Health inspectors walking into Queen’s Soul Food on East Independence Boulevard last Thursday were met with more than a busy kitchen. According to the inspection report, cockroaches were crawling throughout the restaurant, and two small roaches turned up inside a bin of sugar, leaving the Charlotte soul food spot with an 85 (B) sanitation score. Inspectors noted that the contaminated sugar was thrown out and documented several other sanitation issues tied to hand-washing supplies and equipment upkeep.
What inspectors found
As reported by Charlotte Alerts News, the inspection cited two small cockroaches in a bin of sugar, which was discarded, along with multiple cockroaches on kitchen floors. Inspectors also found dirty pots and pans stored in a rack labeled as clean, and a hand sink in the kitchen with a soap dispenser that did not work and no paper towels available. The report further flagged a large amount of rust in the walk-in cooler and employee food stored above open containers of tilapia and catfish. Inspectors also noted that no certified food-protection manager was on site during the visit.
What a B grade means
Under the North Carolina Administrative Code, a score between 80 and 89 earns a B, while scores below 70 do not receive a letter grade at all. State rules also require that grade cards be posted where customers can easily see them. Operators are allowed to request a reinspection in an effort to improve their grade, and if they do, that follow-up inspection must happen within 30 days.
Past inspections and local context
Queen’s Soul Food has historically done better on health checks, with local inspection records showing scores in the 90s in previous visits. Dropping from the 90s to an 85 underscores how quickly pest issues and basic sanitation lapses, such as broken soap dispensers and rusted equipment, can drag down the public grade for a neighborhood favorite.
How to check the official report
Mecklenburg County Public Health posts its restaurant inspection reports on the Environmental Health section of the county website and, as the county notes, shares recent scores through a data partnership with Yelp. Diners who want to see the full details can check the grade card posted at the restaurant or search the county’s inspection database online to read the inspector’s notes and any required follow-ups.
What comes next
State regulations allow Queen’s Soul Food to correct the violations and then request a reinspection. If the operator asks for one, the local health department must conduct that reinspection within 30 days. Typically, that means addressing pest control, restoring fully stocked and working hand-washing stations, repairing or replacing rusted refrigeration, and fixing unsafe food storage before a new score goes up on the wall.
