Roaches, no buffet sneeze guards & more in Midlands restaurants with worst September inspections
South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Midlands in September, from roaches and flies to buffet lines without sneeze guards. 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 September.
CK Mart #8 at 2624 Broad River Road in Richland
CK Mart #8 had an inspection on Sept. 20 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed fly and roach activity in the food prep areas, along with fly strips over the food prep areas.
Also observed were raw chicken wings and chicken legs in standing water. Raw fish was seen in standing water to thaw.
Boxed food was seen stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer. Debris and spilled matter was seen inside cabinets. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.
CK Mart had a required followup inspection on Sept. 27 and got an A grade.
Shoney’s at 7335 Garners Ferry Road in Richland
Shoney’s had an inspection on Sept. 25 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed a butter wheel with excessive buildup, dirty dishes with labels and residue stored as clean and food debris on the meat slicer.
Black substance buildup was seen inside the ice bin. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.
Food at the end of the buffet line were seen not protected by sneeze guards. Pie crusts were seen stored on a pan opened and uncovered on the top rack with clean dishes. Also observed was a buildup of grime, grease, biofilm under equipment.
A required followup inspection for the restaurant has not yet been held.
Burnin 99 Korean BBQ Hotpot at 1150 Bower PKWY in Lexington
Burnin 99 had an inspection on Sept. 15 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed raw eggs stored over open produce and buffet pans only washed and rinsed, not sanitized. Also observed were fly strips over the food prep areas.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. An employee was seen rinsing their hands off without using soap. Other employees were seen cutting vegetables and fruits with their bare hands.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Sept. 18 and got an A grade.
Konnichiwa at 5086 Blvd. in Lexington
Konnichiwa had an inspection on Sept. 11 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee handling raw crab meat in the sushi area with bare hands. The handwashing sink at the back door and in the sushi bar was seen with lids and utensils inside it.
Raw chicken was seen stored directly on top of a sauce bucket in the walk-in cooler. Raw beef was seen stored directly over produce in the walk-in cooler. Also, portioned ice cream was seen stored in open bowls underneath open raw products.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Sept. 20 and got an A grade.
Taqueria at 152 N Pine St. in Lexington
Taqueria had an inspection on Sept. 12 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed a bus tub of tongue that had been cooked the previous day and had been inadequately cooled overnight. Also observed was a large amount of raw meat thawing in standing water.
Raw chicken was seen stored above uncovered raw beef and uncovered raw onions in a reach-in cooler. An employee was seen washing hands without soap.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Sept. 22 and got an A grade.
A-Town Wings at 1637 Richland Avenue W in Aiken
A-Town wings had an inspection on Sept. 19 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed raw beef stored with and above ready-to-eat food and raw chicken stored with vegetables. Also observed was a tub of raw chicken wings stored next to a fryer.
Multiple chemical bottles were seen stored with single use items and food items. Food was seen stored directly on the floor. Employees were seen doing gloves without washing hands.
A required followup inspection for the restaurant has not yet been held.
Famous Toastery at 1028 Corp PKWY 104 in Lancaster
Famous Toastery had an inspection on Sept. 27 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed food stored on the floor in the walk-in freezer. Also observed was a bucket of broken glassware and rags near the soda syrup dispenser, where multiple fruit flies were observed.
Multiple food products in the cooler were seen with seen with date marks exceeding the seven-day holding period.
Pho & Sushi at 1143 Stonecrest Blvd. in York
Pho & Sushi had an inspection on Sept. 18 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee pick up carrots with bare hands and place them on a plate for serving to a customer. Also observed an employee rinse calamari in a hand sink and an employee not wash hands in between touching dirty and clean dishes.
An employee was seen using a paint brush as a basting brush.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Fish was seen thawing in a package that states to remove the fish from the reduced oxygen package. Burnt food and debris was found behind the cook line.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Sept. 26 and got an A grade.
