Closures, curdled milk & raw meat dripping: Latest Myrtle Beach restaurant inspections
Two restaurants temporarily closed in the latest round of South Carolina Department of Agriculture health and safety inspections around the Myrtle Beach area.
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 236 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between June 21 and July 3, SCDA gave 15 restaurants B grades and two restaurants C grades. However, only eight of those establishments actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
2985 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Score: 76
A routine inspection of Damon’s Oceanfront Grill on July 2 found several violations, including flies around the kitchen that landed on salads, uncooked chicken stored on a rack dripping onto cooked chicken wings and foods like raw meat and crab soup stored at insufficiently cold temperatures.
The inspector observed cases of food stored on the walk-in freezer floor, improperly thawed fish, a refrigerator that wasn’t cold enough, spray chemicals and open beverages “not stored in a manner to prevent contamination,” and equipment in poor condition. Hood filters were missing, pliers were used on a slicer missing a handle and a sheet pan was used to hold up the leg of a bread warmer. A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before July 12.
4036 River Oaks Drive, Unit 9, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Score: 78
At a routine inspection of Sushi King on June 25, the person in charge wasn’t certified to handle food, raw meat and seafood were stored at insufficiently cold temperatures, eel was held at an insufficiently warm temperature, sushi rice wasn’t marked with dates for safe consumption and frozen fish was thawed in vacuum-sealed packaging, which is a risk for botulism.
The inspector observed food stored on the walk-in freezer floor, soiled wiping cloths stored on prep surfaces instead of sanitizer buckets, dust and buildup on hood filters and a leaking sink. In a follow-up inspection on July 1, Sushi King scored 98 points.
5023 Dick Pond Road, Unit 7, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Score: 78
A routine inspection of Soberano Meat Market on June 24 found raw meat stored over ready-to-eat foods, blood from meat puddled on a plastic cover of sausage casing, ready-to-eat foods without marked dates to ensure safe consumption and air gaps around a door, which SCDA considers a risk for pests.
According to the inspection report, there was no certified food handler present, meat and potatoes were held at insufficiently hot temperatures, beef and pork were stored at insufficiently cold temperatures and the facility added equipment and menu items without SCDA approval. In a follow-up inspection on June 2, Soberano scored 98 points.
2144 Oakheart Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Score: 78
At a routine inspection of King Kong Sushi on June 26, there were flies throughout the kitchen and the screen door wasn’t tightly fitted, which SCDA considers a risk for pests. The person in charge wasn’t certified to handle food, an employee handled tempura shrimp with a bare hand and tempura shrimp wasn’t marked with discard dates for safe consumption.
According to the inspection report, the facility couldn’t provide records of how parasites in fish were destroyed, soiled wiping cloths were stored on prep surfaces instead of sanitizer buckets, cups without handles were used to scoop food and there was buildup on kitchen shelving. In a subsequent inspection on June 1, King Kong Sushi scored 96 points.
2144 Oakheart Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Score: 82
After SCDA inspected Hippie Hen House in response to a complaint, the restaurant temporarily closed due to inadequate refrigeration. The refrigerators’ ambient temperatures were too high and foods like crab, raw chicken and cheese weren’t sufficiently cold.
The inspection report also notes ready-to-eat ribs were held at an insufficiently hot temperature and there was debris and dust in the air vents. However, in a follow-up inspection the next day, Hippie Hen House got a perfect score.
720 Highway 17 Business N., Surfside Beach, SC 29575
Score: 83
At a routine inspection of Paisano in Surfside Beach on June 23, the inspector observed curdled milk, “brown watery” lettuce, fruit flies in salad prep and raw chicken and shell eggs stored over produce and ready-to-eat foods.
According to the inspection report, trash bags behind the facility had maggots and weren’t regularly taken to the dumpster and there was a heavy accumulation of food debris and residue buildup in small ovens, inside equipment, on carts, on walls and in a sink. In a follow-up inspection on July 3, Paisano scored 92 points, though the inspector noted dead flies in a reach-in cooler.
600 N. Kings Highway, Surfside Beach, SC 29575
Score: 83
The Surfside Beach Dagwoods location voluntarily closed due to insufficient refrigeration after a routine inspection on June 2. The refrigerators weren’t cold enough, some lacked thermometers and foods like deli meat, chicken salad and egg rolls weren’t sufficiently cold.
The inspector also observed a “heavy presence of flies throughout the kitchen,” inadequately reheated chili, improperly cooled chicken wings and no sanitizer in the dishwasher. However, in a follow-up inspection the next day, Dagwoods earned a perfect score.
1009 3rd Ave. S., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Score: 85
In response to a complaint, SCDA inspected the Circle K Store on 3rd Avenue South around downtown Myrtle Beach on June 27. The inspector observed rodent droppings in the back storage room, food stored below motor oil, ready-to-eat pizza without discard times marked for safe consumption and debris and buildup throughout the facility.
The inspection report also notes the person in charge wasn’t certified to handle food and sinks lacked hot water and soap. A follow-up inspection was to be conducted on or before July 7, but no subsequent report is available yet.