Roaches and dripping mystery liquid? Midlands restaurants with the worst October inspection ratings

South Carolina health inspectors found a host of violations at restaurants in the Midlands in October, from infestations of flies and roaches, to a leaky container dripping a liquid onto stored food below it. The state each month releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Lexington and Richland counties.

Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in October.

Boeshreen at 2630 Decker Blvd. in Richland

Boeshreen had an inspection on Oct. 18 and got a 75% C grade.

An inspector observed the presence of flies in kitchen and dish areas, along with fly traps being stored directly over the food make line and food prep areas. Also observed was raw fish and raw shrimp stored over cooked chicken and cooked rise in pans in the walk-in cooler.

Chemical bottles were seen stored over bulk sodas and drainer cleaner stored over condiments. Prohibited household pesticides were seen for use in the facility. Grease, grime and food buildup were observed through the restaurant.

A required followup inspection was held on Oct. 26 and the restaurant earned another C grade. A second followup inspection was held on Oct. 28 and the restaurant earned an A grade.

Casa Linda Mexican Restaurant at 2009 Beltline Blvd. in Richland

Casa Linda Mexican Restaurant had an inspection on Oct. 4 and got a 71% C grade.

An inspector observed roach and pest activity throughout the restaurant, including dead roaches along walls and underneath equipment.

Also observed was an employee not washing hands between points of contamination. Chemical spray bottles were seen hanging on a shelf over food service trays and beside the chip dispenser. Also seen were unapproved household pesticides in use in the facility. Buckets of queso were seen left out on a counter to cool.

A required followup inspection was held on Oct. 13 and the restaurant earned an A grade.

M Vista at 701 Lady Street in Richland

M Vista had an inspection on Oct. 19 and got a 70% C grade.

An inspector observed dead pests in the back storage areas and behind the make line.

Also observed was open cases of ginger powder stored directly on the floor, along with open sauce buckets stored on the floor in the back storage area and chicken cases stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler. In use grill utensils and rice scoops were seen stored in standing water without proper temperature control. Grease, grime and food debris buildup were seen on floors and under equipment. Black buildup was seen on the walls of the dish room.

A required followup inspection was held on Oct. 20 and the restaurant earned an A grade.

Top Dawg Tavern at 498-1 Town Center Place in Richland

Top Dawg Tavern had an inspection on Oct. 5 and got a 72% C grade.

An inspector observed a container of liquid sitting on top of a counter, dripping onto chips and boxed pretzels below.

Also observed was a tightly spaced, overcrowded cooling rack in the walk-in cooler, which prevented adequate air flow for cooling. Wood polish and other cleaning chemicals were seen stored with alcohol in the bar area. Certain foods were seen not held at proper temperatures. An employee was observed not washing hands after picking up trash on the kitchen floor and handling trash can to work on prep surface.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Oct. 7 and earned another C grade. A second followup inspection was held on Oct. 7 and the restaurant got an A grade.

J.R. Cash’s Grill and Bar at 502 Lexington Ave. in Lexington

J.R. Cash’s Grill and Bar had an inspection on Oct. 26 and got a 77% C grade.

An inspector observed an employee with a bandaged hand without a glove covering, working around food. An employee was also observed handling ready to eat food with bare hands.

A dish machine was seen not sanitizing. Fish was seen thawing without following instructions on packaging. Garbage-style bags were seen being used for direct food storage and water standing in the bottom of keg coolers in the bar area.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Oct. 28 and earned an A grade.

Lizard’s Thicket at 2234 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington

Lizard’s Thicket had an inspection on Oct. 10 and got a 74% C grade.

An inspector observed an employee not washing hands between glove changes after handling raw shell eggs and before handling ready to eat foods. An employee was observed not washing hands after handling dirty dishes and before handling clean dishes.

Certain foods were seen not being held at proper temperatures. Black buildup was seen inside the ice machine in the kitchen and in the ice bin under the drink station in the front line.

Sticky moisture was observed under the hand sink in front of the wait station. Buildup was seen on floors and cover base under and around equipment.

A required followup inspection was held on Oct. 14 and the restaurant earned an A grade.

Mercado Acapulco Market at 103 N 12th Street in Lexington

Mercado Acapulco Market had an inspection on Oct. 6 and got a 74% C grade.

An inspector observed flies and fruit flies in the meat market. Also observed was cake in the walk-in cooler with green, white and black spots on it.

Opened raw fish and shrimp was seen stored directly above open packaged of fully cooled ham in the display cooler. Raw beef was seen stored directly above papayas and other ready to eat foods in the walk in cooler. Knives with encrusted food debris were seen stored as clean.

Soiled cloths were seen being used to wrap raw meats.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Oct. 13 and got another C grade. The restaurant had another followup inspection on Oct. 28 and got an A grade.

Mother Truckers Cafe at 2120 C Pond Branch Road in Lexington

Mother Truckers Cafe had an inspection on Oct. 10 and got a 72% C grade.

An inspector observed raw ground beef stored above ready to eat foods and foods of lower cook temperature in reach in units in kitchen. Also observed was dented and rusted cans stored with intact cans in dry storage.

Harsh chemicals were seen being stored above a compartment sink and above a chicken breeder stored in a hallway across from the dry storage room. Food was seen stored directly on the floor in the walk-in units.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Oct. 17 and earned an A grade.

Nick’s Gyros and Seafood at 3260 Augusta Road in Lexington

Nick’s Gyros had an inspection on Oct. 18 and got a 75% C grade.

An inspector observed a container of raw shrimp stored directly above cooked chicken tenders. Also observed was raw fish stored directly above cooked rice.

Stacked pans more than 4 inches deep of chicken wings were seen not cooling fast enough in the walk-in cooler. Encrusted buildup was seen on the exterior and interior of equipment on the cook line. Heavy buildup was seen on the hood system.

The restaurant had a required followup inspection on Oct. 21 and earned an A grade.