Bloody floors, bugs and rotting food: San Antonio’s worst inspections

Throughout its July restaurant inspections, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District dished out plenty of 100-out-of-100 grades, but other establishments didn’t fare so well. 

The San Antonio Express-News reviewed inspection reports for restaurants that scored below an “A” grade, which is 90 points or more. Health officials found several food safety and sanitation issues, such as insects crawling inside bulk food containers, a cooler filled with rotting meat, blood-covered floors beneath storage shelves and more.

Here are the establishments that received scores of 74 or lower.

A dishwashing machine that wasn’t sanitizing properly, “pinkish/brown buildup” inside an ice machine and microwaves described as “visibly dirty” were among the problems that landed Georgia’s Mexican Restaurant a failing score during a Sept. 18 health inspection.

The restaurant at 2214 Palo Alto Rd. scored a 74 during a routine inspection on Sept. 18, according to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Inspectors also found raw eggs sitting at room temperature without the required time-control records and stored above containers of ready-to-eat foods.

Kitchen hygiene raised additional concerns. One employee was seen adjusting a hair net before handling items without washing their hands, while wet towels were left on cutting boards instead of being stored in sanitizing solution. Inspectors also noted crates of whole onions sitting directly on the floor and a damaged floorboard near the back prep room.

A reinspection was scheduled within 10 days to check whether the violations had been corrected: “Of course we did everything that the (health inspector) told us to do,” the restaurant’s manager told the Express-News.

Located at 3811 Blanco Rd., Las Minas Cafe received a score of 74 during a routine health inspection on Sept. 17. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District documented several food safety violations, including improperly stored food and temperature-control issues.

Inspectors found a refrigeration unit near a mop sink holding food at 57 degrees, prompting the disposal of prepared items. They also observed rice being held at room temperature and horchata cooling without refrigeration. In addition, food storage containers were sitting directly on ready-to-eat foods, and a certified food protection manager was not on site. Inspectors also noted a plumbing pipe held together with duct tape, a refrigerator with damaged gaskets and uncovered food containers.

A reinspection was scheduled for Sept. 21 to ensure critical violations had been corrected. Representatives for Las Minas Cafe declined to respond to Express-News’ request for comment.

A longstanding plumbing problem forced health officials to order the closure of the taqueria and diner inside Culebra Super Meat Market #16 after the establishment scored a 72 during a Sept. 24 inspection.

Located at 14100 Nacogdoches Rd., the market had a floor drain that overflowed whenever a handwashing sink was used. Inspectors said the issue had persisted for at least two years and prohibited the dining area from reopening without repairs and approval. Elsewhere, inspectors discovered menudo prepared the previous day measuring 62 degrees, raw meat stored above cheese and salsa held at unsafe temperatures.

The bakery also had unwanted visitors. According to the report, inspectors “observed weevils or small insects in two bulk containers at (the) bakery and meal moth in another in same area.” Officials suspected the pests may have entered through cracked container lids and ordered the affected food discarded.

Another cooler containing waste meat registered 67 degrees and had a “strong decaying/rotting meat odor.” Additional sanitation concerns included malfunctioning handwashing sinks, dirty ventilation fans and “floors with blood under shelves” in a cooler.

A reinspection was scheduled for Oct. 8 to determine whether the violations had been corrected. Representatives for Culebra Super Meat Market #16 did not immediately respond to the Express-News’ request for comment.