In the latest restaurant inspections around the Myrtle Beach area, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture observed grime in drink machine nozzles, unsafe food temperatures and an employee who touched trash then switched tasks without changing their gloves.
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 270 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between Nov. 15 and Dec. 8, SCDA gave six facilities B grades and three facilities C grades. However, only four of those establishments actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
1880 Highway 17 N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
Score: 75
A Nov. 20 routine inspection of Spencerz Sports Bar found grime in the tea machine nozzles and a slicer blade, foods like cheese and meats at insufficiently cold temperatures, foods like pierogies and slaw without dates marked for safe consumption and no certified food handler present.
Other violations included expired date marks that weren’t removed from pans, boxed foods stored on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator, deep cuts in a cutting board and accumulations of debris, grease and grime around the kitchen. There was buildup inside the sink, on walls, inside a cooler, behind pans, on shelves, on a table, on equipment, on food containers and more.
However, in a follow-up inspection on Nov. 25, Spencerz scored 97 points.
1856 Highway 17 N., Surfside Beach, SC 29575
Score: 78
At a routine inspection of Roma Ray on Nov. 20, the inspector observed an employee push trash down in a trash receptacle and change tasks without changing their gloves, antipasti and sauces stored for more than a day without dates marked to ensure safe consumption and the door propped open, which SCDA considers a risk for pests and insects.
The inspection report also notes foods like rigatoni and ground beef in containers marked with expired dates, the fryer cover stored on the floor, appliances implemented without SCDA approval and baked goods kept uncovered on the front counter, which SCDA considers a contamination risk.
But in follow-up inspections on Nov. 25 and Dec. 4, Roma Ray scored 91 points and 100 points, consecutively.
112 Highway 17 N., Surfside Beach, SC 29575
Score: 79
A routine inspection of Kings Sushi on Nov. 18 found partially cooked vegetables at an insufficiently hot temperature at the cook line, sushi rice without discard times marked to ensure safe consumption and gaps around the exit door that didn’t completely close, which the SCDA considers a risk for pests and rodents.
The inspector also observed no sanitizer in a cleaning bucket, a damaged freezer door iced over, a leaking water line and an accumulation of debris under walk-in freezer shelves.
However, Kings Sushi scored 98 points in a follow-up inspection on Nov. 25.
10835 Kings Road, Unit 288, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Score: 83
At a routine inspection of Charleys Philly Steaks in Tanger Outlets on Nov. 18, the inspector found cooked chicken wings and cheese at insufficiently cold temperatures in the refrigerator, vegetables and wings without dates marked to ensure safe consumption and buildup in the interior top of the ice machine.
The inspection report also describes a container of chicken sitting at room temperature for 15 minutes at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the person in charge, the chicken was fried for three minutes then held at room temperature for 15 minutes then put in the refrigerator before being put back in the fryer to finish cooking when ordered.
But in a follow-up inspection on Nov. 25, Charleys Philly Steaks scored 97 points.