Charleston's Restaurant

1623 S Stapley Dr, Mesa, AZ 85204

American

License: Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Last inspected: Apr 16, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Charleston's Restaurant has been inspected five times since 2024. The most recent report on file is from Apr 16, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around one violation compared to roughly four violations earlier on.

Compared to the broader Mesa restaurant scene, this is about average. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 16, 2026

Routine

1 minor violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

In-use utensils stored improperly between uses (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed at the back area of the establishment a metal ice shovel and a plastic ice bucket being stored directly on top of the ice machine. PIC re-washed both items and placed them inside a clean dry container at time of inspection

3-304.12

Sep 30, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations. 4 corrected on site.

View 4 violations

Raw and ready-to-eat foods not properly separated (corrected on site)

Inspector 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

3-302.11(A1-2)

Equipment or utensils not clean (corrected on site)

Inspector 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

4-601.11(A)

Improper cooling methods used (corrected on site)

Inspector 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

3-501.15(B)

Wiping cloths used or stored improperly (corrected on site)

Inspector 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

3-304.14

Jun 4, 2025

Routine

1 major violation. 2 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

No soap available at handwashing sink (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: At the kitchen food prep. area , handwashing station, observed soap dispenser was empty. informed manager. refilled at the time of inspection

6-301.11

Food stored improperly or exposed to contamination

Inspector notes: Observed onion bags on the kitchen floor. discussed with facility manager. recommended to utilize a designated shelf

3-305.11

Equipment or utensils not air-dried before storage (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed at the drying rack/ storage shelves, some washed metal pans were wet stacked. upon looking at the pans , also some had biofilm, some food debris inside the pans. proper scrubbing and air drying for the onsite food contact equipment reviewed with the facility manager on duty. manager removed soiled pans all scrubbed and re-sanitized

4-901.11

Feb 10, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

Food storage containers not labeled with contents (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed some plastic tubs filled with ingredients back in dry storage room, as well as under the food prep. stations. asked facility kitchen staff regarding the food ingredient labeling guidelines. kitchen staff provided a label for all the ingredient containers

3-302.12

Sep 3, 2024

Routine

No violations found.

100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Charleston's Restaurant last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Charleston's Restaurant on file is from Apr 16, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.

How does Charleston's Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Mesa?

Charleston's Restaurant most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is about the same as the Mesa average of 95.

Has Charleston's Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Charleston's Restaurant have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Charleston's Restaurant means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

How often is Charleston's Restaurant inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Charleston's Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.

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