Live roaches, moldy sauce & mislabeled fish: Worst Myrtle Beach restaurant inspections

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture found haddock served as grouper, roaches, and moldy and slimy foods in the latest round of Grand Strand restaurant inspections.

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 174 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between June 13 and June 20, SCDA gave 13 restaurants B grades and one restaurant a C grade. However, only eight of those establishments actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.

Soco Grille

619 Front St., Georgetown, SC 29440

Score: 78

At a routine inspection on June 16, Soco Grille was serving haddock as grouper. Other violations included flies throughout the kitchen and dining area, clams without proper tags, inadequately cooled refrigerators and foods like raw fish and potato salad stored at insufficient temperatures.

The inspection report notes there wasn’t enough sanitizer in the dish washer, foods weren’t consistently date marked, there were stains and deep grooves on a cutting board and wet cloths were left on prep surfaces throughout the facility, instead of submerged in sanitizer.

However, in a follow-up inspection on June 18, Soco Grille scored 90 points and earned a perfect score in a subsequent inspection the next day.

Mi Mexico

3839 Socastee Blvd., Unit C, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

Score: 78

A routine inspection of Mi Mexico on June 19 found several violations, including an employee washing their hands without soap, raw beef stored on a wire shelf directly over ready-to-eat cheese and ready-to-eat foods like deli meats and soft cheeses without dates marked to ensure safe consumption.

The inspector also observed foods like beans and ham stored at insufficiently cold temperatures, eggs sitting out on the counter and inadequate sanitizer in the dish washer. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 29.

China Town

2608 Main St., Suite G, Conway, SC 29526

Score: 79

At a routine inspection of China Town on June 16, an employee didn’t wash their hands after preparing raw chicken, a prep table wasn’t properly cleaned after it was used to prepare raw chicken, dishes weren’t sanitized after washing and there was grime in the ice machine.

In the refrigerators, food was stored uncovered, raw chicken was dripping into flour, raw chicken was stored over cooked food and shrimp was stored behind mushrooms in a position that could drip. The inspection report notes a bowl without handles was used to scoop food, a bowl used to scoop raw shrimp was in contact with carrots and rice was improperly cooled.

The inspector observed accumulations of grime and grease on a can opener, shelving, equipment, floors, walls and in refrigerators. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 26.

CW’s Wings and Ribs

117 Rivertown Blvd., Conway, SC 29526

Score: 79

A routine inspection of CW’s Wings and Ribs in Conway found several violations, including a moldy film on au jus, lettuce turned slimy and orange, an employee not changing their gloves as required and foods like salmon and chicken stored at insufficiently cold temperatures.

According to the inspection report there was no sanitizer in the dish washer and a cup without a handle was used to scoop coleslaw. The inspector observed grime on a can opener, dishes, pans, shelving, equipment and in the dish washer and refrigerators.

There was also an “excessive” accumulation of grease and carbon on the chargrill, as well as grease and debris on the walls, ceilings and floors. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 27.

Doña Toña Mexican Restaurant

3221 Highway 701 N., Conway, SC 29526

Score: 79

After a complaint, the SCDA inspected Doña Toña Mexican Restaurant on June 16. There were roaches observed around the facility, including in shredded cheese, a sink, an unused cooler, a storage area. According to the inspection report, sticky pads were “full of baby and adult roaches.” The restaurant’s back door wasn’t adequately sealed, which SCDA considers a risk for pests.

Other violations included open containers of rice and salt uncovered in a storage area, an employee handling ready-to-eat foods with bare hands, improperly cooled foods, tongs stored on oven handles and food debris crusted on a pot, blender and wooden paddle.

The inspector observed holes in the walls and ceiling tiles, an “excessive accumulation of unnecessary items and litter” in a storage room and on counter tops, and dirt and debris on floors. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 26.

Big T’s Saloon

3010 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Score: 82

In response to a complaint, the SCDA inspected Big T’s Saloon on June 17. The inspector found flies around the dish area and rodent droppings on top of the dish washer and on sticky paper hanging from a ceiling tile.

The inspection report notes the dish washer didn’t have sanitizer, the bar ice bin was not protected from customers or possible contamination, a cutting board had “deep grooves,” and the refrigerator is not sanitation certified. In a walk-in freezer with heavy ice accumulation, packages of food were “encased in ice” after being dripped on.

The inspector also observed debris and sticky buildup on the floor and walls. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 27.

Sabor Guatemalteco Latin Restaurant

2696 Beaver Run Blvd., Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Score: 84

At a routine inspection of Sabor Guatemalteco Latin Restaurant on June 16 there was no certified food handler present, ready-to-eat foods were past their expiration dates, meats weren’t marked with dates for safe consumption and unpackaged meat was stored in non-food-grade plastic bags.

There were also issues with the refrigerator. Foods weren’t covered, foods like lettuce and raw meats were stored at insufficiently cold temperatures and the refrigerator thermometer was broken. The inspector also observed grime buildup in the sink. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 26.

Surfside Charlies

800 Highway 17 Business, Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Score: 85

In response to a complaint, SCDA conducted an inspection of Surfside Charlies on June 18. There were “numerous flies” in the kitchen, including on bread. Rice and pasta were stored at insufficiently cold temperatures, foods like cheese and deli meat weren’t marked with dates for safe consumption and the taco meat was a week old.

The inspection report also notes the dish washer didn’t have sanitizer and a cleaning bucket had too much sanitizer. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 28.