Eight Lexington County restaurants received a C, the lowest Food Grade given out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, during the month of August.

The restaurants are located in Columbia, Cayce, Lexington and Irmo.

Carolina Ale House, located at 277 Columbiana Cir. in Columbia, received a C (75%) on a routine inspection conducted Aug. 9.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A (99%) on a follow-up conducted Aug. 17.

The Aug. 9 report noted employees eating in the food prep area and observed fly activity in the kitchen and dish areas. It also noted that there was grease buildup and food debris on the interior and exterior of equipment.

The Aug. 17 report only had one violation, noting that the walk-in cooler floor is not sealed.

Ferrara Pizza & Pasta,  located at 109 J Chapin Rd. in Lexington, received a B (84%) on a routine inspection conducted July 18 and was demoted to a C (90%) on a July 26 follow-up and remained at a C on follow-ups conducted Aug. 2 and 8.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A (98%) on Aug. 14.

The July 18 report noted raw chicken stored above freeze pops along with label residue on containers that were stored as clean and “brown build up … inside ice machine.”

The inspector notes “personal clothing jackets stored on top of soda rack [and] cigarettes stored on food prep area.”

The July 26 report noted a consecutive violation of improper holding temperatures. It also noted raw eggs being stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler.

The Aug. 2 and 8 report once again noted improper holding temperatures.

The Aug. 14 noted the lack of a necessary certification.

Inakaya Watanabe, located at 655 St. Andrews Rd. in Columbia, received a C (70%) on a routine inspection conducted Aug. 18.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A on follow-ups conducted Aug. 25 (95%) and 28 (100%).

The Aug. 18 report notes employees not washing hands between points of contamination and “employee handling dirty dishes and proceeded to touch clean dishes without glove change and proper handwashing in between tasks.”

Other violations included improper storage of raw meats, bulk ingredients not labeled and fruit flies were observed throughout the kitchen.

The Aug. 25 report noted improper holding temperatures. The Aug. 28 report noted no violations.

The Kingsman Restaurant, located at 936 Axtell Dr. in Cayce, received a C (74%) on a routine inspection conducted Aug. 16.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A (97%) on a follow-up conducted Aug. 24

The Aug. 16 report notes improper storage of raw meat, observed an employee clean,  the rinsing of spatulas without sanitizing and roach and fly activity throughout the facility.

The Aug. 24 report noted roach activity in the warewashing area and observed damage to a wall behind the warewashing machine.

Silvino's Pork Rinds and More food truck, located at 108 Columbia NE Dr. in Columbia, received a B (80%) on a routine inspection conducted Aug. 12 and was demoted to a C (88%) on a follow-up conducted Aug. 16.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A (99%) on a follow-up conducted Aug. 19..

The Aug. 12 report noted employees using hand sanitizer instead of washing hands, improper holding temperatures, and floors were covered with old cardboard boxes that were stained with grease.

The Aug. 16 report once again noted improper holding temperatures and food being served from a table, not from inside the truck window.

The Aug. 19 report only noted foot items being served outside the truck.

PK BBQ Bar and Grill, located at 760 Hwy 378/Sunset Boulevard in Lexington, received a C (71%) on a routine inspection Aug. 30.

The Aug. 30 report noted that an “employee pick[ed] up items off the floor, proceeded to take gloves off and blow into the gloves, and put the gloves on without proper handwashing. It also observed that the dish machine in the dish washing area was not adequately sanitizing, improper holding temperatures and fly activity throughout the facility.

As of the Chronicle’s Sept. 5, no other follow-up reports for the restaurant had been posted to DHEC’s online database, though the Aug. 30 report notes that another follow-up inspection was required within 10 days.

The Kroger Deli, located at 7467 St. Andrews Rd. in Irmo, received a B (86%) on a routine inspection conducted Aug. 22 but was demoted to a C (90%) on Aug. 31.

The Aug. 22 report notes hot water not being provided at certain sense, no way for employees to dry their hands in certain locations, improper holding temperatures, unlabeled ingredients, “Observed buildup of debris inside prep cooler at sushi rice prep area” and “Observed black buildup on ground spreading from outdoor grease receptacle.”

Damage to the facilities coving, floors, and walls were noted with build-up of debris observed on the floors beneath equipment and shelving.

The Aug. 31 report once again notes unlabeled ingredients, “Observed buildup of debris on interior and exterior surfaces of mechanical warewashing machine” and “Observed black buildup on ground spreading from outdoor grease receptacle”

As of Sept. 5, no other follow-up reports for the restaurant had been posted to DHEC’s online database, though the Aug. 31 report notes that another follow-up inspection was required within 10 days.

The Fatz Cafe located at 942 E Main St., which closed last month along with the rest of the chain, received three C grades in its final month of operation, one on Aug. 2 routine inspection (72%) and two on follow-ups conducted Aug. 3 (82%) and 9 (86%).