SC inspectors gave these 3 restaurants the worst ratings in Greenville area for March. Here’s why

Black mold in an ice machine, live and dead roaches on the floor, food debris on kitchen appliances were a few of the problems cited by health inspectors in Greenville County restaurants in March.

In all, three restaurants received C ratings, the lowest the Department of Agriculture gives. A total of 367 facilities were inspected with 339 rated A and 24 rated B.

Carolina Fine Foods in Simpsonville earned the lowest score of the month with 72 points, and scored 98, an A, on a follow up inspection a week later.

Among the findings in the first inspection were multiple open employee beverages throughout the kitchen on and above food preparation areas, a food handler filling up a plastic bucket inside a hand sink, various appliances with food debris, including a can opener, a sandwich press and knives.

There was also food debris and grease on the kitchen floors and ventilation hoods were dirty and dripping. The sides and handles of some equipment were greasy.

The ceiling above the dish machine had microbial growth and rust as did a prep sink.

An ice machine used by customers at soda machines had with black microbial growth.

Large containers of food were not cooled properly in a walk-in cooler, including potatoes, turkey, black eyed peas, lima beans, brown beans, collard greens, turkey, rice, white gravy, brown gravy, cole slaw, ribs, beef roast and macaroni and cheese. The staff threw away the food.

Uncooked beef and chicken was stored at improper temperatures as was eggs and hush puppy mix.

A large metal pot containing raw turkey was rusted inside a basin.

None of the prepared foods had date markings.

An open container of chlorine sanitizer was stored in an area where food was prepared.

The insides of ovens were heavily soiled with char.

Tacos Bla Bla Bla @ Haywood in Greenville scored 74 points and in a follow up inspection a week later scored 98, an A.

In the initial inspection, employees stored drinks above food prep areas while cooking and one did not wash their hands before putting on new gloves. One was also seen touching a cell phone with gloves on and then continuing to cook.

One pair of tongs was used to handle various raw chicken, shrimp, beef and pork and was not cleaned every 4 hours.

An ice machine had black microbial growth.

Beef grease on a countertop was 48 degrees below the temperature regulations require. The person in charge said it sits out for hours, sometimes days.

Live and dead roaches were seen throughout the facility. The inspector said they were multi-generational and were seen in the main kitchen and a back prep room near a water heater.

Sanitizers were not used on wiping clothes and a scoop was touching ice in an ice machine.

Grease was built up on the floors behind the cookline and on equipment. Food debris and litter was under equipment and in the corners of the restaurant.

Jamaica Mi Irie on South Main Street in Greenville scored 81 points.

There was a roach infestation in the facility and food debris on shelving.

A cooler had torn gaskets.

There were holes in a wall and floors in poor repair with food debris, grime and grease. The lighting was not bright enough in some areas of the kitchen.

A follow up inspection 10 days later rated the restaurant 84, noting dead roaches, dirty shelving and holes in the walls.

Information on follow up inspections have been added to this story.

This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.