3 restaurants in Beaufort Co. (and one nearby) fell short in September health inspections
Three Beaufort County food businesses were cited with “B” and “C” grades in September health inspections by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:
Lowcountry Produce Market and Cafe, 302 Carteret St. in Beaufort, scored an 85% (B) on Sept. 20 in a routine inspection.
Issues noted by the inspector included: Person in charge does not have a food handlers certificate; food employees drinking from open cups while working on the cook line; paper towels not supplied at the kitchen hand sink; issues with proper cold food holding temperatures and the walk-in cooler unable to hold food at the required minimum temperature; walk-in cooler condenser frozen over with ice; thawed salmon with warning label to remove from package upon thawing in intact packaging; fan in kitchen with heavy accumulation of dust on; shelving in walk-in cooler with rust and organic matter build-up; light fixture in kitchen without protective shielding; and light fixture in back kitchen storage room broken.
- The restaurant was reinspected on Sept. 22 and scored a 97% (A).
Okatie Ale House, 25 William Pope Court in Bluffton, scored an 80% (B) on Sept. 27 in a routine inspection that was the result of a public complaint.
Issues noted by the inspector included: Outside bar hand-washing sink used as storage; prep area hand-washing sink with soiled wiping towels covering the faucet; employee washing utensils in a hand-washing sink; all kitchen hand-washing sinks and both bar hand sinks without ways to dry hands; bar soda nozzles with buildup of black organic matter; knives used to cut raw chicken washed with only water and then wiped with a dry wiping cloth before being placed on knife rack without sanitizing; issues with proper cold food holding temperatures and refrigerators in poor repair; heavy presence of flies in dish-washing area; soiled and wet wiping cloths on cutting boards and prep surfaces throughout the kitchen; and cups without handles in dressings being used as scoops.
- The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 6 and scored a 93% (C). This percentage normally would merit an A grade, but the report said this: “Downgraded to C based on failure to correct priority cooling violation.” The inspector noted the bar hand-washing sink with takeout boxes stored in it and the outside walk-in cooler unable to hold food at the required minimum temperature.
- The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 10 and scored a 100% (A).
Wayback Burgers, 4 Bluffton Road in Bluffton (inside Walmart), scored an 83% (B) on Sept. 26 in a routine inspection.
Issues noted by the inspector included: Hand-washing sink inaccessible because of several buckets in it; issues with cold-food storage temperatures and the low-boy prep cooler in poor repair; working spray bottles without labels to identify the contents; residential pesticide spray stored in the kitchen area; a container of food without a label to identify the contents; a bucket of pickles stored directly on the walk-in cooler floor; three-compartment sink without sanitizing test strips; walk-in cooler and freezer with debris and grime all over the floors; walk-in cooler storage racks with a heavy accumulation of black organic matter and dust; and ceiling vent cover with a accumulation of dust.
- The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 6 and scored a 98% (A).
Jasper County
The following restaurant is located in Jasper County but is frequented by many Beaufort County residents because of its location near the county line. During September, DHEC inspectors conducted 22 checks of Jasper County businesses; all others were given A grades.
Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant, 468D Mark Cummings Road, Suite 107, in Hardeeville, scored a 71% (C) on Sept. 21 in a routine inspection that was the result of a public complaint.
Issues noted by the inspector included: Employee standing and eating in food prep area; access to the bar hand-washing sink blocked by large buckets and the kitchen hand-washing sink had miscellaneous items in the basin; raw chicken and raw ground beef defrosting in standing water together; beef thawing in sink basin at ambient temperature; ready-to-eat lettuce being handled in the same sink basin as raw beef; lack of chlorine in the chemical dish machine; issues with hot food and cold food holding temperatures and cooling appliances in need of repair; paint, primer and other chemicals stored with food; both back doors propped open; flies throughout the kitchen; wet, soiled wiping cloths on counters and prep tables; utensils with no handles or stored handle down in liquid salsas and sauces; and the three-compartment sink held together with duct tape and spray foam and leaking.
- The restaurant was reinspected on Sept. 29 and scored a 95% (C). This percentage normally would merit an A grade, but the report noted the following continuing violations: Hand-washing sinks with utensils and towels in the basins and lack of chlorine in the chemical dish machine.
- The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 10 and scored a 100% (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 September, DHEC recorded 206 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 Sept. 1-30, 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 three pages. Switch to page 3 at the top right.
