Raw food by soaking dishes. Flies in kitchens. Midlands restaurants with worst June inspections
South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Midlands in June, from raw and cooked food kept in a sink by dirty dishes being soaked, to flies throughout kitchen areas. 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 June.
Crafty Crab at 700 Gervais St. in Richland
Crafty Crab had a restaurant inspection on June 2 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed excessive fruit flies and drain flies throughout the entire kitchen area, make line, prep areas and dish areas. Also observed were fly strips hanging over food prep areas.
A box of frozen crawfish was seen sitting out under a prep table, while raw chicken wings were seen in standing water. Multiple containers of food were seen uncovered and stored in the walk-in cooler and freezer, including corn, lobster tails, crab legs and shrimp. Also seen was raw pork uncovered in the walk-in cooler next to produce items, as well as raw clams and squid stored over open produce items.
The restaurant had two follow-up inspections on June 9 and June 16 and again received C grades. The restaurant had a third followup inspection on June 26 and earned an A grade.
El Paraiso Mexican Restaurant at 7260 Parkland Road in Richland
El Paraiso Mexican Restaurant had a restaurant inspection on June 1 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee with raw doughy gloves switch to wrapping heated tortillas for service without changing gloves and washing hands. Also observed was an employee handle raw meats and then handle ready to eat food tongs left in product.
The dishwashing machine was seen not sanitizing properly. Grocery and garbage style bags were seen used for direct food storage. Also, tortillas were seen heated in grocery style bags.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on June 9 and got an A grade.
Good Taste at 7311 Parklane Road in Richland
Good Taste had an inspection on June 27 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed cooked chicken and egg rolls stored in used raw chicken boxes in the walk-in cooler. Also observed was a black substance buildup on the door of the ice machine.
An employee was seen touching a cellphone and then go back to cooking without proper hand washing. Harsh chemicals were seen stored next to containers of oils and other dry foods.
A required followup inspection has not yet been held.
Red Bowl Asian Bistro at 481-11 Town Center PL in Richland
Red Bowl Asian Bistro had an inspection on June 14 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed raw and cooked food in the sink while dishes were being soaked in the first compartment. An employee was observed handling spring rolls with bare hands.
Certain foods were seen not cooling properly. Also seen were bust tubs being used as a food contact surface with zip ties holding the sides together. An accumulation of food debris was seen inside the dish washing machine.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on June 21 and got an A grade.
Za’s Brick Oven Pizza at 2930 Devine St. in Richland
Za’s Brick Oven Pizza had an inspection on June 28 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed fly activity throughout the facility. Also observed was food debris in the hand sink at the pizza station.
The inspector observed an employee cut partially cooked chicken on the prep table cutting board, dip the knife in a sanitizer box and then use the same knife to cut ready-to-eat toasted pita bread on the same cutting board.
The dish machine at the bar was seen not sanitizing properly. Old adhesive and food debris was seen on dishes stored as clean.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on June 29 and got another C grade. Another followup inspection has not yet been held.
Burger King #27117 at 4301 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington
Burger King had an inspection on June 9 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed dishes stacked as clean with label and food residue on them. Also observed was an open package of raw bacon stored over a box of tomatoes in the walk-in cooler.
The facility’s probe thermometer was seen not functioning properly. Boxes of food were seen stored directly on the floor throughout the facility. Buildup food splash and debris was seen on, around and behind equipment and on the walls near the dish area.
The restaurant had two followup inspections on June 19 and June 28 and got C grades. Another required followup inspection has not yet been held.
China House at 1856 S Lake Drive in Lexington
China House had an inspection on June 14 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed food matter and flour on equipment stored as clean. Also observed was raw chicken stored over repackaged raw beef in the freezer.
Shrimp and chicken were seen not adequately cooling. Raw chicken was seen thawing in standing water in a sink. Rusted shelving was seen where spices are stored in the kitchen area.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on June 30 and got an A grade.
Fatz Southern Kitchen at 942 E Main St. in Lexington
Fatz Southern Kitchen had an inspection on June 13 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed puddling of water throughout the kitchen area including the inside of the walk-in cooler. Also observed was a large gap underneath the door leading outside and tears in the screen window coverings in the single service storage area.
A covered quarter pan filled to the top with pulled pork was seen stored on a cart next to the entrance of the walk-in cooler.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on June 20 and got an A grade.
Inakaya Watanabe at 655 St Andrews Rd. in Lexington
Inakaya Watanabe had an inspection on June 23 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed food debris on dirty dishes stored as clean and black buildup in the ice machine.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Teriyaki sauce prepared a week earlier was seen stored in the walk-in cooler.
A required followup inspection was held on June 30 and the restaurant got an A grade.
This story was originally published July 3, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
