State Department of Health and Environmental Control inspectors issued their lowest grade of C to five Lexington County establishments in May. In all cases, the establishments received A ratings on subsequent inspections.

On a routine inspection on May 3 at El Mariachi, located at 1078 Sunset Blvd in West Columbia, the establishment received a score of 77%. The report noted multiple priority violations, citing El Mariachi for failing to have verified written policies for employee health or vomiting/diarrheal events

The establishment was cited for having an employee meal on the food preparation table and for an employee rinsing hands in a mop sink instead of using a handwashing sink. The handwashing sink was being used to hold corn husks, the report states.

El Mariachi was also cited for the poor condition of food, including fuzzy growth and discoloration on prickly chayote squash. 

The restaurant was cited for both hot and cold food holding temperature violations. The cooling violation states that “more than 5 gallons of refried beans cooked yesterday found covered in walk in today at 52 F not properly cooled.” The hot holding temperature violation cites problems with cooked peppers and onions, ground beef, chicken, rotisserie chicken, stuffed pepper, tripe and pork.   

On May 12, the establishment received an A grade (98%).

La Estrella, located at 1921 Airport Blvd in West Columbia, received a C grade on a May 13 inspection, receiving a score of 94%.  

The restaurant was cited for improper cold holding temperatures in the meat market. The report cited problems with chunked beef, pork, sliced beef, chorizo and chicken.

The restaurant received an A rating on a follow-up inspection conducted May 19 (97%).

Mi Tierra, located at 4944 Hwy 321 in Gaston, received a C rating on a routine inspection conducted on May 13 (73%). Mi Tierra also received several C ratings in April. 

The May 13 inspection found multiple priority violations.

The person in charge did not possess a certified food handling certificate. The report also cited the lack of a written policies for employee and vomit/diarrheal clean-up. 

An employee was observed washing hands without soap, changing tasks without washing between tasks and washing hands in the three-compartment sink.

Improper food cooling temperatures were cited in the meat market for green salsa being too warm and cactus salad being improperly cooled.

The restaurant was also cited for not having a date-marking system in place for temperature control for ready-to-eat foods and for improper handling of toxic substances (“residential pesticides store [sic] inside the facility,” “thick powder on floors under equipment in the kitchen … identified the powder as residential ant killer”).

The meat market was cited for improper cooling of salsas.

The inspector ”observed small dead roaches and other insects in the powder on the floor under the equipment in the kitchen” and “bagged/boxed foods stored directly on the floor throughout.”

The plumbing was cited as being out of compliance: “The faucet of the 3 compartment in poor repair. Facility is using a soiled glove to remedy the leak”

Mi Tierra received A ratings on two follow-up inspections on May 19 (91%) and 26 (95%).

Nick’s Gyro and Seafood, located at 780 St. Andrews Rd. in Columbia, received a C rating (91%) on a follow-up inspection conducted May 5 following a previous C (88%) from an April 28 follow-up.

The May 5 inspection cited Nick’s for the person in charge not having a verified Certified Food Protection Manager certificate, lacking a written policy for employee health, not having a clean-up policy for vomit/diarrheal events, improper cold food holding, grease build-up throughout the kitchen,  black build-up under the dish sink and grease build-up and spilled matter and debris on the floors and around equipment.

On a May 12 follow-up, Nick’s received an A rating (98%). It received another A after a routine June 13 inspection.

Riveras Supermercado at 1618 Airport Blvd. in West Columbia received C ratings on inspections conducted on May 5 (90%) and 13 (93%).

The establishment was cited May 5 for lack of a Certified Food Protection Manager certificate, improper hot food handling, insects present in the bakery and cleaning room, improper date markings on stored shortening and some inoperable equipment on site.

The May 13 report again cited lack of a person in charge with safe food handling certification, presence of residential pesticides stored near the washroom, cleaning bottles stored near single-serve items and above meat market refrigeration, and roach activity behind floor equipment in the bakery,  

Riveras received an A rating on a follow-up conducted May 20 (97%).