Moldy food packages and rat droppings. Worst Myrtle Beach area restaurant inspections
Soiled surfaces and food packages with mold growing inside were among some of the problems found during recent restaurant inspections in the Myrtle Beach area.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control does routine health inspections for restaurants in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding area. With inspections up to date as of Feb. 28, 2024, these restaurants received the worst grades.
Queens Hot Pot
Location: 124 Loyola Drive, Myrtle Beach
Grade: 80 percent
SCDHEC inspected Queens Hot Pot Feb. 22, 2024, and found several violations.
Within the dish area, the inspection found soiled surfaces.
A hand sink had a pitcher in it, the report noted, which the eatery corrected. Raw chicken and beef were stored together in a maketop cooler, while the raw chicken was also stored next to thawing food. SCDHEC’s report noted both issues were corrected.
The inspection also found uncovered food stored in a walk-in cooler, while cooked sausage and crab legs were held beyond 24 hours without any date marking.
The eatery’s buffet was also missing a protective sneeze guard and labels that made clear when expired food should be thrown out, which the restaurant corrected.
Queens Hot Pot is required to have an onsite, follow-up inspection within 10 days; failure to correct violations could result in a downgrading, according to SCDHEC’s report.
Jupiter Pies
Location: 9261 Highway 707 Unit B, Myrtle Beach
Grade: 81 Percent
After being flagged for several violations by SCDHEC Feb. 16, 2024, Jupiter Pies once again received an 81 percent.
SCDHEC again inspected Jupiter Pies and found mold growing on food packages, which was not corrected. Rat droppings were seen by SCDHEC’s inspection, which was also not corrected. There was also build-up inside the ice machine, and clean equipment was stored in soiled containers, which was not corrected, according to the report.
Sweet Potato pie and tomato pies were prepared and stored longer than 24 hours without a date marking; the report also made a note of a sweet potato mix dated Dec. 1, 2023.
Along with other violations SCDHEC noted, the restaurant is required to have an onsite follow-up inspection within 10 days. SCDHEC’s report concluded that if the violations were not corrected, Jupiter Pies could result in a C grade remaining posted.
