Rats, ‘terrible odor’ & mildew: the latest worst Myrtle Beach area restaurant inspections
The latest round of restaurant inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture found mildew, evidence of rodents and a “terrible odor” in restaurants around the Grand Strand.
The SCDA generally 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 96 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between Jan. 9 and Jan. 15, SCDA gave five restaurants B grades and three restaurants C grades. However, only four establishments actually scored below 78 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
Clearwater Oyster Bar / Pollo Loco
9717 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Score: 73
At a routine inspection of Clearwater Oyster Bar and Pollo Loco on Jan. 13, the inspector observed “build-up and terrible odor” from floor drains, mildew build up in the part of the ice machine where the ice drops, and sausage and butter stored at unsafe temperatures.
The report also noted that the person in charge didn’t know where the shellstock tags were, which the Food and Drug Administration requires in case of a shellfish-borne disease outbreak. Other violations included prepped food items like grits and hollandaise sauce stored without dates marked for safe consumption, shellfish display bins dripping into a handsink and tongs stored on oven handles.
In a follow-up inspection on Jan. 17, the restaurant earned a perfect score.
803 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Score: 80
A routine inspection of Island Taste on Jan. 14 found several violations, including cooked foods like beef stew and curry chicken held at insufficiently warm temperatures, improperly thawed fish, food stored on the floor and a handsink without soap available.
The inspector also reported that the person in charge didn’t have a minimum food handling certification, an employee was washing dishes without sanitizing them, chemicals were stored alongside food and equipment and there was an accumulation of food splash on the kitchen walls. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Jan. 24.
1780 Pine Island Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Score: 80
At a Jan. 13 routine inspection of Jimmyz Original Hibachi House, the person in charge didn’t have a minimum food handling certification, boxes of food were stored on the floor of a walk-in freezer, a cooler was insufficiently cold and frozen tuna was thawed in its original vacuum-sealed packaging, which is a botulism risk.
The inspection report also notes issues with food procedures for safe consumption. Cooked rice was improperly reheated, cooked noodles were improperly cooled and foods like cheesecake rolls and salmon were stored at temperatures that weren’t cold enough. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Jan. 23.
10635 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Score: 81
A Jan. 15 routine inspection conducted after the SCDA received a complaint about Pawleys Island Tavern found several violations, including openings in ceilings and walls allowing pests inside, an open trash bin that pests could get into and “evidence of rats just out [the] back doors” of the restaurant.
The inspection report also notes that food was stored on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator, an employee handled ready-to-eat food with bare hands, grilled chicken and cooked onions were held at insufficiently warm temperatures, an employee didn’t restrain their beard hair and the refrigerator at the bar was not up to industry standards.
Other violations included food and grease build-up on shelving and dirt and debris on the floor. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Jan. 25.