Rat feces, moldy cheese & more in Upstate restaurants with worst December inspections
South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Upstate in December, from rat feces in a dry storage area to mold on cheese and employees not washing their hands before handling food. The state each month releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Upstate counties.
Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in December.
Cracker Jack’s Cafe at 1146 Jackson St. in Anderson
Cracker Jack’s Cafe had an inspection on Dec. 9 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee handing ready-to-eat food without gloves.
The dishwashing machine could not reach a minimum temperature of 160 degrees. Tomatoes, ham, lettuce, and eggs were seen not kept at proper cooling temperatures.
The facility did not have a proper date marking system in place to determine when food had expired.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 18 and got an A grade.
Mishimi Express at 3318 N Main St. in Anderson
Mishimi Express had an inspection on Dec. 3 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee who didn’t wash hands through the first half of the inspection.
Eggs were seen stored in cardboard cartons above ready-to-eat food. An employee was seen using gloves for more than one task. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.
Plastic wrap was seen used as wrapping on shelving. An accumulation of grime and food debris was seen on floors and walls.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 17 and got an A grade.
Osaka Sushi & Steakhouse at 1633 Floyd Baker Blvd in Cherokee
Osaka Sushi & Steakhouse had an inspection on Dec. 9 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed fly strips hanging throughout the kitchen.
Boxes of broccoli were seen stored on a counter attached to the dishwashing machine while an employee was washing dishes. Organic matter was observed inside an ice bin. An employee was seen handling garbage and then food without changing gloves.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Time policy records were not provided for sushi rice, tempura crab, shrimp, and imitation crab. Water was seen leaking from the ceiling by the dishroom.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 13 and got an A grade.
Rapid Fired Pizza at 2023 Augusta St. in Greenville
Rapid Fired Pizza had an inspection on Dec. 4 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed a food employee without hair restraint in place. Also observed was a dry wiping cloth on the counter heavily soiled with food.
An employee was seen changing tasks without properly washing hands prior to working with food. Seven spray bottles with unidentified chemicals were seen in the kitchen. The dish washing machine failed to reach a high enough temperature. Food debris, grease, and grime were seen on equipment in the kitchen.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 13 and got an A grade.
Windy City Burgers at 12 E. Coffee St. in Greenville
Windy City Burgers had an inspection on Dec. 3 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed a food employee handling burger buns with bare hands.
A potato cutter was seen encrusted with food. Food containers were seen unclean to sight and touch. A buildup of grease and food debris was seen in the ovens. A buildup of grease and food debris was also seen on shelving, food storage containers, and cooking equipment.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 13 and got an A grade.
Pizza Inn at 1108 Asheville Hwy in Spartanburg
Pizza Inn had an inspection on Dec. 17 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed rodent waste in the dry storage area. Also observed was the back door frame pulled away from the wall, allowing pests to access the establishment.
An employee was seen using a cell phone, then not washing hands before resuming food production. Organic buildup was seen inside the ice machine. Food debris buildup was seen on floors in several areas.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 27 and got an A grade.
The Terraces at Lakewood at 3711 Clark Road in Spartanburg
The Terraces at Lakewood had an inspection on Dec. 17 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed water in the cooler dripping into a bucket above stored food items.
A drinking cup was found on a cutting board. The dishwasher was seen not sanitizing properly. Cutting boards were seen unclean with deep cut grooves. Green biological growth was seen on Parmesan cheese.
Organic buildup was seen on multiple pieces of cooking equipment.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Dec. 27 and got an A grade.
This story was originally published January 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
