Flies in the fridge, roaches & mildew in latest Myrtle Beach area restaurant inspections
The latest round of restaurant inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture in the Myrtle Beach area found dead flies in a refrigerator, live flies and roaches in the kitchen, out-of-date foods and more. The department is responsible for conducting risk-based inspections of roughly 22,000 South Carolina retail food establishments, like restaurants, convenience stores and cafeterias.
In general, SCDA gives restaurants scoring between 88 and 100 points A grades, restaurants scoring 78-87 points B grades and restaurants scoring 77 points or fewer C grades. However, the department sometimes lowers grades for restaurants that have consecutive violations, are under enforcement action or are under pending enforcement actions, including imminent health hazards, permit suspensions or permit revocations.
Of the 113 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8, SCDA gave seven restaurants B grades and one restaurant a C grade. However, only five restaurants actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
1101 Church St., Conway, 29526
Score: 81
A Nov. 6 routine inspection of the Church Street location of Las Comadres observed several violations, including raw meat stored over and with ready-to-eat foods in a reach-in cooler, a sink and prep table that weren’t cleaned after contact with raw meat and prepared foods like meat and beans stored without marked dates.
The inspection report also noted a hose used to fill a potable water tank stored on the ground outside and cups without handles used to scoop ice and spices. Other violations included foods like onions and bags of rice stored on the floor, boxes of food sitting in puddled water on the floor and dirty crates not approved for reuse used for storage.
The inspector’s comments said a follow-up inspection was to be conducted on or before Nov. 15, though a follow-up report is not yet publicly available.
2760 Highway 905, Conway, 292526
Score: 82
Nov. 6
At a routine inspection of Sunhouse Petroleum on Highway 905 in Conway, marked dates indicated deli turkey was more than a week old, foods like meats and cheese were stored without marked dates and ready-to-eat foods like pizza and wings weren’t marked with times to ensure safe consumption.
Other violations included foods like baked beans and sausage gravy held at temperatures that weren’t cold enough, single-use items like to-go boxes and cups stored near the floor “where there is a potential for contamination” and dirty surfaces.
There was an accumulation of mildew and grime on shelves in the walk-in refrigerator, grease buildup on the sides or fryers, an accumulation of grease and dust in the kitchen ceiling vents and buildups of debris and grime on kitchen and refrigerator floors.
Though a follow-up report hasn’t been posted on the SCDA inspection website, the inspector’s comments note an additional inspection was to be performed on or before Nov. 15.
Old Bull and Bush Pub and Eatery
4700 Highway 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach, 29588
Score: 82
A routine inspection of Old Bull and Bush on Nov. 6 observed foods like roast beef and jalapeno poppers that were more than a week old, ready-to-eat foods like chicken wings and open salsa without marked dates, foods like French onion soup and tomato sauce kept at insufficiently hot temperatures and fish thawed in vacuum-sealed packaging, which is a botulism risk.
The inspection report also notes that dirty dishes like cutting boards and dicers were stored as though they were clean, food was stored on floors around the restaurant, cups without handles were used as scoops, the dish washer had insufficient sanitizer, tongs were stored on oven handles and there were unclean surfaces throughout the kitchen.
There was black buildup inside the dish washer, dirty surfaces on refrigerator shelves and in the bar cooler, buildup on the exterior of cooking equipment and grimy floors. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Nov. 16.
7050 Highway 90, Unit E, Longs, 29568
Score: 83
A Nov. 6 routine inspection of Big Easy Diner found several violations, including out-of-date macaroni and cheese, foods like cheese and pico de gallo stored at inadequately cold temperatures and a pan of ribs that weren’t sufficiently cooled overnight.
The inspector also observed improperly-thawed frozen foods and dirty shelves. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Nov. 16.
Applebee’s Grill and Bar #1148
1647 Church St., Conway, 29526
Score: 85
At a Nov. 4 routine inspection of Applebee’s on Church Street there were dead flies in a refrigerator, numerous flies in the dish and prep areas and roaches in the kitchen. Other violations included sinks without soap, cups without handles used to scoop food, a freezer and a refrigerator that don’t seal when closed and insufficiently hot water in the dipper well, dish sink and washing solution.
There were also accumulations of grease, debris, grime, carbon and black buildup on drawer pans containing food, the grill, gaskets, the sprayer at a sink, dishwasher gauges and inside refrigerators and freezers. Additionally, kitchen walls and floors had buildup of mold, mildew and grime and the floor drains had “excessive” debris buildup.
The inspector’s comments said a follow-up inspection was to be conducted on or before Nov. 14, though a follow-up report is not yet publicly available.