Inspection Management System
 
  
 
Premise Information
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NameESSEX BAR AND BISTRO Rules Governing Inspection Scores.
Address101 S TRYON ST Restaurants: 
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 Day Care and Adult Care: 
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City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28202
Swimming Pool Rules: 
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Premise Type1 - RestaurantMobile Food Units, Push carts, Tattoo Parlors: 
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CountyMecklenburgResidential Care and Local Confinement: 
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Inspection Date 8/19/2019 
Final Score @ Grade
83 B
NC Department of Environmental Health: 
Website
General Comments
Violations 
Critical Violations SHOWN in RED   
NA=Not Applicable  NO=Not Observed  CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description NANOCDIRVRComments
1 2 PIC present, Demonstration - Certification by accredited program, and performs duties No No No No No 2-102.12 PIC shall demonstrate knowledge by being a certified food protection manager. Observed no certified food protection manager present at the beginning of the inspection. PIC provided certifies food protection manager certificate. 2-101.11 PIC shall be present during all hours of operation. -PF Observed no PIC (person in charge) at the beginning of the inspection. Food prep was actively occurring and employees stated that the managers have not arrived. Ensure to have a PIC present at all hours of operations. CDI manager arrived 40 min during the inspection and was the designated PIC. 2-103.11(A-L) PIC shall ensure rules in the code for food safety and handling are met. Observed multiple issues of cold holding, date marking, soiled FCS (food-contact surfaces), barehand contact, etc. Ensure rules in the food code for safety are met. Facility has obtained 11 Risk factor violations.
4 1 Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use No No Yes No No 2-401.11 Eating, Drinking, or Using Tobacco - C Observed employee actively eating and drinking while prepping bread on the prep top tables. Ensure to designate an area for eating and drinking. CDI EHS (Environmental Health Specialist) instructed employee to finish eating and drinking in the seating area of the establishment.
7 1.50 No bare hand contact with RTE foods or a pre-approved alternate properly followed No No Yes No No 3-301.11(B) Do not contact exposed ready-to-eat food with bare hands. Use suitable utensils, single-use gloves or dispensing equipment. -P Observed employee handling cooked bread from the fire-oven after baking in RTE (ready-to-eat) form. NO BARE HAND CONTACT IS ALLOWED. CDI EHS educated employee on using gloves and employee voluntarily discarded bread.
8 0 Handwashing sinks, supplied and accessible No No Yes No No 6-301.12 Provide paper towels or approved alternative for hand drying at each handsink. -Pf Observed no paper towels at back hansink by mixer. Ensure to provide paper towels or an approved hand drying method at all handsinks. CDI PIC provided paper towels for the handsink.
11 1 Food in good condition, safe and unadulterated No No Yes No No 3-101.11 P Food shall be safe for consumption, unadulterated and honestly presented. Observed 5 lemons with green/white growth stored in a box with other lemons. Ensure to discard food when they are no longer safe for consumption. CDI employee voluntarily discarded lemons.
12 1 Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction No No Yes No No 3-203.12 Retain tag on the bag of shellstock until empty. Record date on the tag when the last shellstock from the container is used. Store tags in chronological order for 90 days. -Pf Observed facility not maintaining shellstock tags for mussels by writing the day of last sold shellstock. Observed multiple shellstock tags without date labeled from last shellstock sold. Observed missing shellstock tags for July-August. PIC stated that mussels were sold during July-August. Ensure to maintain written dates of shellstocks last sold in chronological order for 90 days. CDI PIC rearranged tags into proper chronological order during the inspection.
13 3 Food separated and protected No No Yes Yes No 3-302.11(A) Separate the different types of raw animal foods. -P Observed raw veal meatballs stored above raw octopus in the grill pull drawers. Ensure to store in proper order. CDI employee rearranged to proper order. 3-302.11(A) Separate raw animal foods from ready-to-eat foods. -P Observed raw beef stored above RTE foods in the reach in freezer. Items were removed from commercial packaging. CDI employee rearranged to proper order. Repeat violation.
14 0 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned and sanitized No No Yes No No 4-601.11(A) Equipment food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. -Pf Observed large amount of sticker labels and sticker residue on stacked metal containers. Observed clean cutting boards stored on the floor of the kitchen by the hand sink. CDI items were removed to be properly cleaned.
20 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures No No No No Yes 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P Observed two prep top pull drawers cold holding TCS foods at 50-58F (see temp chart). PIC stated that unit has been repaired last week. Unit is not maintaining proper cold holding temp at 41F or below and employees stated that food is left in the unit overnight. CDI employee voluntarily discarded all TCS foods above 41F during the inspection and is going to use TPHC until unit is repaired. Verification required.
21 3 Proper date marking and disposition No No Yes Yes No 3-501.18 Discard the food requiring date labels once time/temperature window has expired, if it is not been labeled, or if the label is incorrect. -P Observed several food items such as bean sprouts, goat cheese, and cooked meatballs without a date labels. Employee were unable to verify the date items were opened/prepped. Observed grilled onions (dated 8/9), cooked mushrooms (dated 8/9), falafel (dated 8/9), and cooked veal meatballs (dated 7/22) held past 7 days. Employee stated that grilled onions, cooked mushrooms, and falafel were pulled from the freezer yesterday. Ensure to add the pull dates from the freezer. CDI employee voluntarily discarded bean sprouts, cheese, cooked meatballs, and veal meatballs and added proper labels to TCS foods thawed yesterday.
26 1 Toxic substances properly identified, stored, and used No No Yes No No 7-207.11 Store labeled, employee medications to prevent contamination. -P Observed employee medication stored on cart on single-service articles. Ensure to store employee medications in designated areas to prevent contamination. CDI PIC removed medication.
35 0 Food properly labeled: original container No No No No No 3-302.12 Label all working containers of food (oils, spices, salts) except food that is easy to identify such as dry pasta. Observed several plastic containers of flour, sugar, salt, etc. without labels. Observed several plastic bottles (oil, water, etc.) without a label. Ensure to label to easily identify.
37 1 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage and display No No Yes Yes No 3-305.11 Store food in a clean, dry location, not exposed to contamination. Keep at least 6 inches above the floor. Observed plastic container of flour, coconut milk, etc. stored on the floor of the establishment. Ensure to store off the floor to prevent contamination. Observed drink dispenser stored in the ice at the bar. CDI PIC removed food off the floor and removed drink dispenser. Repeat violation. 3-307.11 Protect food from contamination sources not specifically noted by code. Observed employee eating and drinking while prepping food at the same time on the prep table beside the food. CDI EHS discussed eating and drinking while prepping food with the employee.
40 0 Washing fruits and vegetables No No Yes No No 3-302.15 Wash fruits and vegetables prior to use. Observed limes, lemons, and oranges used as garnishes at the bar with sticker labels attached. Employees stated that limes, lemons, and oranges are not washed if used as a garnish, even when only using the outer peel. Ensure to wash fruits and vegetables.
42 0 Utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried and handled No No No No No 4-901.11(A) Air dry equipment and utensils after cleaning and sanitizing. Observed several metal containers wet stacked. Ensure to allow proper air drying before stacking.
43 0 Single-use and single-service articles; properly stored and used No No No No No 4-903.11(A) Store single-use and single-service articles to prevent contamination and at least 6 inches off the floor. Observed employee medication stored on single-service articles on the cart. CDI PIC removed medication.
45 1 Equipment, food and non-food-contact surfaces approved; cleanable, properly designed, constructed and used No No No Yes No 4-202.11 Food contact surfaces shall be smooth, free of open seams, cracks, chips, pits, sharp internal angles, crevices and assembled to allow access to clean. -Pf Observed several damaged and melted rubber spatulas. CDI PIC voluntarily discarded rubber spatulas. 4-501.11 Maintain equipment in good repair. Observed prep top pull drawers not maintaining cold holding temperatures of 41F or below. PIC stated that units have had issues and was repaired. Enure to maintain and monitor units for proper cold holding temperatures. PIC stated that they will contact company to have it serviced. Observed damaged gasket in the cooler pull drawer by the oven near the bread station. Ensure to repair. Repeat violation.
53 0 Physical facilities installed, maintained and clean No No No No No 6-501.12 Floors, walls, ceilings including the attachments such as soap, towel dispensers; light fixtures; and heat/ac vent covers shall be clean. Caution should be used to minimize food exposure. Observed the ice machine vents with debris build up and floors throughout the establishment under/around equipment with heavy debris build up. 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 floors by the grill and prep area starting to wear and damaged. Ensure to repair.
54 0 Meets ventilation and lighting requirements; designated areas used No No No No No 6-403.11 Designated Areas-Employee Accommodations for eating / drinking/smoking - C Observed no designated area for employees eating and drinking. Observed employee eating and drinking while prepping food on the prep top.