 degrees Fahrenheit in reach-in. Cooked chicken, fried tofu, and dumplings lacked date markings. No labels on sanitizer bottles.

California Pizza Kitchen. 6910 Fayetteville Rd. Score: 96/100. Notes: All food in make line in the pizza section read above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Salmon thawed without being removed from a reduced oxygen environment. Avocado with sticker on make line. Between-use utensil stored in dry goods with handle touching the food.

Cheesecake Factory. 8030 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 95.5/100. Notes: Chicken soup in walk-in with temperature above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Several seasoning containers and dressing in cooking line and back prep station lacked appropriate labels. Wet cloths not stored in sanitizer bucket.

Chef Chick’s Bakery. 2500 Meridian Pkwy. Score: 96/100. Notes: Restroom hand sink only reached 61 degrees Fahrenheit during inspection. Raw shelled eggs and raw bacon stored next to ready-to-eat foods in walk-in cooler. Facility vacuum sealing raw bacon and perogies without a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points plan. Wrapped breads and sweets for consumer self-service lacked food labels. Multiple scoops

Comfort Inn – RTP Food Service. 4507 NC Hwy 55. Score: 93.5/100. Notes: No certified food protection manager present at time of inspection. Food employee on site couldn’t demonstrate knowledge of food safety. Sausage links stacked too high on the buffet holding at 108-132 degrees Fahrenheit. No utensils provided for dispensing bread, bagels, and muffins. Food employee wore bracelet on wrist during prep.

Dim Sum Asian Bistro. 5410 NC Hwy 55. Score: 90/100. Notes: Person in charge had expired food protection certification. No employee health policy on site. No documentation of vomit and diarrhea cleanup procedure. Cooked pork bao stored under raw chicken on speed rack. Metal pan of raw eggs stored above cooked pork. No measurable concentration of chlorine in the dish machine. Numerous cooked items lacked date markings.

Firebird’s Rocky Mountain Grill. 8030 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 97/100. Notes: Cooked food in walk-in lacked dates. Spices and containers in the cook line lacked labels. Clean dishes stacked while still wet.

Golden Corral. 5006 NC Hwy 55. Score: 94.5/100. Notes: Two employee beverages stored on countertop at to-go station. Expired tuna salad mix in walk-in. Toppings bar items past four-hour discard time. Chicken stored uncovered in tall reach-in cooler next to frying station. Utensils stored in bins with debris buildup. Air conditioner vent covers soiled in hallway and main kitchen.

Hyatt Place Durham/Southpoint. 7840 NC Hwy 751. Score: 96.5/100. Notes: Food employee picked up bacon from floor and proceeded to work. Temperature at the dishwasher read 148 degrees Fahrenheit, below the required 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Food items above 41 degrees Fahrenheit at tall reach-in and buffet breakfast.

Jersey Mike’s Subs. 7005 Fayetteville Rd. Score: 96/100. Notes: Person in charge didn’t provide an employee health policy. No procedures in place for vomiting or diarrhea. Hot water in handwashing sinks below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Jimmy John’s. 1125 NC Hwy 54. Score: 98/100. Notes: Person in charge didn’t have food protection certification. Plastic containers with mild sticker residue. Clean dishes stacked wet.

Mediterranean Grill and Grocery. 5114 Revere Rd. Score: 100/100. Notes: Reach-in freezer across from cash register needed cleaning.

Mediterrasian Bistro. 105 NC Hwy 54. Score: 97/100. Notes: Sugar with dark color spots (contaminated by unknown product). Chicken final cook temperature below 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoops used for ice cream and spoon for rice stored in water at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Moe’s Southwest Grill. 6807 Fayetteville Rd. Score: 96.5/100. Notes: Women’s restroom handsink only reached 59 degrees Fahrenheit during inspection. Onions/peppers in hot holding below 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Two seasoning shakers on make line missing labels. Two containers of oil stored on ground under the hood. An employee wore a watch during food preparation.

Mr. Shark. 3825 S. Roxboro St., Ste. 135. Score: 97/100. Notes: Two containers of cleaner/disinfectant lacked labels. Bag of raw chicken thawing on prep sink drain board. One wet wiping cloth stored on a prep surface.

Orient Garden. 202 NC Hwy 54. Score: 88/100. Notes: No person in charge present at time of inspector’s arrival. Employee handled raw chicken and then did other food preparation without washing hands. Multiple fried egg rolls in hot holding below 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Labels needed on bulk containers, seasonings, sauces, and oils stored on the make line. Three soy sauce buckets stored directly on ground in the main dining area. Wet wiping cloths stored on prep surfaces. Pitcher with handle directly in rice. Facility has hot water sanitizing dish machine but doesn’t have a manual temperature-measuring device. Excessive grease on fryer equipment and shelving. Garbage on ground outside of trash bin.

Panera Bread No. 1645. 6702 Fayetteville Rd. Score: 92.5/100. Notes: Employee beverage stored on prep surface. Egg whites and sausage patties stacked in a double pan in the steam well below 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Two sanitizer buckets stored close to food ingredients and single-service articles. Two employees wearing watches and rings while prepping food.

Penn Station East Coast Subs. 8200 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 100/100. Notes: Need to replace missing trash bin plug.

Pizza Hut No. 36612. 2107 NC Hwy 54. Score: 93.5/100. Notes: Pizza dough pans stored as clean with sauce on them and pans with heavy buildup on interior and exterior at dish pit. Food stored beneath unshielded condenser lines in both walk-in cooler units. Employee slicing pizza without a hair restraint.

Refuel 104. 1914 Sedwick Rd. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Offers apples for sale, but some weren’t wrapped or protected. No stickers present. Torn gasket on tall single-door freezer.

Rise. 8200 Renaissance Pkwy., Ste. 1003. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Butter below 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Missing ambient air thermometer in low boy near biscuit area. Employee lacked hair restraints.

Shiki Sushi. 207 NC Hwy 54. Score: 96/100. Notes: Missing handwashing sign at sink. Salmon, chicken, and burger in drawer cooler, and fried tempura in tall glass cooler, and spicy tuna, scallop, and blue crab with temperature above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken and beef thawing at room temperature rather than under refrigeration. Most bottles not labeled outside the cook line. Water dripping over sushi rolls and wontons from condensation in the tall glass cooler.

Starbuck’s Coffee No. 50265. 6910 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 156. Score: 99/100. Notes: Facility lacked a vomit and diarrhea cleanup plan. Milk dumped in handwashing sink. Single-use articles stored on the floor in the store and in storage area.

Super Target Deli 2069. 8210 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 98.5/100. Notes: Chicken in hot holding below 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Super Target Food Avenue 2069. 8210 Renaissance Pkwy. Score: 100/100. Notes: Missing date on opened pepperoni.

Taco Bell. 2101 NC Hwy 54. Score: 95/100. Notes: Quat sanitizer used for dishes and dispensing read 0 PPM when tested. Bottle was empty. Labels needed on seasoning shakers at fryers and on container with cinnamon sugar at back prep area. One employee with long facial hair not wearing beard restraint. Wet wiping cloth buckets through read 0 PPM.

Tandoor Iron Grill Indian Restaurant. 5410 NC Hwy 55. Score: 88.5/100. Notes: No person in charge present for most of inspection. Pink and black buildup in ice bin. Vegetable and meat samosas in two-door low reach above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Samosas past seven days stored in low reach-in. Wet wiping cloth bucket read less than 50 PPM chlorine.

Uncle Julio’s No. 38. 8030 Renaissance Pkwy., Ste. 885. Score: 95/100. Notes: Handwashing sink at back near prep area and dishwashing area out of order. Required fixed within 10 days. Labels lacking on chemical spray. A few clean dishes stacked wet.

Waffle House. 4203 NC Hwy 55. Score: 90/100. Notes: Multiple employee beverages and a container of food stored on shelving and counters beside food and single-service articles. Employee went from washing dishes to another task without washing hands. Also, an employee bused dirty dishes with gloves on and then removed the gloves and put away clean dishes without washing hands. Large cart blocked rear handwashing sink. Whipped butter and cheese that was just delivered was stored on the low raw meat shelf in the walk-in next to raw chicken, beef, and pork. Grits, chili, and gravy in double-stacked containers in holding below 135 degrees in the hot well. Chemicals stored on shelves beside single-service articles and food.

Waffle House No. 844. 112 NC Hwy 54. Score: 90.5/100. Notes: Employee beverage stored on prep sink drain board. Rear handwashing sink blocked by door. Raw sausage and ground beef besides whole cuts of beef in the meat cooler. In the walk-in cooler, raw chicken was beside raw pork, cheese sat on a box of raw sausage, and raw sausage was next to country ham and bacon. Stickers left on containers stored as clean above the 3-compartment sink. Sausage gravy in front hot well below 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Zenfish. 105 W. NC Hwy 54, Ste. 261. Score: 99/100. Notes: Handwashing sink water at prep area and restrooms measured 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Wet clothes not stored in sanitizer.

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