Five Triangle restaurants that had slipped below an A earlier this spring have cleaned up their act, earning fresh A grades after reinspections in late May and early June. County environmental health teams in Wake and Durham counties found that owners had tackled issues ranging from empty hand-washing stations to cluttered storage areas and food held at the wrong temperatures. A grade still reflects just one day's inspection, but the new scores show how quickly operators can bounce back when they fix routine sanitation problems.
According to The News & Observer, the restaurants and their updated scores were Ajisai Japanese Fusion (94% on May 28), Hyderabadi Biryani Pointe in Cary (92.5% on June 2), Little Rey (Raleigh Ironworks) (95% on May 26), Sheeba Restaurant (96.5% on May 12) and Chelsea Cafe in Durham (96.5% on May 28). Those A grades followed earlier inspections that uncovered issues including missing soap at hand-washing sinks, numerous flies, a strand of hair on roasted potatoes and rodent droppings.
Close-up: Ajisai's reinspection
Wake County inspection records show Ajisai Japanese Fusion received an 88.5% (B) on May 14 for problems such as employees washing in a food sink, reused gloves and temperature lapses, and that several of those items were corrected during the visit, according to Wake County. Ajisai then qualified for a reinspection, and the later report shows the score rising into the 90s after on-site fixes and follow-up checks.
What inspectors flagged, and how operators responded
The News & Observer's review of inspection notes details problems that ranged from no soap in hand-washing sinks and numerous flies at one kitchen to "large rodent droppings" found in a storage room at another restaurant. Reinspection records and county reports show those violations were addressed, with inspectors marking many items as corrected during follow-up visits and noting that staff received additional education.
Why inspections vary by restaurant
Local health departments use a risk-based schedule to decide how often they show up. Per Johnston County Environmental Health, restaurants can be inspected anywhere from once to four times a year depending on their menu, food processes and past compliance. Counties also offer a path for reinspection or re-grading when operators correct violations, which is how several of these businesses moved from a B back to an A this spring.
What this means for diners
Sanitation scores are a snapshot, not a promise. They tell you how a place performed on the day inspectors stopped in. If you're uneasy about a recent report, you can check the grade card posted at the door or look up the restaurant on the county's inspection portal before you go. Many violations are fixable, and reinspections are a routine part of the system.
