Spoiled meat, grimy door handles. Check May’s inspection scores in Beaufort County

Nine Beaufort County food businesses were cited with grades below an "A" in routine health inspections in May by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:

China Wok, 350 Shanklin Road, Suite 5, in Beaufort, scored a 79% (B) in a routine inspection May 31. Among the issues noted: A food employee changed tasks from handling raw chicken to handling utensils and plates without washing hands; the hand washing sink was blocked by buckets on the floor; an open plastic bag of ground beef was stored in the same vessel and directly on top of boxes of raw shrimp in the walk-in cooler; problems with cold food holding temperatures; cans of WD-40 and spray epoxy were stored with food; use of multiple insect control chemicals not labeled for use in retail food establishments; working line utensils were stored in standing, soiled water; open baskets of unwrapped single-service cutlery were offered to consumers creating a risk of contamination; cardboard boxes delivery boxes were re-purposed as direct contact food storage containers; interior and exterior of microwave oven were heavily soiled; a shelf extension on the hot line was constructed of untreated lumber; and floors in kitchen, prep, and dish area had heavy accumulation of grime and scattered debris.

A follow-up inspection was scheduled to be performed within 10 days.

El Don Juan, 1 Matthews Court, Suite C, on Hilton Head Island, scored a 79% (B) in a routine inspection May 4. Among the issues noted: The hand washing sink was being used to thaw raw chicken; the char-grill had an accumulation of dried food remnants and grease; problems with cold food holding temperatures and with food cooling practices; Windex and Lysol were stored above dry ingredients; repackaged food was not labeled; the meat case had cracked glass; and the outdoor cooking area does not have a hand washing station and is not properly authorized.

The restaurant was reinspected on May 12 and scored a 97% (A).

IHOP Bluffton, 11 Towne Drive in Bluffton, scored an 83% (B) in a routine inspection May 23. Among the issues noted: The person in charge does not possess a food handler certificate; green chili had organic growth around it; the waffle maker was encrusted in food debris; problems with hot food and cold food holding temperatures; coolers and freezer in need of repairs; and encrusted grease, grit and grime on the reach-in cooler doors, reach-in freezer doors, walk-in cooler doors, prep area hood and all door handles.

The restaurant was reinspected May 30 and scored a 100% (A).

Jade Garden, 1304 Fording Island Road #K in Bluffton, scored an 80% (B) in a routine inspection May 16. Among the issues noted:

Cracked empty eggshells were stored with whole eggs; food was stored in uncovered containers with other containers on top of food; heavy accumulation of debris and organic matter on wok, knives, cutting board and utensils; problems with cold food holding temperatures; crab salad, pot stickers and chicken nuggets without dates; a fuzzy wiping cloth used for food spills and cleaning stored inside the sushi rice container and covering the rice; boxed food and bags of onions stored on the floor; wet and soiled wiping cloths stored on top of the food prep equipment; cut gallon jugs that are not easily cleanable used as scoops; equipment in need of repairs; an accumulation of grease and organic matter on the hood system; and an accumulation of organic matter and debris in the reach-in cooler.

The restaurant was reinspected May 24 and scored a 100% (A).

La Poblanita, 216 May River Road in Bluffton, scored a 97% (B) in a follow-up inspection May 5. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the business was given a B because of an issue that had not been corrected after a routine inspection on April 24. The remaining violation: Problems with cold holding temperatures in the cheese cooler.

The restaurant was reinspected on May 11 and scored a 100% (A).

Lady's Island Dockside, 71 Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, scored an 80% (B) in a routine inspection May 1. Among the issues noted: Food employee washed mushrooms and rinsed a towel in the hand washing sink; hand washing signs are missing from two restrooms and at one of the kitchen hand washing sinks; ready-to-eat pasta was draining and shrimp was thawing in the three-compartment sink posing a risk of cross contamination; in-use cutting boards had black organic matter and dried food debris; ice scoop had build up of brown organic matter; reflector plates on both ice machines had build up of orange and black organic matter; problems with cold food holding temperatures; fish was thawing in standing water and in an unclean compartment of the three-compartment sink; shrimp and white fish were stored in a tub of standing water in the walk-in cooler; boxes of food were stored on the floor; soiled wiping cloths were stored in the coolers, in the hood system and on the food prep counters; a build up of organic matter in the three-compartment sink; a build up of scum and limescale in the dishwasher; a build up of grease and grime on the hood system filter; organic matter on refrigerator shelving; and kitchen floors needed cleaning.

The restaurant was reinspected May 9 and scored a 100% (A).

Rancho Grande, 136 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 4, in Beaufort, scored a 74% (C) in a routine inspection May 9. Among the issues noted: The hand sink was blocked with a knife and a food pan in the basin and an employee hand washing sign was not provided; spoiled meat and fish were stored in the prep unit and intended for use; lack of chlorine sanitizer in the chemical dish machine; problems with cold food holding temperatures; shredded chicken, salsa and heat-treated tomato sauce held in the walk-in cooler past their date marks; use of unapproved lavender-scented bleach on food contact surfaces; working spray bottles of chemicals without labels; use of submerged disposable cups as scoops in several working containers of sauces; scoop buried in ice machine; lack of sanitizer for the warewashing facilities; excessive ice-build up in the reach-in freezer; excessive debris and liquid at the bottom of the line prep cooler; food debris and and grime in the microwave; a leaking plumbing system in poor repair; and standing water in the kitchen.

The restaurant voluntarily closed to repair plumbing and refrigeration. It was reinspected May 10 and scored a 99% (A).

River Club, 188 Oldfield Way in Bluffton, scored an 84% (B) in a routine inspection May 25. Among the issues noted: No soap nor hand washing sign at the hand sink; problems with cold food holding temperatures; several prepared foods without dates; chemicals were stored with food and above food service equipment; a hotel pan of kitchen utensils was stored on the floor; equipment in need of repair; no chlorine test strips for dishwasher supplied.

A follow-up inspection was scheduled to be performed within 10 days.

Sunhouse #3, 3448 Trask Parkway in Beaufort, scored a 94% (B) in a follow up inspection May 5. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the business was given a B because of issues that had not been corrected after a routine inspection on April 26. Among the remaining violations: Excessive black organic matter in the ice machine bin and problems with cold holding temperatures on the one-door refrigerator.

The restaurant was reinspected May 15 and scored a 100% (A).

Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score.

A: 88% to 100%

B: 78% to 87%

C: 77% or less

During May, DHEC recorded 168 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of health inspections on its website.

Newer food grade decals will include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see the food establishment's latest report.

Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from May 1-31, 2023.

At the top left of the chart, there is a space to search for the name of a restaurant. Please note that this month's inspections take up two pages. Switch to page 2 at the top right.