Inspectors from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control gave nine Lexington County establishments, including the Lexington County Detention Center, the lowest S.C. Food Service Grade of C in April.  Most of the establishments improved to A ratings on follow-up inspections.

The Lexington County Detention Center received a B on a routine inspection on April 4 (with an overall score of 84%). That grade dropped to a C (94%, but with consecutive unresolved violations having to do with rodent droppings and food temperature) after a follow-up inspection conducted on April 13. The detention center pulled its grade up to an A (99%)after a subsequent April 21 inspection.

The DHEC report from the April 4 inspection noted that high ammonia levels and no test kits available to measure sanitizing solutions.  Water in the dish-washing area was cited for being too cold.  The facility also was cited for a hot food holding violation for improper food temperature.  On that same visit, the inspector “observed rodent droppings in dry storage area behind and around installed machinery”.  The inspector further “observed boxed single-serve items stored directly on the floor near puddling water in the serving area.” The facility was also cited for a leaking pipe under the food preparation area and for parts of the floor area no longer being smooth or easily cleanable.

The follow-up inspection report from April 13 includes citations for food temperature violations for a steam table that was turned off and ground chicken that was 108 degrees. Evidence of rodent droppings also was cited. 

After the April 21 follow-up inspection, the Detention Center received an A, with the only citation being about the floor in the dry storage area being difficult to clean.

The Domino’s Pizza at 621 St. Andrews Rd. in Columbia received a C (97%) following an inspection dated April 1. The report states, “Advised effective measures shall be taken to eliminate the presence of insects, rodents and other pests.”  It specifically states, “Fruit flies in dish area around 3 compartment sink.” A second reported violation, accompanied by pictures, stated, “Observed build up of grime and food debris under the 3 compartment sink.” 

The Domino’s improved to an A (99%) after a follow-up inspection on April 11.

The FATZ at 942 E Main St. in Lexington received a C (88%) following an April 11 inspection. The report notes “food debris on food contact surfaces that were stored as clean” and “dead roaches on the shelving below the make line.” A plumbing violation was cited for the faucet of a handwashing sink being in poor repair. Cleanliness violations were assessed for “heavy black build up on the interior and exterior of the ovens” and “ice build up and heavy food debris on the freezer floor [and] excessive food debris and puddling water at the mop sink.” The report cites the restaurant for a premise repair non-compliance, observing that the freezer floor was buciling between the seams.

On two subsequent follow-ups, on April 21 (95%) and April 29 (97%), the restaurant received A grades.

La Bendicion at 1251 Boston Ave. in West Columbia received a C (92%) after a follow-up inspection on April 22. The report notes that a certified food protection manager wasn’t present, and the person in charge did not possess a proper certificate. Temperature violations noted the soup line/soup well with boiled chicken at 120 degrees and cold beans and cheese stored at 51 degrees and pork and cheese stored at 54 degrees.  

Le Bendicion improved to an A (98%) after an April 29 follow-up.

Mi Tierra, located at 4944 Hwy 321 in Gaston, received four C grades following inspections in April.

On April 1 (92%) , the restaurant was cited for food protection manager on premises, improper hot food holding temperature, bagged foods being stored directly on the floor, unauthorized outdoor cooking and a steam pot without a lid. A follow-up report from April 6 (91%)  cited the continued lack of a certified food protection manager, no hand drying provision supplied for the hand sink near the kitchen, hot and cold food temperature violations, an exterior door to the meat market propped open without means to protect the doorway from pest entry, and an out-of-repair hand sink.  A follow-up report from April 15 (91%) cited the lack of a certified food protection manager present, hot food handling violations, food packages stored on the floor and plumbing problems. A final inspection for the month on April 22 (88%) found no certified food protection manager present, a hot food handling violation,  a lack of time stamps for items on the hot bar, bagged and boxed food stored on the floor throughout and continued plumbing violations. 

A May 13 follow-up inspection also resulted in a C (73%).

Nick’s Gyro and Seafood located at 780 St. Andrews Rd. in Columbia has two C inspections on the DHEC website during April, one routine and one follow-up.

An April 14 inspection report resulted in a C (77%) and cited no written procedure for the cleanup of vomit/diarrheal events, cold food handling violations, no date marking system in place for refrigerated food, household pesticide in the facility, roaches and fruit flies in the mop storage area, bricks used to hold the prep table up, buildup of grease and food debris on equipment throughout the kitchen, black buildup under the sink, excessive grease on the grease container, grease on equipment throughout the kitchen, no sanitize kit present. Follow-up inspections on April 21 (77%) and 28 (88%)also resulted in C ratings (78%).

A follow-up inspection on May 12 resulted in an A rating (98%).

According to the DHEC website, Nick’s House of Pizza at 1082 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia received a C (71 %) rating after an April 29 inspection.  The report says that no certified food protection manager was present, an employee washed their hands in the 3 compartment sink, an employee handled ready-to-eat food with bare hands, hand drying provisions were not available, salmon was provided without proper parasite destruction information, a cooling time and temperature violation, cold holding temperature violations, the lack of a date-marking system for stored foods. A toxic substance violation was cited for “harsh chemical sprayer stored above ice [and] chemical floor cleaner stored with clean dishes. There was also a proper cooling method violation and a personal cleanliness violation for an “employee with painted long artificial nails handling open food.”  

The report also noted “meatballs pulled from cooler at 10:30 AM still at 74 F in pan on grill during inspection,” which is listed as starting at 1:42 p.m.

Nick’s House of Pizza received an A rating (100%) after a May 3 follow-up inspection, the website states.

Taqueria Chile Caliente at 5343 Hwy 321 in Gaston received a C (71%) rating after an April 6 inspection. The inspection report cites violations including no certified food protection manager present. Hand washing violations were cited, observing, “employees handle raw foods, then ready to eat foods without washing hands” and “employees scratching their heads with gloved hands, then handling foods without washing hands or changing gloves” and  “employees washing hands in 3 compartment sink.” The report also notes “employees handling ready to eat foods with bare hands.”

The report goes on to state that no paper towels were provided at hand sink at onset of inspection. Raw beef was observed being stored at 59 degrees. The inspection report goes on to state that proper food cooling times were not observed and cold food handling procedures were not followed.  A conveying sewage violation cites “mop water ... thrown out of the back door on to the ground. Mop sink currently unavailable.”

This establishment has since received an A rating (100%) after a follow-up inspection conducted April 15.

US Wings and Deli, located at 275 Harbison Blvd. in Columbia received a C (75%) rating after a routine inspection conducted on April 8. The report cites handwashing violations, a cold food storage violation, lack of a food date marking system for refrigerated food, personal items stored with food items, non-labeled bulk food items, a hole in the wall opening directly to the outside, improper storage of cutting boards and a plumbing violation.

After a follow-up inspection on April 18, the establishment received an A rating (100%).