Chicken sludge. Margarita mix in chemical buckets. Midlands restaurants with bad March inspections

South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Midlands in March, from chicken sludge pooled at the bottom of a breading station, margarita mix kept in buckets used to store chemicals and evidence of pest infestation. The state each month releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Lexington and Richland counties.

Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in March.

Cocos & Beer Mexican Grill at 4405 Ft. Jackson Blvd in Richland

Cocos & Beer Mexican Grill had an inspection on March 8 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed a cooler leaking into an uncovered bucket of raw fish. Water was also pooling below onto partially-covered bus tubs with product inside.

Also observed was chemical buckets being used to hold margarita mix on the floor behind the bar. An employee was seen wiping the inside of a plate for ready to eat nachos with a contaminated towel another employee had used to wipe his hands on after handling raw meats. Also seen was buildup on sides of equipment on the make line, build up on racks and shelving, along with grease buildup on the ground in front of the grease bin.

A required followup inspection was held on March 17 and the restaurant got an A grade.

Miyo’s on Forest at 3250 Forest Drive in Richland

Miyo’s had an inspection on March 1 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed uncovered raw chicken stored on the floor of the freezer and buckets of cabbage sitting directly on the floor of make line areas. Also observed was 6 inch-deep pans of cooked chicken covered in the walk in cooler not cooling properly.

Raw chicken was also seen being prepped in a sink at the same time as dirty dishes were being washed. Cutting boards were seen with deep, dark grooves and black buildup.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on March 10 and got an A grade.

Mynt Chophouse 75 at 2732 Decker Blvd. in Richland

Mynt Chophouse 75 had an inspection on March 10 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed evidence of pests in the area behind the make line and storage. The inspector also observed green and white fuzzy growth on cooked cabbage in the walk in cooler.

Raw fish was seen stored next to produce in the walk in cooler. Also, raw eggs were seen stored over produce and cooked meatballs were seen stored next to raw chicken wings.

Buildup caked on fryer baskets and inside fryers was observed, along with buildup inside the breading station, with liquid chicken sludge pooling in the bottom.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on March 13 and got another C grade. A second required followup inspection was held on March 23 and the restaurant earned an A grade.

Pizza Palace at 1314 Leesburg Road in Richland

Pizza Palace had an inspection on March 22 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed evidence of rodent droppings behind the bar on the side of a beer keg cooler where towels were being kept. Also observed raw steak being cut on the make line cutting board where ready to eat salads, subs and sandwiches are prepared.

Raw product was seen stored improperly over cases of produce and ready to eat cooked foods, such as raw chicken wing use over buckets of feta, chicken quarters in storage container over cooked pizza sauce and raw hamburger meat plate over cooked noodles in storage containers.

The mechanical dish machine provided les than the minimum required chemical sanitation.

A required followup inspection was held March 30 and the restaurant got an A grade.

El Jimador at 1072 Lake Murray Blvd. in Lexington

El Jimador had an inspection on March 6 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed raw meat thawing in pans of standing water. Also observed were dishes and other equipment with buildup of food and debris stored as clean.

Raw hamburger patties were seen stored above ready to eat food inside of prep coolers. Also seen was packaged single serve pizza stored in contact with repackaged raw beef in the prep freezer.

A required followup inspection was held on March 9 and the restaurant got another C grade. A second followup inspection was held on March 15 and the restaurant got an A grade.

Fusion Bowl Asian Bistro at 5166-E Sunset Blvd. in Lexington

Fusion Bowl had a restaurant inspection on March 20 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed a large bowl filled with raw chicken rinsed off in the sink and then stored as clean. Also observed was raw meats stored above egg rolls in the walk in cooler.

Bus pans more than 4 inches deep of raw chicken and noodles were seen not adequately cooling. Containers of food and open sauces were seen stored directly on the floor in the walk in cooler. Puddled water was noted on top of a bus pan of food in the cooler.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on March 24 and got an A grade.

Taqueria at 152 N Pine St. in Lexington

Taqueria had an inspection on March 29 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed fresh eggs soiled with dirt and feathers or documentation of an approved source for fresh eggs. Also observed was employees rinsing hands without using soap and not washing hands between points of contamination.

Areas of walls and ceilings were seen in poor repair throughout the kitchen.

A required followup inspection has not yet been held.

Tokyo Grill at 1787 S Lake Drive in Lexington

Tokyo Grill had an inspection on March 1 and got a C grade.

An inspector observed an employee with long hair not adequately restrained, allowing a piece of hair to fall in the rice on the front serving line. Also observed were boxed food items stored directly on the floor in the walk in cooler area.

Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on March 10 and got an A grade.