The following restaurant inspections were conducted by the Lenoir County Health Department:

Kings Restaurant

405 E New Bern Road, Kinston 

Date: 9/26

Score: 92

Observations: 

Employee coffee cup sitting on steam table without lid. 

Rotting sweet potatoes were creating a fly issue. 

Raw shrimp thawing beside cooked ribs cooling. 

Inside of ice machines are visibly soiled. 

Some food in blue-air fridge was above 41F. 

Walk-in cooler #2 was above 42F. 

Chicken salad and potato salad was not date marked. 

Several flies seen throughout facility. 

Gaskets on chicken hot hold cabinet and faucets 3-comp sink in disrepair. 

Shelving, floors, walls, ceilings, outside and inside of equipment/refrigeration, fryer guts, oven beside kettles, dish rack bases, cleanplae carts, and can opener need additional cleaning. 

Grease pans and pig remnants in dumpster area need to be cleaned/removed. 

Cracked floor tiles, damaged ceiling tiles, and damaged door jambs need to be repaired. 

Microbial growth in dry storage room needs to be cleaned and source of moisture needs to be addressed. 

Employee book bags and purses laying around kitchen. 

The Laughing Owl 

108 W North Street, Kinston 

Date: 9/30

Score: 97

Observations:

Build up on the ice machine and the can opener blade. 

Observed handles for rice resting in the rice. 

Blender with tape all over it/cracked. 

Dumpster doors open and the area is not clean. 

Wall being bearing hand wash sink on cook line, next to prep sink need repair. 

Vents are dusty. 

Several lights out under the hoods. 

Bojangles 

400 W Vernon Avenue, Kinston 

Date: 10/07

Score: 96

Observations:

Build up on large ice machine and soda machine. 

Build up on the bottom of the ice scoop holder on the side of the ice machine. 

Observed lemons with coffee grounds on them on the front line. 

Wiping cloths need to be stored in sanitizer. 

Observed metal cambros stacked wet. 

Observed 1/2 gallon tea jugs on the floor. 

Metal plating on the right of door coming off the wall. 

Residue on storage racks, and equipment through out the facility. 

Build up on gaskets of all equipment. 

Dumpster lid left open. 

Area in the kitchen have flooring that is no longer smooth which allows water to pool. 

Aggies Steak and Subs 

909-D W Vernon Avenue, Kinston 

Date: 10/07

Score: 94.5

Observations: 

Soda nozzles were soiled. 

Hard boiled eggs on an ice bath on prep counter were 50F. 

Some food was not date marked. 

Employee was wearing apple watch. 

Wet cloths need to be stored in sanitizer. 

Sugar scoop handle resting in sugar. 

Chicken breading scoop had no handle. 

Utensils not stored properly. 

Wooden shelving not approved. 

Some knives had handles in disrepair. 

Green cutting board needs to be replaced. 

Floors and walls need cleaning. 

Beary Smokey Smokehouse

222 N Herritage Street, Kinston 

Date: 10/07

Score: 94.5

Observations: 

Observed employee drink on top of microwave in downstairs food prep area. 

Multiple employees washed hands and did not use a barrier. 

Cake was next to raw beef in upstairs cooler. 

Several fruit flies throughout facility.

Damp cloths not stored in sanitizer. 

Microwave in downstairs prep area in disrepair. 

Some cutting boards were heavily scored. 

Inside of two door reach in upstairs had heavy grease spillage. 

Leak at the hot water handle of the hand sink in downstairs prep area. 

Upstairs and downstairs food prep areas and downstairs dish room need additional cleaning. 

Brighthouse Mart and Grill 

5189 Hwy 55 W, Kinston 

Date: 10/07

Score: 90

Observations: 

Person in charge lacked knowledge and has multiple priority item violations. 

No paper towel available at the hand wash sink. 

Hot water in bathrooms is not reaching 100F. 

Some foods were not being held at 41F or less. 

Some foods not date marked. 

Spray bottle in women’s restroom was not labeled. 

Observed one live insect and dead insects in open sticky traps. 

Leak at prep sink and 3 comp sink. 

Mop sink lacking back flow preventer on hot water side. 

Garbage receptacle not on a non-absorbent pad. 

The Country Store

1561 Hwy 58 South, Kinston 

Date: 10/07

Score: 97.5

Observations: 

No paper towel in women’s restroom. 

Ice machine shield observed with residue and build up. 

Flies throughout cook line, need better pest control. 

Hardee’s

4171 W Vernon Avenue, Kinston 

Date: 10/07

Score: 97

Observations: 

Observed pans with encrusted grease. 

Additional cleaning need on equipment. 

Drain stop handle broken off drain and water leaking from hole. 

Floors, walls, and ceilings, need additional cleaning.