Fruit flies, holes in walls and more in Greenville restaurants with worst October inspections

Fruit flies, bungee cords used for temporary repairs and holes in walls were among the violations South Carolina inspectors found in Greenville area restaurants in October.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture made 296 inspections in October and the great majority of restaurants scored the highest grade, A, 27 scored B and four scored C.

Country House Cafe, 2221 Highway 25 N, in Travelers Rest scored 74, a C grade.

The restaurant was cited for a hand sink being used as a dump sink with no soap or paper towels provided, a crack in the sanitizer line preventing solution from entering the machine and multiple items not clean to sight with old date stickers on them.

Food was stored at improper temperatures and preparation dates were not listed.

Rodents were evident in a dish machine.

Two scoops were in standing-room-temperature water, and pitchers and cups were stored under the drain.

Tape, putty and bungee cords were used for temporary repairs.

A water hose in a sink below the water line had no back flow prevention device.

Halls Chophouse, 550 S. Main St., Greenville scored 97 points on a follow-up inspection but was given a C due to a consecutive violation. It scored B on its routine inspection in September.

The inspector found time/temperature controls were not maintained at 41 F or lower. An eight-drawer cooler held lettuce, beef, salad dressing and raw shrimp at improper temperatures.

At the routine inspection, a can opener blade was encrusted with food debris, the warewashing machine temperature was too low to sanitize utensils, and cooked foods were not properly cooled.

The problem with the eight-drawer cooler was found during this inspection.

The facility was inspected next day and got an A

Molina’s Mexican Restaurant, 2 Benton Road, Travelers Rest scored 80 and received a C on a follow-up inspection.

An inspector saw staff members wiping off gloves with towels after transporting dirty items to the ware wash sink and washing gloves at a hand sink instead of changing gloves.

The water temperature in bathroom sinks was too cold, a consecutive violation. Cheese dip was in a plastic container in a warm water well and the coolers were not cold enough.

Not at the proper temperature at the server station were red salsa and cream sauce in a 5 gallon bucket and at the grill cooler, fajita steak shrimp and chicken.

Hot foods were cooling in a refrigeration unit in pans deeper than 2 inches.

Salsa and other products had serving tools floating in the product.

There were two holes in the wall at the bar behind the hand sink and the women’s bathroom was missing an electrical wall plate.

Inspectors issued an A grade several days later.

The restaurant scored C on a routine in inspection in September.

Sticky Fingers Restaurant, 1 S. Main St., Greenville scored 88 with a C grade on a followup inspection.

Among the findings were a hand sink used as a dump sink, plastic containers of spices in the BBQ pit room not labeled with the common name of food and the back door did not close completely.

There was a heavy infestation of fruit flies in the bar area and a buildup of food debris, grime and grease inside and outside of ovens and fryers, dirty bar dump sink, damaged ceiling tiles that were soiled with smoke and grease.

The bar area floor drain had a large amount of standing water and the floor at the cook line was pitted and uneven and had standing water.

The back door area was too dark.

The restaurant scored 79 and received a B grade during a routine inspection in September. The violations were the same as were found in the followup with the addition of fruit flies in the building and several ready to eat foods were not labeled with prep or discard date (chicken wings, sliced tomatoes, deviled egg prep).

Milk crates were used for storage of food and equipment, ware washing equipment was not cleaned at a proper frequency as evidenced by accumulation of bio-film, grease and/or grime.

The walk-in cooler had a buildup of dust and grime on ceiling and fan covers and hood filters, microwave handle, refrigerator interiors, shelving and handles, ovens and stoves, wall mounted cheese melter had a build up of food debris, grime and grease.

The floors were not clean.