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Avery County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameBANNER ELK CAFE
Address116 ROCK SPRINGS CIRCLE
 
City/State/ZIP
BANNER ELK NC 28604
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyAvery
Inspection Date 5/27/2026
Final Score @ Grade
93 A
General CommentsInspected conducted by Zach Holtzclaw under guidance of Regional Specialist Lailani Yates.

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
1 1 PIC Present, demonstrates knowledge, & performs duties No No Yes 2-102.11 (A), (B) and (C) (1), (4) - (16) (PF) (B) Being a certified FOOD protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an ACCREDITED PROGRAM. EHS observed no PIC that is a Certified Food Protection Manager. 2-102.11 (A), (B) and (C) (1), (4) - (16) (PF) (A) Complying with this Code by having no violations of PRIORITY ITEMS during the current inspection; (C) Responding correctly to the inspector's questions as they relate to the specific FOOD operation. EHS observed priority violations and a multiple violations regarding the responses from the PIC from questions asked by the EHS. EHS will return 6/10/26 to ensure compliance.
2 0 Certified Food Protection Manager No Yes No 2-102.12 (A) Certified Food Protection Manager (C) (B) Being a certified FOOD protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an ACCREDITED PROGRAM. EHS observed no PIC certified as a food protection manager.
6 0 Proper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use No No No 2-401.11 Eating, Drinking, or Using Tobacco (C) (A) Except as specified in (B) of this section, an EMPLOYEE shall eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco only in designated areas where the contamination of exposed FOOD; clean EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, and LINENS; unwrapped SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES; or other items needing protection can not result. EHS observed an employee drinking out of a open pitcher on the cook line.
8 2 Hands clean & properly washed Yes No No 2-301.14 When to Wash (P) (F) During FOOD preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks; P (G) When switching between working with raw FOOD and working with READY-TO-EAT FOOD. EHS observed food employee touch raw chicken and proceed to handle ready to eat food. CDI: Food employee voluntarily washed their hands. 2-301.14 When to Wash (P)FOOD EMPLOYEES shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms as specified under § 2-301.12 (E) After handling soiled EQUIPMENT or UTENSILS;. EHS observed employee switch from soiled utensils to clean utensils. CDI: Employee voluntarily washed their hands. 2-301.14 When to Wash (P) FOOD EMPLOYEES shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms as specified under § 2-301.12 (I) After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands. EHS observed food employee go outside the back door and return without washing their hands before returning to tasks.
10 0 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes Yes No 5-205.11 Using a Handwashing Sink - Operation and Maintenance (Pf) (B) A HANDWASHING SINK may not be used for purposes other than handwashing. EHS observed a spoon in the handwashing sink. CDI: PIC voluntarily sanitized the sink.
16 1.50 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized No Yes Yes 4-703.11 Hot Water and Chemical - Methods (P) After being cleaned, EQUIPMENT FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be SANITIZED in: (C) Chemical manual or mechanical operations, including the application of SANITIZING chemicals by immersion, manual swabbing, brushing, or pressure spraying methods, using a solution as specified under § 4-501.114. Contact times shall be consistent with those on EPA-registered label use instructions by providing: EHS observed ware washing machine that produced 0-10ppm chlorine solution. CDI: PIC had ware washing machine repaired. 4-601.11 (A) Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood Contact Surfaces, and Utensils (Pf) (A) EQUIPMENT FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be clean to sight and touch. EHS observed food contact surfaces that had build up food debris. CDI: PIC voluntarily rewashed food utensils. 4-602.11 Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils - Frequency (P) (4) In EQUIPMENT such as ice bins and BEVERAGE dispensing nozzles and enclosed components of EQUIPMENT such as ice makers, cooking oil storage tanks and distribution lines, BEVERAGE and syrup dispensing lines or tubes, coffee bean grinders, and water vending EQUIPMENT: (a) At a frequency specified by the manufacturer, or (b) Absent manufacturer specifications, at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil or mold. EHS observed an icebox with an accumulation of soil.
20 0 Proper cooling time & temperatures No No Yes 3-501.14 Cooling (P) (A) Cooked TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD shall be cooled: (1) Within 2 hours from 57C (135F) to 21C (70F); P and (2) Within a total of 6 hours from 57C (135F) to 5C (41F) or less. EHS observed a cooked meat that did not reach 41F or less in the time frame. CDI: PIC voluntarily discarded the meat.
22 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.16 (A) (2) and (B) Time / Temperature Control for Safety Food, Hot and Cold Holding (P) TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD shall be maintained: (2) At 5C (41F) or less. EHS observed multiple food items not holding at 41F or less in the main walk in cooler. CDI: PIC repaired walk in cooler.
25 1 Consumer advisory provided for raw/ undercooked foods No Yes Yes 3-603.11 Consumption of Animal Foods that are Raw, Undercooked, or Not Otherwise Processed to Eliminate Pathogens (Pf) (B) DISCLOSURE shall include: (1) A description of the animal-derived FOODS, such as “oysters on the half shell (raw oysters),” “raw-EGG Caesar salad,” and “hamburgers (can be cooked to order)”; Pf or (2) Identification of the animal-derived FOODS by asterisking them to a footnote that states that the items are served raw or undercooked, or contain (or may contain) raw or undercooked ingredients. EHS will return 6/1/26 to ensure compliance.
28 0 Toxic substances properly identified stored & used Yes No No 7-207.11 Restriction and Storage - Medicines (P) (Pf) (B) Medicines that are in a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT for the EMPLOYEES' use shall be labeled as specified under § 7-101.11 and located to prevent the contamination of FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES. EHS observed medicine stored on the instant water heater. CDI: PIC moved medication 7-201.11 Separation - Storage (P) POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS shall be stored so they can not contaminate FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES. EHS observed chemicals stored on the instant water heater. CDI: PIC moved chemicals.
33 0 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes No No 3-501.15 Cooling Methods (Pf) (B) When placed in cooling or cold holding EQUIPMENT, FOOD containers in which FOOD is being cooled shall be:(2) Loosely covered, or uncovered if protected from overhead contamination as specified under Subparagraph 3-305.11(A)(2), during the cooling period to facilitate heat transfer from the surface of the FOOD. EHS observed food items being cooled in pans that were not loosely covered. CDI: PIC voluntarily removed covering.
39 0 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display No No No 3-305.11 Food Storage - Preventing Contamination from the Premises (C) (A) Except as specified in (B) and (C) of this section, FOOD shall be protected from contamination by storing the FOOD: (3) At least 15 cm (6 inches) above the floor. EHS observed food items in the walk in cooler stored on the ground.
44 0 Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried & handled No Yes No 4-903.11 (A), (B), and (D) Equipment, Utensils, Linens and Single-Service and Single-Use Articles Storing (C) (B) Clean EQUIPMENT and UTENSILS shall be stored as specified under (A) of this section and shall be stored: (1) In a self-draining position that allows air drying. EHS observed dishes that were wet stacked.
47 0 Equipment, food & non-food contact surfaces approved, cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used No No No 4-501.11 Good Repair and Proper Adjustment - Equipment (C) (A) EQUIPMENT shall be maintained in a state of repair and condition that meets the requirements specified under Parts 4-1 and 4-2. EHS observed a cooler in disrepair. CDI: PIC had the cooler fixed. 4-501.11 Good Repair and Proper Adjustment - Equipment (C) (A) EQUIPMENT shall be maintained in a state of repair and condition that meets the requirements specified under Parts 4-1 and 4-2. EHS observed a dishwasher in disrepair. CDI: PIC had the dishwasher repaired.