The Thirsty Buffalo
211 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Passed re-check · Oct 20, 2026 Directions
53
How the BiteKarma score works
Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.
At a glance
- Passed 5 of 5 graded inspections since 2025.
- Last inspected Oct 20, 2026: passed with 6 violations, 2 critical.
- Keeps coming up: Food separated and protected, cited 3 times, plus 8 other repeat issues.
- #30 in Raleigh's Hall of Shame, among the lowest BiteKarma scores in the city.
- 14 critical violations in the last two years.
Inspection history 5 visits
- 2026
- Passed Oct 20
Reinspection
6 violations, 2 critical
- Critical Toxic substances properly identified stored and used
- Critical Food separated and protected
- Minor Physical facilities installed, maintained and clean
- Minor Utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried and handled
- Minor In-use utensils: properly stored
- Minor Personal cleanliness
- Passed Oct 2
Inspection
15 violations, 7 critical
- Critical Toxic substances properly identified stored and used
- Critical Handwashing sinks supplied and accessible
- Critical Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
- Critical Proper hot holding temperatures
- Critical Proper cold holding temperatures
- Critical Certified food protection manager
- Critical Food separated and protected
- Minor Utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried and handled
- Minor Insects and rodents not present, no unauthorized animals
- Minor Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied and cleaned
- Minor Physical facilities installed, maintained and clean
- Minor Proper cooling methods used, adequate equipment for temperature control
- Minor Plumbing installed, proper backflow devices
- Minor In-use utensils: properly stored
- Minor Equipment, food and nonfood-contact surfaces approved, cleanable, properly designed, constructed and used
- Passed Apr 30
Inspection
6 violations, 2 critical
- Critical Handwashing sinks supplied and accessible
- Critical Food separated and protected
- Minor Physical facilities installed, maintained and clean
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- Minor Proper cooling methods used, adequate equipment for temperature control
- Minor Plumbing installed, proper backflow devices
- 2025
- Passed Nov 10
Inspection
3 violations, 1 critical
- Critical Certified food protection manager
- Minor Garbage and refuse properly disposed, facilities maintained
- Minor Meets ventilation and lighting requirements, designated areas used
Nearby
BiteKarma scores around The Thirsty Buffalo, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.