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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameLEMPIRA RESTAURANT- CENTRAL
Address4439 CENTRAL AV
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 9/17/2025
Final Score @ Grade
95 A
General CommentsFacility has consumer advisory asterisk next to ceviche on the menu. EHS advised to also put asterisk on breakfast menu next to cook-to-order egg items and steak.

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
6 0 Proper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use Yes No No 2-401.11 (A) Employees shall eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco only in designated areas where the contamination of exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and other items needing protection can not result. Observed employee drinking from a straw in the kitchen. CDI EHS educated employee and he left the kitchen.
21 1.50 Proper hot holding temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.16(A)(1) Maintain TCS foods in hot holding at 135F or above. -P -Observed sausage and onions hot holding on the stovetop below 135F. -CDI- PIC reheated sausage/veggies to 165F. REPEAT
22 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes No No 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P Observed Cole slaw, Cooked shrimp, pickled onions, and marinated raw shrimp in cook line cold holding units holding above 41F. PIC stated that these items were prepped this morning. CDI PIC put these foods in the WIC and cooled down to 41F or below. For more information, please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Safe Food Temperatures https://youtu.be/tXP09IK-1TQ .
33 1 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control No Yes No 3-501.15 Quickly cool foods. Use methods such as open/vented shallow pans, large ice baths and active stirring. Cold air must flow around product to remove the heat. -Pf Observed multiple tcs foods that were prepared or prepped this morning cooling in the prep top, cold drawer, and lowboy cooler. CDI EHS educated PIC and he put these foods in the WIC to cool down. EHS advised PIC that of cooling methods violations are observed on the next inspection a Risk Control Plan will be implemented. REPEAT For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU .
35 0 Approved thawing methods used Yes No No 3-501.13 (A), (B), (C ) Use approved thawing methods. Pf Observed pork thawing in the prep sink in standing water that was 105F and Tripe also thawing in a bucket of standing water on the counter. PIC stated that the pork and tripe was taken out of the freezer a hour ago. EHS educated PIC on approved thawing methods. PIC put tripe in the WIC to thaw and began cooking the pork.
38 0 Insects & rodents not present; no unauthorized animals No No No 6-202.15 Protect outer openings of establishment from insect or rodent entry. Observed a gap at the bottom of the back door.
39 0 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display No No No 3-305.11 Store food in a clean, dry location, not exposed to contamination. Keep at least 6 inches above the floor. Observed a box of spices directly on the floor in the dry storage area.
55 1 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean No Yes No 6-501.11 Floors, walls, and ceilings including the attachments such as soap and towel dispensers; light fixtures; and heat/ac vents shall be maintained in good repair. Observed exposed concrete in WIC. REPEAT
56 0 Meets ventilation & lighting requirements; designated areas used Yes No No 6-305.11/6-501.110 Designate and use an area for the orderly storage of employees' clothing and possessions. Observed multiple employee purses and bags on the shelf above the dish machine drain board. CDI Employees moved their items.