4 Lexington County restaurants received C grades in May

Posted 6/5/23

Four Lexington County restaurants received Cs, the lowest Food Grade given out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, during the month of May.

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4 Lexington County restaurants received C grades in May

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Four Lexington County restaurants received Cs, the lowest Food Grade given out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, during the month of May.

The restaurants are located in Lexington and Batesburg. 

El Jimador, located at 108-J Scarborough Dr. in Lexington, received a C on a routine inspection conducted May 23.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A after a follow-up conducted May 30.

The report from May 23 (When El Jimador received a score of 70%) noted improper cleaning procedures and “Tilapia used for ceviche instead of the flounder listed on menu.”

The report also detailed that it was observed that several employees weren’t adequately washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, that one employee on cook line grabbed raw chicken and then touched ready-to-eat foods and wiped gloved hands off on a towel/cloth on their side, and that another didn’t wash hands after washing dirty dishes and proceeded to touch clean dishes.

Three violations were noted in the May 30 report (when the restaurant received a score of 96%) noting dust build up, lack of adequate lighting and fly traps over prep location.

Lexington’s Ferrara Pizza & Pasta, located at 109 J Old Chapin Rd., received a C on a routine inspection conducted May 25.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A after a follow-up conducted June 1.

The report from May 25 (when the restaurant received a score of 70%) noted improper date marking and disposal for refrigerated ready-to-eat foods.

The report also noted food and clean dishes being stored with and around harsh chemicals, cigarettes stored on the prep table, water pooling in the bottom of the pizza prep cooler and gray water standing under the sink and soda station.

Three violations were noted in the June 1 report (when the restaurant received a score of 93%) with water being observed pooling in the bottom of the pizza prep cooler along with improper holding temperatures.

Krafty Draft Brew Pub, located at 269 Charter Oak Dr. in Lexington, received a B on a routine inspection May 17 and was downgraded to a C after a follow-up conducted on May 23.

The restaurant was able to increase to an A after a follow-up conducted May 30.

The May 17 report (when the pub received a score of 88%) noted importer warewashing equipment, improper cooling and cooling methods and observed a “filled, covered crockpot of pulled pork stored on lower shelf of walk-in cooler. Pork had not adequately cooled after overnight storage.”

Three new violations were added to the May 23 report (when the pub received a score of 83%), which notes improper prevention of contamination from hands when an employee was observed handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands, along with a thick, dark buildup on top of the warewashing machine doors and outdoor cooking taking place without DHEC approval.

No violations were noted in the May 30 report (when the pub received a score of 100%).

Taqueria Y Tienda Del Valle, located at 152 Pine St. in Batesburg, received a C (72%) on a routine inspection conducted May 24 and again after a follow-up inspection conducted June 1 (when it received a score of 79%).

The May 24 report notes improper handwashing, improper compliance with food law, and improper food marking.

The report also notes fly activity throughout the facility, debris in the bottom of the meat display cooler, “boxed food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer” and an “open bag of sugar stored directly on the floor in the kitchen.”

Two new violations were added on the June 1 report, with four previous ones being corrected. The new violations included improper cooling and cooling methods.

The follow-up report again notes problems with hand washing, improper date marking, “boxed food and pots of food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in cooler and freezer” and “boxed single serve items stored directly on the floor in storage area across from the walk-in.”

lexington county restaurants, sc dhec food grades, el jimador, ferrara pizza & pasta, krafty draft, taqueria y tienda del valle

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