Inspection Report

Business Name
Charleston's Restaurant

Business Address
1623 S Stapley DR Mesa AZ 85204

Permit Number
FD-05508

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
9/30/2025

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
1

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 15

Description: Food Separated and Protected

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-302.11 (A1-2) - Priority: Packaged and Unpackaged Food-Separation, Packaging, and Segregation; Protection from Cross Contamination. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4621/AMC-Toolbox---Cross-Contamination.

Addl Notes: observed in the cookline east wing upright food cooler, raw meat placed atop cooked ribs. also in the adjacent refrigerator, raw ground meats were placed atop steaks. proper storage of raw meats, reviewed with kitchen manager. MCESD food storage chart schematic reviewed. copies provided. manager relocated raw meats to a designated lower shelf and relocated rte food to a higher shelf. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 16

Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized

Comments:

4-601.11(A) - Priority Foundation: Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4574/AMC-Toolbox---Food-Contact-Surfaces. Addl Notes: in the dry storage room, food drying racks, checked some of the washed food pans, noted some pans had dried food inside the washed pans, also some of the washed pans had organic biofilm. showed kitchen manager. all removed, rescrubbed and rinsed and sanitized. also observed many of these pans wet stacked. as dished are being washed and sanitized, please allow proper air drying. MCESD utensil washing schematic reviewed. copies provided. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 33

Description: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment for Temperature Control

Comments:

3-501.15 (B) - Core: Cooling Methods; Covered and Properly Arranged Containers. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4617/AMC-Toolbox---Cooling. Addl Notes: in the cookline food prep. ice bath area, noted pans of cut lettuce at 54-58 deg f. pans were overfilled in a deep plastic food pan, floating atop the ice bath. , dated 9-30. per kitchen manager prepared in the morning. proper cooling for the cut lettuce, 2 tier cooling reviewed. suggested utilizing smalled metal pans instead of a deeper plastic pans. kitchen manager removed lettuce, new shallower metal pan of cut lettuce at 41 deg f established/provided. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 41

Description: Wiping Cloths; Properly Used and Stored

Comments:

3-304.14 - Core: Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation Addl Notes: checked multiple sanitizer solution for the wiping towel buckets. all reding 0ppm. frequency of changing the sanitizer bucket solution reviewed. manager drained and refilled all kitchen sanitizer bucket solutions. multiquat at 200 ppm established. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

report emailed to manager
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.

"A" for Food Safety

Through our grading system, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides at-a-glance indications of how food establishments perform during food safety inspections. This system is designed to grade food establishments in terms of food safety requirements and provide recognition to those who choose to participate.

How does it work?

The issuance of grade cards to food establishments is based on voluntary participation. The person in charge, who is present during the inspection, will be asked whether they would like to participate in the Grading System. This will be decided prior to each inspection. If an establishment does not participate in the Grading System, Not Participating or NP will appear on the inspection report, and the inspection will still occur. If an establishment does participate, a grade of A, B, C, or D will be determined at the conclusion of the inspection using the Grading System chart below. Participating establishments will then be provided with a grade card that can be posted in the establishment. The status of the establishment’s grade will also appear on the Restaurant Ratings page of the department’s website.

How can I determine the grade?

The Grading System chart can be used to determine grades earned for establishments that do not participate. Grades are determined by the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations received at the time of inspection. Violation types are defined in general terms below.

Definitions

Priority Violation: Major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury (e.g. Food employees do not properly wash hands when required).
Priority Foundation Violation: Minor violation that does not directly contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illness but failure to correct this violation may lead to the occurrence of a priority violation. For example, hand washing soap and paper towels not available at hand wash sink (may lead directly to food employees not properly washing hands when required).
Core Violation: Minor violation that relates to general maintenance and sanitation (e.g. No sign reminding employees to wash hands).
Cutting Edge Program: All county food-related establishments can partner with Maricopa County to implement a proactive approach to reducing foodborne illness risk factors by implementing food safety systems that include policies, training, and verification processes. Partners enrolled in the Cutting Edge Program receive an A+ when an A is earned.

Grading System The matrix below is used to grade food inspections under the voluntary grading system.
Violation Category	Grade A	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade D	Grade D
Priority	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	1	2	2	2	more than 2	more than 3
Priority Foundation	0	1	2	3	4	0	1	2	5	3	4	0	1	2	more than 3	more than 0

Any legal action for a pattern of non-compliance or permit suspension results in a D.