Rodent urine odor + fry packs on dirty surface. Notes from Beaufort County health checks
Five Beaufort County food businesses were cited with “B” grades in July health inspections by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:
Bonito Boathouse, 875 Bonito Road on Fripp Island, scored an 98% (B) in a follow-up inspection on July 27. This grade normally would merit an A grade, but the report says there were consecutive violations from an earlier inspection on July 12: Rodent droppings and excessive odor of rodent urine throughout the dry storage area, and rodent droppings in the liquor storage cabinet.
An additional follow-up inspection was scheduled within 10 days but was not available on the DHEC website as of Aug. 7. This story will be updated online when that information becomes available.
Rancho Grande, 136 Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, scored an 94% (B) in a follow-up inspection on July 14. This grade normally would merit an A grade, but the report says this was a consecutive violation from an earlier inspection on July 5: The walk-in cooler is in poor repair and unable to hold food at the proper temperature.
The restaurant was reinspected on July 17 and scored a 100% (A).
Sabor Urbano, 15C Marshland Blvd. on Hilton Head Island, scored an 86% (B) in a routine inspection on July 12. Issues noted by inspectors included: Problems with cold food holding temperatures; meat thawing improperly on a counter; the lack of a date marking policy; the one-door reach-in cooler unable to hold food at the proper temperature; a bottle of Clorox bathroom cleaner in the food prep area; and soiled utensils stored improperly in standing water.
The restaurant was reinspected on July 19 and scored a 100% (A).
Seaside Bar & Grill, 1760 Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena Island, scored an 81% (B) in a routine inspection July 12 that was the result of a public complaint. Issues noted by inspectors included: A hand-washing sink without paper towels; a hand-washing sink being used to hold a pot of raw chicken; lack of chlorine in the chemical dish machine; problems with cold food holding temperatures and the walk-in cooler in poor repair; problems with the consumer advisory displayed on the menu; household pesticide spray stored in the kitchen area; an abundance of flies throughout the kitchen and bar area; wiping clothes not stored in sanitizer buckets; a water leak from the bottom of the dishwasher; and a fryer with a missing door shield.
The restaurant was reinspected on July 14 and scored a 100% (A).
Sonic Drive-in #3789, 5 Sherington Drive in Bluffton, scored an 86% (B) in a routine inspection on July 24. Issues noted by inspectors included: Access to a hand sink obstructed by large buckets of grease; a hand sink without cleanser; all hand-washing sinks without drying provisions; the interior walls of an ice machine coated with black organic matter; problems with cold food holding temperatures and the walk-in cooler unable to hold foods at the proper temperature; the single-door reach-in cooler with a broken door, unable to close; cleaned utensils stored in a sealed container with water and condensation; single-service fry packaging stored in contact with a greasy, dirty surface; heavy buildup of food debris and grease on the hot line equipment; and light fixtures in kitchen with no protective shielding.
The restaurant was reinspected on Aug. 4 and scored a 98% (A).
What the grades mean
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 July, DHEC recorded 145 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of these health inspections on its website.
Newer food grade decals include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see a food establishment’s latest report.
Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from July 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.
