Several Triangle restaurants that stumbled on health inspections in early March have climbed back into A territory, after fixing problems like flies in prep areas, employees skipping handwashing and food held at the wrong temperatures. The follow-up checks across Durham and Wake counties show that inspectors keep circling back to higher-risk kitchens until the issues are actually fixed.
According to The News & Observer, five Triangle spots that had scored below an A were reinspected in March and posted improved grades after addressing violations. State guidance lets health departments re-inspect higher-risk restaurants multiple times a year so inspectors can verify that those fixes are real, not just a one-day cleanup.
What inspectors found
Inspectors kept seeing the same red flags: unwashed hands, cooked food with no date labels and pests showing up where food is prepped. Durham County’s records show China Wok scored a 78.5 on a Feb. 25 inspection, after an employee was seen mopping then handling food without properly washing their hands and several cooked items in the walk-in cooler were left undated. The specific violations and planned follow-up are laid out in the N.C. inspection database.
Who swung back to A
The News & Observer’s roundup reports that several restaurants, including Anjappar Chettinad, Beau & Kales Backyard BBQ, Michoacán Mexican Restaurant, China Wok and a Pei Wei at Southpoint, were reinspected in March and earned A-range grades after managers corrected the cited problems. The News & Observer notes that those higher scores were logged between March 9 and March 26, once inspectors documented the fixes.
How restaurants corrected course
On paper, the corrections are pretty straightforward: date-marking cooked foods, repairing leaking hand sinks, tightening up pest control and retraining staff on when and how to wash hands and use gloves. Durham’s notes for Anjappar Chettinad detail repeat handwashing violations and outline plans for an in-service training and a return visit to confirm the changes. The full list of issues and corrective steps is available through the N.C. inspection database.
Where to check scores
Inspection grades are public and easy to look up. Durham posts scores and inspection details on its environmental health site at Durham County Environmental Health, and the state runs a broader database where you can search by restaurant name or address. For the latest grade or to read a full report, head to the N.C. Division of Public Health’s portal at EHS: Inspections, Statistics & Fees.
Why this matters
Public-health officials say reinspections are a standard enforcement tool that helps keep repeat problems in check. At the same time, statewide staffing shortages mean some counties are scrambling to complete every required visit on schedule. A recent review by The Assembly describes how limited resources can slow down follow-ups and stretch inspection teams thin…