Raw meat contamination, ice machine grime: Myrtle Beach area’s worst restaurant inspections
In the most recent restaurant inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, inspectors observed black build-up in an ice machine, fly strips hung over food and an employee cleaning the kitchen after handling raw chicken without washing their hands.
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 101 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between Dec. 16 and Jan. 2, SCDA gave six restaurants B grades and one restaurant a C grade. However, only three restaurants actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
760 Coastal Grand Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Score: 72
At a routine inspection of Texas Roadhouse Grill in the Coastal Grand Mall on Jan. 1, the inspector found fly strips hung over food, pans with stickers stacked as though clean, unlabeled squirt bottles and build-up inside the ice machine, on the sprayer at the sink, on the fryers and on racks that hold pans.
Other violations included frozen fish thawed in its original vacuum sealed packaging, which is a risk for botulism, and unsafe food temperatures. Ready-to-eat foods like ribs weren’t held at temperatures that were hot enough, ribs stored in the cooler weren’t cooled quickly enough and foods like gravy weren’t reheated quickly enough for safe consumption.
A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Jan. 12.
5910 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
Score: 79
In response to a complaint, the SCDA conducted an inspection of the Popeyes location next to Ocean Lakes Family Campground on Dec. 30. The inspector observed an employee handle raw chicken then clean surfaces without washing their hands, dirty pans stored as though clean and ready-to-eat foods kept at unsafe temperatures.
Fried chicken was held at temperatures that weren’t sufficiently hot and coleslaw was held at temperatures that weren’t cold enough. The report also notes dirty shelving in the walk-in refrigerator, heavy ice build-up in the freezer and a small refrigerator leaking and without a thermometer to monitor temperature. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Jan. 9.
1629 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440
Score: 81
At a Dec. 30 inspection of Untouchable Cafe in response to a complaint, the person in charge was not certified to handle food, dishes were properly washed, rinsed and sanitized, and a food prep cooler wasn’t adequately cold.
Prepared foods also weren’t stored and cooled properly. Hot foods like rice and cooked cabbage were held at temperatures that were too cool, Refrigerated foods like fish and buttermilk were stored at temperatures that were too warm and collards weren’t sufficiently cooled overnight. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Jan. 9.