CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A popular sandwich shop, a restaurant and bar, and a café received sub-par grades this week in the Restaurant Report Card.
Jersey Mike’s Subs is popular for lunch and on weekends, but the location at 2908 Oak Lake Blvd is barely squeaking by with a low “A”. An inspection revealed cut lettuce and tomatoes in the main prep line were too warm.
The tuna salad wasn't cooling fast enough, so it was moved into the freezer. Plus, pest control was recommended to eliminate the fruit flies buzzing the kitchen and dining room. Jersey Mike's final grade was a 90, the lowest possible A.
An inspection at Mickey & Mooch, a steakhouse at the Arboretum, showed one of the employees was seen handling food -- including fruit, lettuce, and seared tuna -- with bare hands. All of it was tossed out.
Additionally, some of their raw seafood was being stored right above the blue cheese crumbles -- a possible cross-contamination hazard. Sauces, including egg-based hollandaise and béarnaise, were not hot enough. Mickey & Mooch's grade was an 87.5, that’s a B.
At the Metropolitan Café and Catering in uptown, there wasn't a food protection manager on site. This is required everywhere food is made and served.
They had a greasy metal strainer, tongs and a mixing beater all with food stuck on, yet they were marked as having been cleaned. The tomato sauce was holding at 124 degrees, while it’s supposed to be at 135 or hotter. Metropolitan received an 86.5, a B.
