Microwave roaches. Sticky brown pizza covers. Upstate restaurants with worst February inspections
South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Upstate in February, from roaches found in a microwave to dirty equipment and an abundance of flies. 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 February.
El Sureno Mexican Restaurant at 3451 Hwy 153 in Anderson
El Sureno had an inspection on Feb. 26 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed flying insects in different areas of the kitchen and in the dry storage and server areas. Pest control records could not be provided.
An employee was seen handling ready-to-eat foods with bare hands. A box of raw beef was seen on top of an open container of shredded cheese in the cooler. The sugar container was seen stored uncovered under the server counter. Tea urns were also left uncovered.
Certain foods were found kept after their expiration dates. Equipment was seen unclean to sight and touch.
A required follow-up inspection has not yet been held.
Pizza Buffet at 3420 Clemson Blvd. in Anderson
Pizza Buffet had an inspection on Feb. 4 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed employees failing to wash hands before touching clean dishes.
Dented cans of food were seen stored on the ready-to-use rack. Plastic pizza covers with sticky brownish residue on them were seen stored above the prep table. An accumulation of black residue was seen in the ice machine.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Multiple cases, boxes, and tubs of food were seen stored on the floor in the kitchen. An accumulation of grime and buildup was seen on shelving, storage bins, and other non-food contact surfaces. Gray grime and buildup was seen inside the dish machine.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Feb. 10 and got an A grade.
Popeyes at 3811 Clemson Blvd. in Anderson
Popeyes had an inspection on Feb. 26 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed dishes and utensils on the clean rack not clean to sight and touch.
Chicken was seen cooked improperly. Chicken was seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Three large boxes of chicken were not allowed to thaw properly. An accumulation of grime, debris, and food buildup was seen on shelving, dining tables, and windows.
A required follow-up inspection has not yet been held.
Epic Buffet of East Bank at 3940 Grandview Dr. in Greenville
Epic Buffet of East Bank had an inspection on Feb. 5 and got a C grade.
The restaurant voluntarily closed due to its many violations.
An inspector observed live roaches on the floor of the food prep area. Also observed were dead roaches on floors, shelving, and light fixtures throughout the kitchen.
Numerous employee drinks were seen in the kitchen. Employee foods were intermingled in multiple cold holding units, and employee medication was seen stored in the kitchen. A food handler was seen washing hands while wearing gloves.
Black growth was seen inside the ice machine. Sushi was seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Multiple buckets of food containing various sauces and beef stew were seen stored in the walk-in cooler without date labels. Chicken was seen being thawed on a countertop.
A continuous leak was seen under the main cook line.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Feb. 7 and got an A grade, allowing it to reopen.
Ingles at 6605 White Horse Rd. in Greenville
Ingles had an inspection on Feb. 4 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed the deli meat slicer encrusted with buildup from the previous day. Also observed were baking pans encrusted with food debris.
An employee was seen touching dirty rags and headphones and then not washing their hands. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. A can of restricted pesticide was seen in the bakery.
Organic buildup was seen on the floors.
The business had a required follow-up inspection on Feb. 12 and got an A grade.
Jamaica MI Irie at 28 S Main St. in Greenville
Jamaica MI Irie had an inspection on Feb. 27 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed a heavy infection of roach activity in the facility. A roach was observed on a table as this report was being prepared.
Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Certain foods prepared the day prior were seen not properly cooled. Frozen fish and shrimp were seen on a shelf thawing at room temperature.
Food debris was seen heavily encrusted on the stovetop. The interior and exterior of the refrigeration unit in the facility were seen soiled with food debris and grime.
A required follow-up inspection has not yet been held.
Miyabi Japanese Steakhouse at 625 Congaree Road in Greenville
Miyabi Japanese Steakhouse had an inspection on Feb. 26 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed multiple live and dead roaches in the facility. Also observed were multiple dead roaches in the time display of the microwave.
A food handler was seen touching raw meat with gloves, then touching the dish machine and then raw meat again with the same gloves. Microbial growth, debris, and rust were seen inside the ice machine. Dirty equipment and dishes were seen stored as clean.
A required follow-up inspection has not yet been held.
OJ’s Diner at 907 Pendleton St. in Greenville
OJ’s Diner had an inspection on Feb. 11 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed rodent droppings scattered across dry storage, on shelving, and paper goods.
An employee was seen eating in the kitchen, then began handling dishes without washing their hands. Certain meats and cheese were not seen held at proper cooling temperatures. Shelving in the walk-in cooler was heavily soiled with dust and debris.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Feb. 21 and got an A grade.
El Torito at 400 E Poinsett St. in Spartanburg
El Torito had an inspection on Feb. 27 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed several food boxes and containers stored on the floor.
An employee was seen handling tortillas with bare hands. Certain meats were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Boxes of frozen meat were seen stored at the bottom shelf of the prep table.
Dry food buildup was seen on equipment.
A required follow-up inspection has not yet been held.
New Century at 400 S Alabama Ave. in Spartanburg
New Century had an inspection on Feb. 6 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed multiple uncovered bins of proteins on the floor under drainage pipes.
A tea pitcher and water pitcher were seen stored in the ice machine. An employee was seen not washing hands after washing dishes and returning to food prep. Cooked chicken was seen stored in a raw chicken cardboard box. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures.
The restaurant had a required follow-up inspection on Feb. 12 and got an A grade.
