Live insects in tub of flour. Spiders & cobwebs. Midlands restaurants with worst July inspections
South Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Midlands in July, from live insects in a large container of flower, to spiders and food stored on the floor. The state each month releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Midlands counties.
Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in July.
Akina at 533 Hwy 9 Bypass East in Lancaster
Akina had a restaurant inspection on July 23 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed spiders and cobwebs in the back hallway.
The menu stated in used white tuna but instead was using escolar. Raw chicken was seen stored over beef in the cooler. Clean containers were seen with old stickers on them and residue.
Organic buildup was seen inside the ice machine. A mayonnaise-based sauce was seen held past disposition date. Drano was seen stored next to and over food products in the dry storage area. Hoods at the cook line were seen with grease and debris buildup.
A required followup inspection has not yet been held.
Jay Bird’s at 683 Hwy 9 Bypass East in Lancaster
Jay Bird’s had an inspection on July 18 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed flies throughout the facility.
Canned items, bread and waffle cones were seen stored on the floor. Visibly soiled wiping cloths were seen used to soak up water under and in equipment. There were no handles on the hand sink at the cook line.
Raw shrimp was seen stored over bread and bags of lettuce in the cooler. Organic buildup was seen in the ice machine and in the soda fountain.
Reach-in coolers at the cook line had standing water, organic buildup and debris in the bottom. Grease and debris buildup were seen on sides of equipment on cook line.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 25 and got an A grade.
Cold Stone Creamery at 914 N Lake Dr. in Lexington
Cold Stone Creamery had an inspection on July 3 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed flies in the facility.
The proper disposition of smoothie mix could not be determined due to lack of sufficient date marking. Unapproved pest control spray bottle and can were seen stored in the back kitchen area.
The facility had a required followup inspection on July 11 and got an A grade.
Wings and Ale at 154 Ellis Ave. in Lexington
Wings and Ale had an inspection on July 17 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee not wash hands before handling food products after coming from outside.
Multiple dented cans were seen in the restaurant. Raw steak and ground meat were seen stored over ready-to-eat food in the cooler. Dishes with food debris and grease buildup were seen stored as clean.
Raw chicken wings were seen cooked using an unapproved non-continuous cooking process. Undercooked chicken wings prepared the previous day were seen stored improperly. Food debris was seen on equipment. An excessive amount of grease buildup was seen on the ground at the grease storage unit.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 24 and got an A grade.
Blue Marlin at 1200 Lincoln St. in Richland
Blue Marlin had an inspection on July 10 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee handling cheesecake with bare hands.
Dishes with label residue and food debris were seen stored as clean. Several kinds of fish, green beans and green tomatoes were seen not kept at proper holding temperatures. Chemical bottles without labels were seen stored next to clean dishes.
Fish was seen being thawed improperly. Bulk containers of easily mistaken product, such as different flours, were seen without labels. Food product was seen stored directly on the floor outside the dry storage area.
Discolored cutting board with deep grooves were seen in the facility. The chemical dish machine was seen working improperly. Colored growth was seen on shelving throughout the facility.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 15 and got an A grade.
Fazoli’s at 7621 Two Notch Road in Richland
Fazoli’s had an inspection on July 22 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee changing tasks without washing hands. Also observed an employee touch face and clothing without washing hands and changing gloves.
An employee was seen cutting cooked pizza while touching the crust with bare hands. Dishes with food debris and food label residue were seen stacked as clean. The dish machine was not adequately sanitizing dishes.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 29 and got another C grade. A second followup inspection has not yet been held.
Kyoto Hibachi at 7201 Two Notch Road in Richland
Kyoto Hibachi had an inspection on July 28 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed the walk-in cooler leaking water onto lids of food containers.
An employee was seen changing tasks without washing hands. Dishes with food debris were seen stacked as clean. Certain foods were seen not kept at proper cold holding temperatures.
A required followup inspection has not yet been held.
Millennium Buffet at 409 Blossom St. in Richland
Millennium Buffet had an inspection on July 8 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed live insects in a large tub of flour.
Raw shell eggs were seen stored above watermelons. Uncovered containers of raw chicken were seen stored above ready to eat food. Open containers of food were seen stored directly on the floor. Grease buildup was seen on the exterior surfaces of equipment.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 18 and got an A grade.
Noma Bistro at 2431 Main St. in Richland
Noma Bistro had an inspection on July 1 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed an employee remove raw salmon from packaging and put it on a grill, then touch clean utensils, plates and lettuce without changing gloves or washing hands.
Raw proteins were seen stored over ready to eat food in multiple prep coolers. Dishes with food debris were seen stored as clean. Raw salmon was seen not cooked to required temperature. Water-damaged ceiling tiles were seen throughout the facility. Soiled floors with black buildup were seen throughout the facility.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 8 and got an A grade.
Panda at 4611 Hardscrabble Road in Richland
Panda had an inspection on July 19 and got a C grade.
An inspector observed flies throughout the kitchen area.
Food was seen stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler. An employee was seen eating at a table where food was being prepared. Employees were seen changing tasks without washing their hands. Dirty dishes were seen stacked as clean.
The restaurant had a required followup inspection on July 29 and got an A grade.
