San Antonio's worst restaurant inspections for May

Roaches crawling on food and other grossness from May highlight restaurant inspections around San Antonio.

Roaches are, of course, free protein. But are they gourmet?

Whatever their culinary merits, they can tank your restaurant inspection.

At a Von Ormy Mexican restaurant last month, city health inspectors spotted "food cooling on the counter where roaches were crawling."

The inspector added: "Food was not protected by any covering."

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The inspectors noted the same establishment — Benjamin's Kitchen on Fischer Road — had live roaches elsewhere in the restaurant. They also had grease and dust build up, unwashed dishes with cleaned dishes, pliers used as a knob for cold water in the handwash sink, and an employee restroom with a door that didn't close.

Benjamin's Kitchen earned 80 points in its inspection in May.

Last month at Benjamin's Kitchen on Fischer Road in Von Ormy, health inspectors spotted "food cooling on the counter where roaches were crawling."

As they toured San Antonio eateries, city health inspectors in May spotted a host of violations.

The Express-News is rounding up most of the establishments that failed to score an "A" (90 points) last month. To make this list of the worst May inspections, the restaurant had to receive an 86 or below. Inspections for the last week of May weren't available in time for publication.

The lowest available score in May belongs to Angie's Cafe on Pleasanton Road on the South Side, which earned 73 points during an inspection on May 17.

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The Mexican restaurant was caught with raw beef fajitas, chicharron and pico de gallo sitting at room temperature. The inspector also spotted five "small live roaches in signage above (the) handwashing sink" and no certified food manager on duty. A "heavy residue of grease and dust accumulated around the vent hood, grills" and other equipment.

A re-inspection was ordered for May 27.

At Saltgrass Steak House, at 2885 Cinema Ridge, on the West Side, a health inspector observed the "dish washing machine in use to clean dishes with no solution in the container and dishes not being properly sanitized."

The inspector also found a dirty salad bowl and tongs stored on top of a clean salad plate, as well as cheese stored directly next to raw burger and steak meat in a cold hold drawer.

The city also noted that a certified food manager certification was not registered with the city and "pest activity … evident throughout the establishment." Saltgrass Steak House earned a 76 on its inspection.

At La Comarca Mexican Restaurant on West Avenue, a health inspector on May 12 told the establishment: "Please do not store fly bait … on rack with condiments."

A health inspector who visited Pollos Asados "El Gordo" on the West Side said there was no food manager on duty at the time of the inspection. The city official, who gave the establishment an 86, also noted personal items stored directly on the prep counter next to the food and that food handler training criteria were not procured from any employee at the establishment.

The inspector also wrote in the report that "ready-to-eat tortillas (were) stored in T-Shirt bags."

The inspector added a corrective action for next time: "Do not use T-Shirt bags to store foods."

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