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Mitchell County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameTHE TROPICAL GRILL
Address198 OAK AVENUE
 
City/State/ZIP
SPRUCE PINE NC 28777
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMitchell
Inspection Date 8/13/2025
Final Score @ Grade
99.50 A
General CommentsPost employee health policy on the wall to ensure it is easily accessible at all times to food employees and the regulatory authority.

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
2 0 Certified Food Protection Manager No No Yes 2-102.12 (A) Certified Food Protection Manager (C) (A) The PERSON IN CHARGE shall be a certified FOOD protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an ACCREDITED PROGRAM. The owners' servsafe certificates have expired.
3 0 Management, food & conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities & reporting Yes No No 2-102.11 (C) (2), (3) and (17) Demonstration (Pf) Needs written employee health policy. One will be provided at the end of the inspection. PIC states she doesn't allow anybody who claims or appears symptomatic to report to work so no points for this violation. CDI.
5 0.50 Procedures for responding to vomiting & diarrheal events Yes Yes No 2-501.11 Clean-up of Vomiting and Diarrheal Event (Pf) A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT shall have written procedures for EMPLOYEES to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events that involve the discharge of vomitus or fecal matter onto surfaces in the FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. The procedures shall address the specific actions EMPLOYEES must take to minimize the spread of contamination and the exposure of EMPLOYEES, consumers, FOOD, and surfaces to vomitus or fecal matter. Pf The establishment does not have a written vomit/diaherrea cleanup plan. One will be provided at the end of the inspction. CDI.
10 0 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible No No No 6-301.11 Handwashing Cleanser, Availability (Pf) Each HANDWASHING SINK or group of 2 adjacent HANDWASHING SINKS shall be provided with a supply of hand cleaning liquid, powder, or bar soap.Pf Handsink at the dish pit is missing has an empty soap dispenser. The handsink in the kitchen also has buckets stored in front of it. These should be stored elsewhere to make that handsink more easily accessible. A verification visit will be made within 10 days (by 8/23/2025) to ensure this violation gets corrected.
22 0 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) TCS foods shall be held at 41F or below. Observed several TCS items in a prep cooler packed above the fill line. This caused these foods to hold above 41F. The PIC was informed and asked to move them to cooler given they had been there less than four hours. She did so upon request. CDI. REPEAT VIOLATION " 3-501.16 (A) (2) and (B) Time / Temperature Control for Safety Food, Hot and Cold Holding (P) - Potentially hazardous foods being cold held were not maintained at the required temperature. Hold at 41 . Make sure to keep your food items below the fill line on your prep units. The prep units are working fine but they just don't cool above the fill line."
49 0 Non-food contact surfaces clean No No Yes 4-601.11 (B) and (C) Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood Contact Surfaces, and Utensils (C) NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, FOOD residue, and other debris. Observed debris on non-food contact portion of the ice holder upstairs.
53 0 Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied & cleaned No No Yes 5-501.17 Toilet Room Receptacle, Covered (C) A toilet room used by females shall be provided with a covered receptacle for sanitary napkins. Observed no covered trashcan for feminine hygiene products in one of the restrooms.
55 0 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean No No No 6-501.11 Repairing - Premises, Structures, Attachments, and Fixtures - Methods (C) PHYSICAL FACILITIES shall be maintained in good repair. Observed minor cracks on the floor downstairs and in the restroom.