New Century Oriental Deli was hit with an 88 percent B on Tuesday after a county health inspection found dead insects and a laundry list of sanitation problems in the kitchen. The grade puts the shop on a reinspection track and extends a streak of sub-A scores in public records.
What inspectors found
According to The Charlotte Observer, inspectors documented dead insects in the kitchen and noted there was no certified food protection manager on duty. The report also flagged employee belongings stashed in food prep areas, a hand sink with no paper towels, incorrectly stored beef, missing date labels on prepared foods, broken equipment and a need for deep cleaning that together dragged the score below an A.
A history of repeat problems
Public inspection records show similar trouble at the same spot in earlier visits. A July 16, 2025 inspection logged an 86.5 percent B and documented a "large amount of live roaches," dirty utensils and equipment failures, with several problems marked as corrected during the visit, according to the Mecklenburg County inspection record. The repeat citations indicate inspectors have flagged many of the same sanitation gaps across multiple checks and recommended more intensive pest control.
How grading and enforcement work
State rules set grading thresholds at 90 percent or higher for an A, 80 to 89.99 for a B and 70 to 79.99 for a C, with scores under 70 considered failing, per the North Carolina Administrative Code. The administrative rules and state law give regulators the authority to suspend or revoke permits when an establishment does not maintain the minimum grade, as outlined in 15A NCAC 18A .1308 and G.S. 130A-248. The Charlotte Observer also noted that Mecklenburg inspectors completed at least 174 checks last week, with almost all facilities earning A grades, which makes New Century's B stand out in the local lineup.
What happens next
Because inspectors marked some violations as corrected on the spot and left others for follow-up, the deli stays on the county's reinspection schedule until Priority and repeat issues are resolved, according to the county portal. Diners who want to see the latest status can search inspection reports on the public inspection portal.
