South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Midlands in April, from roaches and rat droppings, to dead mice in traps. The state each month releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Midlands counties.
Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in April.
El Rinconcito Mexicano had an inspection on April 15 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed roaches of various stages of growth throughout the facility.
Food was seen stored on the floor in the dry storage area. Meat was seen stored in trash bags in the freezer.
Staff members were seen failing to wash hands with soap before starting food prep tasks. Dirty dishes were seen stored as clean. A buildup of food debris was seen on non-food contact surfaces.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 25 and got an A grade.
Ferrara Real NY Pizza had an inspection on April 2 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed boxed spaghetti noodles, bagged flower and soda syrup boxes stored on the floor. Also observed was bulk flour and salt not covered.
Employees were seen not washing their hands when switching tasks. Black and brown buildup was seen on lids of squeeze bottles full of wine, lemon juice and oil.
Pieces of chicken were seen not kept at proper cold holding temperatures. Open sauce cups were seen stored in a pan with food and spilled debris. Heavy black buildup was seen on cutting boards. Fuzzy growth was found inside the chest freezer stored near the mop sink.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 4 and got an A grade.
Ganbei had an inspection on April 30 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed a variety of open sauce buckets stored directly on the floor inside the walk-in cooler.
An employee was seen slice a lemon for a drink with bare hands. The restaurant listed Escolar fish as white tuna throughout the menu. Raw chicken was seen stored above raw shrimp in the walk-in cooler.
Dirty dishes were seen stored as clean. Rice from yesterday was not discarded per the policy. An excessive buildup of grease was seen on sides of equipment in the kitchen.
A required followup inspection has not yet been held.
Great Wall had an inspection on April 24 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed rodent droppings throughout the facility.
An employee was seen not washing hands when switching from raw to ready to eat foods. An employee was seen washing hands without soap.
Raw chicken was seen stored above ready to eat items. Uncovered food was seen stored in freezers.
Cooked chicken, noodles and shrimp were seen without consistent date markings. The back screen door was unable to close and gaps were observed in it. Grease buildup was seen throughout the facility.
A required followup inspection has not yet been held.
Grecian Gardens Restaurant had an inspection on April 23 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed rodent droppings in the dry storage area.
An employee was seen not washing hands when switching from dirty dishes to clean dishes. Several employees were seen grabbing ready to eat foods with bare hands. Multiple dented cans were seen in the dry storage area.
Dirty dishes were seen stored as clean. Foods such as salad, pastes, rolled ham and cheese were not properly date marked. Food buildup was seen on cooking and baking equipment.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 30 and got an A grade.
Old Mill Brew Pub had an inspection on April 8 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed multiple employees not wash hands before handling burger buns after handling a raw burger patty. Also observed a server station hand washing sink used as a drink dump station.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper cold holding temperatures. Chemical spray bottles were seen stored directly above active food preparation.
A personal open fragrance bottle was seen stored above an open box of tea bags.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 15 and got an A grade.
Ebenezer Bakery had an inspection on April 22 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee with long nails kneading and working with dough without gloves on. Also observed was bagged bread, shelled eggs and milk stored directly on the floor.
Employees were seen quickly rinsing hands without washing them thoroughly. All equipment, shelving and tables were seen dirty and grim with food matter.
A required followup inspection has not yet been held.
Burger King had an inspection on April 12 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed rodent droppings by the dry storage area.
The drive-thru window was seen not working properly. Multiple employees were seen with hair beyond shoulder length without adequate hair restraints. Multiple dishes were seen stored as clean.
The prep cooler by the drive-thru area not maintaining proper temperature for food. Black buildup and sticky residue was seen in cabinetry underneath drink machine. Black buildup, grease and food debris seen underneath and behind equipment.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 21 and got an A grade.
Crafty Crab had an inspection on April 14 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed employees wiping raw seafood off of gloves onto a wiping cloth used for cleaning food-contact surfaces in the kitchen.
An employee was seen washing hands without soap. Employees were seen handling raw seafood and changing tasks without washing hands.
Food debris was seen on dishes stored as clean. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 24 and got an A grade.
Doc’s BBQ & South’n Buffet had an inspection on April 22 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed multiple dead insects throughout the facility. Also observed were dead mice and insects on a pest trap.
Cat fish was seen stored above ready to eat banana pudding. Dishes with grease and food residue were seen stored as clean. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Floors were seen soiled with grease and food product.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 28 and got an A grade.
Egg Roll Chen had an inspection on April 3 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed bags of carrots and onions stored directly on the floor in the walk-in cooler.
Employees were seen not washing hands between points of contamination. Raw panned chicken was seen stored over raw beef in the cooler. Bowls of raw product were seen on top of bulk storage containers.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Bottled medicines were seen stored with single service items in the dry storage area.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 11 and got an A grade.
Jerk Hut had an inspection on April 2 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed dishes covered in yellowish sauce, grease and food particles stored as clean.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Large covered pans filled with sauce and jerk chicken were tightly stacked and improperly cooled from the previous night. A freezer seen in the back fenced in yard had food stored directly on the floor inside.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 8 and got an A grade.
K Pot had an inspection on April 15 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed employees changing tasks without washing hands.
Facility was not maintaining shell stock tags and parasite destruction. Bar ware washing equipment did not meet chemical sanitization temperature.
Pork was seen thawing on a prep counter in a pan and not under approved thawing methods. A gap was seen under the screen door in the kitchen area.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on April 24 and got an A grade.
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Patrick McCreless is the service journalism editor for The State, where he and a team of reporters write about trending news of the day and topics that help readers in their daily lives and better informs them about their communities. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL.