Inspectors find out dated food in recent Myrtle Beach area inspections

How many times do we walk into a restaurant taking for granted that all guidelines for food safety are being met?

How many times do we check the letter grade posted on the front door of the establishment before entering?

Are employees following the guidelines? Are employees unaware because of lack of training?

These are questions we should be thinking about each time we eat out.

Every week The Sun News is provided with a list of area establishments that have had either a routine inspection or a follow-up inspection that we pass along to you, our readers. We want to keep you informed of what is going on in our area and hopefully you will find your restaurant on the list with an “A” grade.

Each week we report a list of restaurant inspections in the Myrtle Beach area that inspectors have performed.

A follow-up story is done most weeks so we can tell you, our readers, who did not receive an “A” grade and give you some of the reasons why.

This week inspectors did not award 3 area restaurants with an “A” grade. Each of these restaurants had violations and will be receiving a follow-up inspection within the next 10 days.

Routine Inspection - Unannounced and conducted on a frequency determined by the facility’s Risk Category on a frequency of one to four times a year.

Follow-Up Inspection - Conducted within ten days of a Routine Inspection that requires follow-up verification.

The following restaurants received routine inspections and had violations ( week of March 13 - March 17 )

1. Indulge Italian Eatery, located at 4999 Carolina Forest Blvd. #4, Myrtle Beach received a routine inspection on March 16 and scored 79 percent a “B” grade. The following was noted on the inspectors report: Salad/dessert on the cook line observed with diced tomatoes marked with prepared date of 03/07. Reach in cooler by the ice machine observed with orzo prepared on 02/24, cooked pasta observed with prepared date of 03/08. Working containers of food that are not in their original containers and not easily identifiable - such as oils, flour, herbs, potato flakes, salt, spices and sugar. Improper cooling temperatures reach in cooler (prepped/sauces) Italian wedding soup made previous evening per kitchen manager,observed at 44 degrees, Marinara taken out of hot holding last evening, per kitchen manager, observed at 48 degrees. A follow-up inspection will be performed within 10 days according to the SC Food Grade Report.
2. Rockefellers Raw Bar, located at 3613 U.S. 17, N. Myrtle Beach received a routine inspection on March 15 and scored 85 percent a “B” grade. The following was noted on the inspectors report: Improper holding temperatures of food Bar/ cooler - angel hair pasta 53 degrees , oysters on 1/2 shell 47 degrees. Improper thawing tuna under refrigeration in packaging that states to remove when thawing. Improper utensil usage soufflé cups used as scoops in food in cooler, on cook line, stored down in food. Hood and hood filters have grease and debris accumulation in cooking area. A follow-up inspection will be performed within 10 days according to the SC Food Grade Report.
3. Scatori’s Pizzeria, located at 1399 S. Commons Dr., Myrtle Beach received a routine inspection on March 15 and scored 78 percent a “B” grade. The following was noted on the inspectors report: Observed pizza sauce at 45 degrees in the walk-in cooler, Observed cooked risotto at 45 degrees in the walk-in cooler. Ready to eat foods, prepared and held beyond 24 hours, without any date markings, walk-in cooler: cooked pastas, cooked ground beef, cut meats were some of the items discovered. Cutting boards with stained surfaces, indicating they are no longer easily cleanable, grease and grime accumulation on the exterior of kitchen equipment, soiled floors and walls throughout the kitchen. A follow-up inspection will be performed within 10 days according to the SC Food Grade Report.

Last week we reported the following 6 restaurant’s having low scores during routine inspections ( week of March 6 - March 10)

Each of the 6 restaurants had a follow-up inspection and here are the results:

This information is provided by SC Department of Health and Environmental Control

One restaurant that we reported had a routine inspection on March 2 (week of Feb. 27 - March 3) has not had a follow-up inspection, as of March 17.

We have reached out to the restaurant several times and continue to receive a message stating that the number is temporarily unavailable.

As of Friday, March 24 the establishment looks as if they are closed at this time.

Jade Hibachi, 201 Graduate Road, Conway, had a routine inspection on March 2 and scored a 71 % “C” grade. Inspectors found the facility to be “excessively dirty and not maintained,” the SC Food Grade Report stated. Here are some of the violations: no paper towels at hand washing sink, tomatoes sitting on drainboard next to raw chicken, batter mixture in walk-in cooler appears very old, pan storing cooked chicken and shrimp appeared not to be cleaned and sanitized frequently, cutting boards with black build up, no temperature control for pan of raw chicken and steak, wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer bucket between uses, sink build up of grime, shelving and equipment have heavy grease and grime build-up, knobs at sink encrusted with grime build up so thick they need to be replaced, trash stored on floor, garbage stored in box under sink was moldy, all walls and floors have thick grease and grime build-up including walk-in cooler, and stove top hood dripping with grease. A follow-up for all violations will be performed within 10 days according to the report.

Inspection Rating Key

A | 100 - 88 - The retail food establishment earned more than 87 points. Food safety practices appeared to meet the requirements of Regulation 61-25.

B | 87 - 78 - The retail food establishment earned 78-87 points. Food safety practices need improvement.

C | 77 & Below - The retail establishment earned less than 78 points. Food safety practices need significant improvement.

R | Indicates a Routine Inspection - Unannounced and conducted on a frequency determined by the facility’s Risk Category on a frequency of one to four times a year.

F | Indicates a Follow-Up Inspection - Conducted within ten days of a Routine Inspection that requires follow-up verification.