These Loris, Surfside Beach and Little River eateries had the worst restaurant inspections
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control inspects restaurants to ensure they follow all health guidelines and procedures.
SCDHEC’s inspections are current as of Feb. 14, 2024, and these eateries received the lowest scores.
Backstreet Cafe
Location: 4109 Walnut St., Loris
Score: 79 percent
SCDHEC inspected the cafe Feb. 8, 2024, and found multiple violations. SCDHEC’s report observed an employee handling carrots meant for coleslaw with bare hands, although the violation was corrected.
Raw meat was thawing at a dish sink; however, the sink was already being used for washing, according to SCDHEC’s report. That violation was also corrected, according to the inspection.
Knives used for cooking had soiled handles, while sliced tomatoes and cut lettuce were not held at the correct temperatures, although these violations were also addressed that day, according to the report.
SCDHEC’s report also found raw meat thawing at room temperature or in standing water, a damaged refrigerator shelf and doors, unclean surfaces, and grease build-up on the ceiling and sides of cooking equipment, including the refrigerator.
SCDHEC’s inspection concluded that Backstreet Cafe will need an on-site follow-up within 10 days, but no routine inspection is needed within 60 days.
Los Cabos Mexican Grill
Location: 670 17 South, Surfside Beach
Grade: 79 percent
SCDHEC inspected the eatery Feb. 9, 2024, as the department has previously flagged the eatery for several violations this year.
Once again, SCDHEC found soiled surfaces inside the drink coolers behind the bar.
The report noted that cooked chicken, cooked beef, burrito salsa and enchilada sauce were either not heated to the correct temperatures or cooled to the proper ones. SCDHEC also found that ready-to-eat foods were prepared and held for more than 24 hours, exceeding seven days. SCDHEC noted that these violations were corrected that day.
The inspection also found a chemical bottle sitting next to food, and this issue was addressed that day. The report also found non-bulk food stored in an outside storage shed along with single-use supplies, which is unapproved.
The report noted that Los Cabos Mexican Grill must have a follow-up on-site inspection within days for its violations. Failure to address these issues could result in a downgrading, but no routine inspection is required within 60 days.
Blue Drum
Location: 4436 Kingsport Road, Little River
Grade: 84 percent
SCDHEC inspected Blue Drum Feb. 9, 2024, and found a hand sink that didn’t work. The inspection also found a dish machine was not at its proper setting, which was corrected.
The inspection also found that she-crab soup and clam chowder were not at the correct cooling temperature and lacked the correct date marking. Both of these issues were corrected that day.
SCDHEC’s report concluded that Blue Drum is required to have a follow-up inspection within 10 days on-site; however, a routine inspection in 60 days is not needed.
