Rodent droppings, rotten food & more. The worst SC Lowcountry restaurant inspections for May

Ever wonder what’s behind restaurant grades? Not every establishment receives an A, and several in Beaufort County received the lowest grade.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture has completed its May inspections of restaurants, and the results are available to the public. Four Beaufort County restaurants received C grades in the May inspections.

Grades range from A to C, and restaurants can lose points for violations of South Carolina’s retail food regulations. They are given a chance to remedy their issues before a follow-up inspection. Here’s the breakdown on who received C grades and why:

D’Fuskie’s

D’Fuskie’s on Daufuskie Island initially received a B grade from inspectors. The report cited a “large bowl of pasta and tomato sauce with white organic growth,” and a broken freezer full of expired foods in “advanced decay with organic growth.” D’Fuskie’s received a B in spite of these issues.

The follow-up inspection netted D’Fuskie’s a C grade. Inspectors discovered “diced chicken and diced potatoes in advanced state of decay, with organic growth and slime stored in rear prep refrigerator.” The report also notes that D’Fuskie’s repackaged expired deli meats for sale.

La Poblanita

La Poblanita in Bluffton received a C grade during its May inspection. No follow-up has been carried out.

Inspectors observed employees not washing their hands between touching raw beef and raw chicken. They found peppers and shredded cheese with organic growth. A package of turkey ham was seen, “swollen and discolored.” Chocolate-dipped bananas were made at home by an employee, in violation of regulations. A “heavy presence of flies in meat cutting area” was also observed.

Pedro’s Tacos and Tequila

Pedro’s Tacos and Tequila in Port Royal received a C grade during its May inspection. No follow-up has been carried out.

An employee was witnessed touching raw foods and then handling prepared food without washing their hands. The report notes this occurred multiple times. An employee handled prepared food with their bare hand as well.

Inspectors observed “black organic matter” built up inside a soda dispenser. Multiple flies were spotted in the food-prep area. Some stored-food items were found to not have expiration date labels on them.

Surf’s Up Frosty Dog

Surf’s Up Frosty Dog on Hilton Head Island received a B grade during its first May inspection. Inspectors observed a bag chewed open by pests, rodent droppings, black organic growth on an ice machine and an open chemical container stored near food. They also observed an “uncovered rodent bait station.”

A follow-up inspection reported the rodent issue had not been solved, and the restaurant received a C grade. Two further inspections found the issue remained.

The latest inspection reports Surf’s Up removed their C-grade label from the door to a side window. The label was “folded in half,” according to the report.