Routine health inspections in Lexington restaurants have proven there are serious issues needed to be dealt with.

Since 2015, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has made it a rule that if a restaurant scored 84 or lower during its health inspection, it would be added to the list of establishments that are under probation. This means instead of the restaurant being inspected twice a year by the county health department, it would receive three health inspections every year,

Three restaurants were boarded up temporarily last month because of violations. These include Subway at 2160 Sir Barton Way, Happy China at 1301 Winchester Road, and Dixie Value Mart at 1875 August Drive.

The reason for Subway's temporary closure is the failure to provide hot water. The health inspector, Skip Castleman, noted there is food that should've been kept cold but not stored accordingly. He also added that an employee has been using his personal pocket knife for deli meat packages.

Castleman reported several violations for Happy China that led to its automatic closure. The violations include improper Storage for cabbage and other vegetables, ingredients not washed before being sliced, using the restaurant us a residence, employees are not washing their hands before handling food, and lastly, a live turtle was found in the mop sink.

Dixie Value Mart, a convenience store, was also due to automatic closure because of improper food handling. Like Happy China, the convenience store scored less than 60 points during its health inspection. Castleman has noted that the convenience store is keeping their food at unsafe temperatures which potentially renders the food as hazards. He also noted that the raw eggs and chicken were stored above ready to eat food. There are also unhygienic practices including employees that do not wash their hands or do not wear gloves properly. Also, the health inspector found that there are personal food and toothpaste stored in the kitchen and cooking equipment respectively. He found that the restaurant is not practicing proper sanitation especially when it comes to its dirty and greasy countertops, and other surfaces.

Castleman decided to board up these three restaurants but as according to the protocol, he was allowed to give the proprietors a chance to rectify the violations in their establishments. The three restaurants reopened after they passed their follow-up inspections.

Between March 11 and May 8, there were 23 restaurants that were added to the List of establishments that are put under probation. This makes a total of about 180 food service providers.

Some of the new additions to the list are establishments mostly frequented by UK students. This includes Best Friend Bar, the McDonald's on South Limestone, Lynagh's, Sushi Blue on Pasadena, and "half-price sushi" place, Sakura Japanese Restaurant.

Lynagh's was put on probation because of a problem with one bathroom that they have since rectified earning them a score of 96 on their reinspection.

Seth Brewer, A co-owner of the Best Friend Bar explained that when the bar lost its permanent food supplier the kitchen was used mostly as keg storage. The floor received a lot of damage, the sink was leaking, the hood was dirty, and other minor violations. The owners have rectified these violations as well and were scored with a 98 on their reinspection.

There is a possibility for restaurants to stay under probation for many years but they can come off the list when they have passed two consecutive regular inspections, with the condition that they would not have any critical violations.

The following are the restaurants that were placed on probation between March 11 to May 8:

Best Friend Bar, Euclid Avenue

Big City Pizza, Chinoe Road (improper grease trap repair)

Burger King, New Circle Road (contaminated uncooked chicken, improper sanitizing, employees not washing hands, dirty surfaces, dirty containers for clean utensils, leaking sinks, open back door)

Captain D's, New Circle Road (unhygienic practices, dirty surfaces, improper storage of drinks, improper use of gloves, dirty equipment, and microwaves)

C&J Food Bar, Eastland Parkway (hazardous food beyond expiration, not wearing hair/beard restraint, improper sanitizing, leak at the three-compartment sink, dirty surfaces)

Church of Good Shepherd, East Main Street (Malfunctioning dishwasher, unclean ice machine)

Denny's, Nicholasville Road (flying insects, unsafe food temperature, improper storage of chemical spray bottles and food)

Domino's Pizza, Lane Allen Road (Improper sanitation of dishes, dirty service)

Eastland Food Mart, Eastland Parkway (expired products, improper display of items, dirty and poorly maintained bathroom sink, toxic chemicals, dirty floors)

Fazoli's, Harrodsburg Road (unhygienic practices)

H&M Market, North Limestone (potentially hazardous smoked sausages, improper use of hand sink, dirty floors and ceilings, dirty cabinets and microwave, expired medication)

Kids-N-Kapers Daycare, Courtland Drive (dirty cabinets, drawers and can opener, dirty floors, and no mop sink)

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Richmond Road (improper storage of food, improper use of hairnets and gloves, improper sanitation, dirty kitchen, equipment, floors, walls, and hood)

Lynagh's Irish Pub, Woodland Avenue

McDonald's, South Limestone (cockroach infestation, improper sanitizing, dirty surfaces, full garbage bags on the floor, unorganized and cluttered kitchen)

Minit Mart, Nichols Park, (potentially hazardous food, the improper practice of food manager in charge, improper sanitizing, improper storage of personal items, dirty floors and no hand towels)

Penn Station, North Broadway (the improper practice of employee when using gloves, personal drinks, no hair nets, excessive sanitizer solution in dishwasher, dirty surfaces)

Provision Living at Beaumont Center, Monarch Street (improper sanitizing of equipment)

Qdoba, Richmond Road (mold in the ice machine, incorrect temperature for food, improper food storage, lack of hair restraints)

Sakura Japanese restaurant, Winchester Rd.

Southern Hills United Methodist Church Daycare, Harrodsburg Road (improper sanitizing in the dishwasher)

Super Mercado Aguascalientes, Alexandria Drive (improper temperature for meat, improper thawing location for chicken, employees without gloves, ice scoop found in a bucket with raw chicken pieces, improper sanitation, lack of hair nets)

Sushi Blue, Pasadena Drive (hazardous food, improper sanitation of dishes)