Rodent droppings, flies & more in Greenville area restaurants with worst September inspections

Rodent droppings, an employee touched her hair without washing hands before going back to work, debris on prep tables were among the worst infractions seen by restaurant inspections in Greenville County in September.

Four restaurants were given the worst grade, a C., during routine inspections.

Super Carnicereia El Gallo on White Horse Road in Greenville scored 71 for several employees changing tasks without washing hands, dirty pot and utensils in a handwashing sink that was not supplied with cleanser.

The sinks also lacked something for dry hands.

Frozen pork was recorded at improper temperature and gray water dripped onto raw chicken wings. Meat was stored directly in cardboard boxes and knives that had been washed were not clean.

Al pastor and carne asada were at improper temperatures.

Three 5-gallon posts of salsa were not labeled with date markings in the walk in cooler.

The back door was cracked open and the inspector “observed strong presence of flies” and rodent droppings.

Food was stored on the floor and walk-ins, prep tables, floors and walls were not cleaned frequently enough to prevent build up of debris.

US Wings and Deli on White Horse Road in Greenville scored 75.

The inspector saw a pack of cigarettes by a food shelf, poor hand and arms cleaning and washing habits and a cook handled ready to eat food with their bare hands.

Opened food packages were on the floor in the walk-in cooler.

Plastic cutting boards were in poor cleaning condition and cold holding temperatures were 41 degrees or lower. Food trays in the front cooler had no date marking.

An employee was seen with dirty clothing.

The ceiling, floor and walls were not clean.

Molina’s Mexican Restaurant on Benton Road in Travelers Rest scored 76.

Bathroom water temperatures were 22 degrees lower than the 100 degree minimum temperature required by law.

Several buckets of sauce was uncovered beside uncovered pork.

Various foods were found to be stored at improper temperatures, including ground beef, chicken and queso.

Toxic substances were not properly identified, stored, and used. The report did not say what the substances were.

Spices were not clearly labeled or in easy to clean containers.

There were two holes behind the hand sink. The electrical wall plate was missing in the ladies bathroom.

Tato’s Pizzeria on Miller Road in Mauldin scored 86.

The inspector saw an employee wearing gloves, put on a hair restraint and touched her hair without changing gloves. She should have washed hands and donned new gloves.

Food such as diced and sliced tomatoes, ham, feta, yogurt and tamales were not at proper temperatures.

Two cans of Raid were next to clean silverware.

A piece of wood held up the prep table and cinder blocks supported a hand sink.

Several items not being used were on the floor or placed outside the backdoor.

This story was originally published October 10, 2024 at 6:00 AM.