March was always roaring like a lion for seven restaurants in Jefferson County who felt the wrath of county health inspectors.

Violations ranged from an inspector observing a live roach to food stored in plastic bags and used cake containers to chicken with a month-old expiration date.

Seven establishments scored 84 or below in March — the threshold that triggers a reinspection by the county within 60 days.

Here are those seven restaurants, in descending order:

Jasmine’s Cafe

134 Avenue U, Birmingham

Score: 84

Inspection date: March 5

Chicken wings were stored in “t-shirt plastic bags,” according to the inspector, while raw fish was stored in “clear plastic retail cake containers.”

“Cease storing food items in t-shirt bags and used plastic cake containers,” the inspector wrote.

An employee did not sanitize utensils.

The three-compartment sink was not set up to wash, rinse and sanitize.

Blown lights were not replaced.

There were employees without food training.

Red Sea Ethiopian Mediterranean Restaurant

22 Green Springs Hwy., Homewood

Score: 83

Inspection date: March 19

Food handlers didn’t complete the county’s food safety training.

The establishment did not verifiably communicate a health safety policy to employees.

An accumulation of grease and food debris was observed on the hood vent filters.

Porch

2 Dexter Ave., Mountain Brook

Score: 83

Inspection date: March 21

An employee was seen changing gloves due to handling soiled items but they did not wash their hands first, the inspector wrote.

Lettuce, ground beef and Brussels sprouts were being kept at inappropriate temperatures.

Fan covers were soiled with debris and dust.

The facility’s floors were “soiled with residue and food debris.”

Ventilation hood filters were “soiled with dripping grease and grime.”

Yoe Express

1919 28th Ave. S, Birmingham

Score: 81

Inspection date: March 12

Drink nozzles had “grime and buildup.”

The inspector observed a “strong presence of drain flies” near the mop basin.

Staff were scooping and disposing of the grease trap; the restaurant did not have an “approved sanitary system to dispose of sewage.”

The gaskets on the cooler doors needed to be replaced.

Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q

1724 9th Ave. N, Bessmer

Score: 80

Inspection date: March 6

A live roach was seen on a utensil handle near the brisket pit.

The inspector noted there was an “accumulation of food debris” in the steamer and a “buildup of grime and grease” inside ovens.

Dust buildup was seen on air duct vents and hanging fans.

Sour cream, sliced cheese and onion batter containing egg and milk were kept at inappropriate temperatures.

Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill

1600 Huffman Rd., Center Point

Score: 78

Inspection date: March 6

The dish machine and three-compartment sink needed to be repaired.

The chemical sanitizers at the dish machine contained zero parts per million of sanitizer.

The bar area’s handwashing sink was leaking.

The floor of the bar area behind the handwashing sink was dirty from fallen debris. The floor drain under the fountain drink machine was dirty, as was the floor drain under the handwashing sink.

Spinach, artichoke dip and pico de gallo were stored at inappropriate temperatures.

Chen Express

221 County Club Pk., Mountain Brook

Score: 78

Inspection date: March 13

An employee was seen not wearing gloves while preparing lettuce.

Chicken with a discard date of Feb. 12 – nearly a month before the restaurant was inspected – was improperly marked.

A slicer used to cut vegetables was soiled with debris, pots and fans were soiled with residue and knives on the magnetic rack were soiled with residue and debris.