“Elbow-Deep” Are Not Words You Want In A Restaurant Inspection Report

I've never worked in a restaurant but I'm an avid reader of restaurant inspections. I know I'm not alone. Why would the reports be published if no one was interested?

When you're going out to eat, don't you like to know which death traps to avoid? It's just common sense.

Last week, an east Charlotte restaurant received one of the lowest health inspection scores I've ever seen: 76.5. It's the equivalent of a C. It's also a big problem for the restaurant's owner.

The establishment in question is Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant on Central Avenue. Among their violations were improper food temperatures and a kitchen employee wiping their gloved hands on a towel, then touching dirty dishes, and going back to the food without changing gloves or washing their hands in between.

This was the kicker: the health inspector reported that a Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant employee was "elbow-deep" in a pot of beans. In other words, she was mixing the beans with her bare hand and arm. Up to her elbow! "Elbow-deep" are not words you ever want to see in an restaurant inspection report.

This incident ranks right up there with a health inspection report I read about years ago. Another Charlotte restaurant was written up for having a live chicken walking around in the kitchen. I'm all for fresh ingredients, but...