October’s Hilton Head & Bluffton restaurant health report: rodents & roaches in kitchens
Ten Beaufort County food businesses were cited with “B” and “C” grades in October health inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Here is the language from their reports:
Albergotti Grill, 2225 Boundary St., scored an 81% (B) on Oct. 24 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: person-in-charge does not have a food handler certificate; raw hamburger and raw pooled egg product stored with open packages of ready-to-eat biscuits and English muffins; dirty knives stored on the knife magnet as clean; soda nozzles in the kitchen and bar area had a buildup of black organic matter; facility has a date marking policy, observed ham, prepared oatmeal and sausage gravy without date marks for proper disposition; observed spray bottle of chemical in the kitchen without an identifying label; observed employee personal items stored on prep unit with equipment and food; observed back door propped open upon arrival; observed fruit flies swarming around soda nozzles in the bar area; observed condensation dripping and pooling onto covered food in the cookline prep unit; observed an excessive amount of ice buildup inside the French fry and chicken finger freezer next to the fryer; observed grease and grime on doors, walls and handles of equipment throughout the kitchen; shelving observed with a buildup of crumbs, dust and other organic matter; corners of threshold missing molding making area uncleanable; and many ceiling tiles missing throughout the kitchen and storage rooms.
The restaurant was reinspected on Nov. 4 and scored a 100% (A).
Dos Amigos Mexican Grill, 2121 Boundary St. Suite 103, scored an 80% (B) on Oct. 4 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: observed handwashing sink water temperature to be 83 degrees Fahrenheit; men’s restroom does not have a handwashing sign; observed multiple pans of uncovered, cooked beef, chicken, and shrimp stored in walk-in cooler; observed can of residential-use pesticide spray stored in cabinet by kitchen; observed 3 pans of meat thawing in pans of water on countertop and not under cold running water; observed multiple roaches in all stages of development throughout the facility; observed bucket of chicken held on floor and on top of lidded trash bin in kitchen area during prep/cooking process; observed ice scoop stored in ice basin without the handle facing up; door frame is made of untreated wood; observed walk-in freezer fan not covered and one not in state of repair; facility does not have sufficient hot water to meet peak hot water demands; facility’s hood system is not sufficient to support operation; and observed heavy buildup of grease on Ansul system pipes and TV near kitchen as well as other surfaces in facility.
The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 11, Oct. 18 and Oct. 23 and scored two C’s before settling on a 100% (A).
La Poblanita Restaurant, 4490 Bluffton Park Crescent, scored an 87% (C) on Oct. 3 in a follow-up inspection. This percentage normally would merit a B, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a C because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: 0 PPM chlorine using facility and inspector test strips; observed food held outside of required minimum temperature that, through date mark and discussion with PIC, was ascertained to have been cooked the previous day and is still in the cooling process; observed working spray bottle of chemical not labeled for identification as required; observed very large, deep covered container of chicken still in the cooling process from the previous day; observed heavy presence of house flies in dish area; and observed live cockroach in dish area.
The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 11 and scored a 100% (A).
Bowdies Chophouse, 11 Palmetto Bay Road #401, scored an 80% (B) on Oct. 29 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: employee drink with no lid on cutting board; no hand washing sign at sinks in bathrooms; facility is not maintaining shellfish tags with date of last sold as required; no date marking on pasta and marinara sauce; observed menu with steaks offered cooked to order with menu not having a reminder as required; food in boxes stored on floor of walk in freezer; handles on cooler below flat top in poor repair with handles having build up of rust; no chlorine test strips provided; side of grill, top of cooler under flat top and shelving holding pans has build up of grease; hole in wall in dry storage area filled with spray foam; and base boards under hand sink missing.
The restaurant was reinspected on Nov. 5 and scored a 94% (A).
Chin Dynasty China Bistro, 108 Buckwalter Parkway Suite 2H, scored an 79% (B) on Oct. 28 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: observed food handler drinking from an open-top cup while preparing food; observed food handler wash hands in sushi prep sink; observed interior of ice machine with buildup of black organic matter; observed food handler wash a cutting board and store as clean without performing a sanitizing step as required; observed sushi rice and heat-treated chicken held under facility TPHC policy without time stamps as required; observed dish machine detergent being stored in a duck sauce bucket with no modified labeling; facility does not have a suitable small diameter probe thermometer to measure the temperature of food; observed wontons stored adjacent to dirty utensil soak bin, subject to contamination from splash; observed cases of fortune cookies stored on the floor; observed forks at sushi counter available for consumer self-service presented in a way that does not prevent lip-contact surface contamination; chlorine test strips not provided; and observed hot line equipment with an accumulation of grease and grime.
The restaurant was reinspected on Nov. 1 and scored a 100% (A).
Grooby’s Too!, 12 Sheridan Park Circle Suite A, scored an 97% (B) on Oct. 24 in a follow-up inspection. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: observed banquet room door unable to form a proper seal; observed rodent activity near kitchen back door, at soda box storage area, and behind hot line; refuse enclosure is in poor repair; and observed trash and other debris on the ground in refuse enclosure.
The restaurant was scheduled for a followup inspection within 10 days. That report had not been posted at press time.
Red Stripes, 8 Pin Oak St., scored an 85% (B) on Oct. 22 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: observed food handler drinking from an open-top beverage in prep area; observed food held outside the minimum required temperature that, through discussion with PIC, was ascertained to have been cooked the day before and still in the cooling process; observed working pump sprayer of degreaser not labeled for identification as required; observed tall covered pot of oxtails cooked yesterday still in the cooling process; observed outside area with an excess of unused items and trash; observed floors to be dirty throughout the facility; and observed insufficient ventilation at main cook line and ambient temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Hood fan is broken and deep fry fumes are very strong in facility.
The restaurant was reinspected on Nov. 1 and scored a 96% (A).
Suadero La Poblanito, 4490 Bluffton Park Crescent, scored a (B) on Oct. 24 in a follow-up inspection. The report could not be opened.
The restaurant was reinspected on Nov. 1 and scored a 100% (A).
Taco Go, 4 Oliver Court Suite 103, scored an 89% (B) on Oct. 2 in a follow-up inspection. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: observed food handler on cell phone while handling ready-to-eat cilantro; observed hand wash sink temperature at 79 degrees Fahrenheit; observed back door propped open during inspection; and facility’s soiled hand sink water drains improperly and fills into the basins of the facility’s three-bay sink.
The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 11 and scored a 100% (A).
Wasabi Sushi HHI, 103 Buckwalter Place Suite 109, scored an 86% (B) on Oct. 18 in a routine inspection. Issues noted by inspectors included: observed sushi station hand sink blocked for use by equipment; observed utensils and food storage containers throughout the facility stored as clean, but unclean to sight and touch; observed food handler wash, rinse, and store as clean utensils and food storage containers without performing a sanitizing step as required; observed fish thawing at ambient temperature on the counter; observed back screen door damaged and not tight-fitting; observed house flies in salad area, dish area, and sushi area. Not corrected, verification required; observed fruit and vegetables stored under dirty dish table, subject to splash and contamination; observed food handler cutting vegetables without washing prior as required; observed soiled utensils stored in standing water at 95°F; chlorine test strips not provided for chlorine dish machine; observed exterior of dish machine with accumulation of grime and debris; and observed false wall in sushi area to be covered in food splatter.
The restaurant was reinspected on Oct. 24 and scored a 100% (A).
Jasper County
One Jasper County food business was cited with a “B” grade during the same time period:
Cherry Point Chicken & BBQ, 2915 Okatie Highway, scored an 99% (B) on Oct. 22 in a follow-up inspection. This percentage normally would merit an A, but the restaurant’s grade was kept at a B because of continuing violations. Issues noted by inspectors included: facility is operating BBQ pit cooking without prior authorization.
The restaurant was scheduled for a followup inspection within 10 days. That report had not been posted at press time.
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 in a reinspection.
- A: 88% to 100%
- B: 78% to 87%
- C: 77% or less
During September, SCDA recorded 248 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County and 42 for Jasper 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.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 10:53 AM.
