July health inspections reveal fly strips, live roaches inside Beaufort County restaurants
Six Beaufort County food businesses were cited with “B” grades and “C” grades in July health inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Here is the language from their reports:
Dos Amigos Mexican Grill, 2121 Boundary St. Suite 103, scored an 89% (A) on July 22 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: hand washing sink not at correct temperature; large containers of tortilla chips stored uncovered by kitchen; pans of chicken and beef stored uncovered under grill cooler; logs of ground beef thawing in a bus tub of standing water without cold water running over them; central air unit return cover with a heavy accumulation of dust buildup and leakage of liquid dripping onto to go containers below; in use to go containers stored under leaking central air return unit; and the facility not possessing sanitizer testing strips.
The restaurant was reinspected on August 1 and scored a 97% (A) and then on August 5 scored a 100% (A).
Golf Club at Indigo Run, 101 Berwick Drive, scored a 99% (B) on July 31 in a follow-up inspection. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: Heat treated poultry, raw seafood, and raw poultry in ROP packaging packaged in the facility without an approved plan and with date marks indicating that the facility continued the practice after routine inspection indicated that they were not approved.
The restaurant was reinspected on August 9 and scored a 100% (A).
Hook and Reel, 1009 Fording Island Road, scored an 83% (B) on July 30 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: Food handler washing hands in three bay sink; kitchen hand sink without cleanser provided; kitchen hand sinks with no drying provision available; facility is claiming to use TPHC for crab legs, potatoes and corn with no time stamps provided; intact ROP scallops fully thawed with instructions on package to open before thawing; cases of food stored on the wet walk in floor; knives stored between equipment; and multiple cutting boards deeply scored, stained and no longer easily cleanable.
The restaurant was reinspected on August 9 and scored a 100% (A).
New York City Pizza, 81 Heritage PLZ, scored an 96% (B) on July 31 in a follow-up. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: Deep lidded containers of sauce and deeply stacked and covered portions of baked ziti held out of required temperature parameters as well as deep lidded containers of sauce and deeply stacked portions of baked pasta cooked and cooled the day before.
The restaurant was reinspected on August 9 and scored a 100% (A).
Tiger Express #12, 1 Fairfield Road, scored a 93% (B) on July 18 in a routine inspection. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: Residential pesticide spray stored in the kitchen area; ice machine gasket seals in poor repair; reach-in meat cooler door gasket seals in poor repair; facility not possessing chlorine sanitizer test strips for their three compartment sink; walk-in freezer floor with a heavy build-up of ice; walk-in drink cooler fans with a build-up of dust and the floors with a build-up of debris; and kitchen area ceiling tiles with water damage and in poor repair.
The restaurant was reinspected on July 26 and scored a 100% (A).
La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant, 1220 Ribaut Road, scored an 84% (C) on July 30 in a routine inspection. This percentage normally would merit an B, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a C because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: Food employee observed eating in a food prep area; food employee observed smoking or vaping in a food prep area; not lidded employee beverage stored on clean food equipment; evidence of employee brushing teeth in food preparation area; food employee washing hands without soap; both hand washing sinks in food prep areas not having soap accessible; facility not having an active date marking system in place for the disposition of RTE foods; cheese sauce, cooked beef strips, pre-made tamales, salsa and refried beans stored in walk-in cooler without dates; fly strips hanging above clean dishes; back door not tight fitting; live cockroaches and many flies throughout the kitchen and food storage areas; tooth grain beetles in flour and cornmeal; and shelving in dry storage and throughout the facility with an abundance of organic matter and rust.
The restaurant was reinspected on August 9 and scored a 98% (A).
Jasper County
One Jasper County food business was cited with a “B” grade during the same time period:
Bryan’s Country Store, 3522 S. Okatie Highway, scored a 92% (B) on July 29 in a routine inspection. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: Facility not having a date marking system; cooked beef, rice, taco meat and cooked chicken all without a proper label; facility not having a probe thermometer to check temperature of food; wiping cloths being used as a cover in direct contact with ready to eat food; and facility not having test strips available to properly check sanitizer.
The restaurant was reinspected on August 9 and scored a 100% (A).
WHAT THE GRADES MEAN
Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score in a re-inspection.
A: 88% to 100%
B: 78% to 87%
C: 77% or less
During July, SCDA recorded 154 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of these health inspections on its website.
Newer food grade decals include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see a food establishment’s latest report.
