Bad Daddy's Burger Bar on John J Delaney Drive scored an 85 on its Mecklenburg County health inspection Wednesday, Aug. 26, dropping the Ballantyne restaurant to a B grade for the first time.

Charlotte Observer reporter Eva Flowe reported the score as part of a weekly roundup of restaurants that fell below an A during the Aug. 21–27 inspection cycle. Of at least 142 restaurants inspected countywide that week, Bad Daddy's was among those that did not reach 90.

The county inspection record lists multiple violations at the restaurant, located at 15105 John J Delaney Dr., Suite A. Most were marked as repeats.

The largest point deductions, three points each, came from raw protein storage, date-marking failures and soiled food-contact surfaces. An inspector observed salmon stored behind ready-to-eat pork in a cooler, with all raw proteins stored above ready-to-eat foods. Staff used "burger mitts," secondary gloves placed over in-use gloves when handling raw meat, which the inspector found did not allow safe removal without contamination risk. The person in charge said the facility would switch to dedicated utensils for raw proteins.

For date marking, numerous items in coolers lacked proper dates. The person in charge voluntarily discarded chicken wings, cream cheese dip, cooked onions and cooked mushrooms. The inspector noted this was the second time the facility had been assessed full points for date marking and warned that the next inspection may require a risk control plan.

A cold-holding unit used for toppings registered 47°F throughout the inspection, above the 41°F maximum. The person in charge said the unit had been causing issues and that a technician would be contacted. The county directed staff not to place items in the unit until it is repaired and required a three-day violation reinspection.

Fruit flies were found throughout the facility, particularly in the dish area. The person in charge said the restaurant had recently changed pest control companies. A pest control technician arrived on-site during the inspection.

Additional violations included improperly labeled sauces, wet-stacked pans, heavy dust buildup over the salad station and AC vents, and food debris in a hand sink.

Under North Carolina's grading system, a score of 90 or above earns an A, 80 to 89 earns a B, and 70 to 79 earns a C. Permits are revoked immediately for scores below 70.

No public statement from Bad Daddy's Burger Bar appeared in county records or the Charlotte Observer's reporting as of Friday, Aug. 28.

The county's reinspection of the cold-holding violation is required within three days of the Aug. 26 inspection.