News Summary
Recent inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture revealed multiple health violations at several restaurants in Horry and Georgetown County. The SCDA’s graded scoring system highlighted the concerning practices in these establishments, leaving patrons questioning dining safety. Notable restaurants such as Pee Dee Exchange, Dumpling & Seafood Restaurant, and Southern Grill all had significant infractions, including improper food storage and sanitation issues. Follow-up inspections are scheduled, and restaurant owners are urged to rectify these violations promptly to ensure customer safety and compliance with health standards.
Horry and Georgetown County Restaurants Face Health Violations
In a recent round of inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) from March 29 to April 3, several restaurants in Horry and Georgetown County received attention due to health violations that could make patrons think twice before dining in. While many establishments do their utmost to maintain proper food safety practices, the findings from these inspections raised a few eyebrows.
The Grading System Explained
The SCDA uses a simple grading system to help diners make informed choices. Scores range from A (88-100 points), B (78-87 points), to C (77 points or less). Restaurants with multiple violations or pending enforcement actions may receive lower grades. Out of the 121 inspections carried out in the area, only six restaurants received a B grade, while five were marked below 88 points.
Spotlight on Health Violations
Let’s take a closer look at some of the restaurants that didn’t quite meet the mark:
Pee Dee Exchange
Location: 6450 Highway 378, Conway, SC
Score: 78
This establishment had some concerning issues. Foods like spaghetti with meat sauce, hot dogs, and raw liver were found sitting out without any temperature control. The reach-in cooler was reported as non-operational—definitely a red flag! There was also no certified food protection manager on staff, and ready-to-eat foods didn’t have consumption time markings. Other violations included sticky cabinet doors, single-use cups on the floor, and a general lack of cleanliness.
Dumpling & Seafood Restaurant
Location: 9650 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC
Score: 80
This restaurant had its fair share of problems, too. Inspectors found slime and mildew in the ice chute, along with foods like shrimp and chicken that lacked proper date markings for safe consumption. Ready-to-eat rice was held at dangerously low temperatures, and there were unsanitized cleaning cloths scattered around. A definite oversight was the lack of soap and paper towels at the kitchen handsink. Follow-up inspections are scheduled to ensure compliance.
Southern Grill
Location: 1118 Celebrity Circle, Unit 315, Myrtle Beach, SC
Score: 82
Southern Grill had mildew and debris lurking in the fountain drink ice chute, while ready-to-eat foods also lacked critical date markings. No one present had food handler certification, and there were unsanitary conditions such as handsinks without soap and dirty surfaces. It appears that some significant maintenance is due at this location too, with observed water damage and contamination issues.
John’s Mart
Location: 3788 Highway 378, Conway, SC
Score: 83
At John’s Mart, unsafe storage temperatures were noted for various foods, including macaroni and cheese and deli meats. Like many others on the list, this restaurant also failed to mark consumption times on ready-to-eat foods and had an ongoing issue with dust in the walk-in refrigerator.
Melt
Location: 1320 Celebrity Circle, Unit 189, Myrtle Beach, SC
Score: 83
Melt wasn’t without issues either! They had shrimp and pimento cheese stored at unsafe temperatures, along with pizza boxes and single-use cups found on the floor. To make matters worse, their dishwasher was operating without sanitizer, and plumbing leaks were spotted in various places. It seems they have quite a bit of work ahead.
Looking Ahead
Each of these eateries has been given the opportunity to rectify their violations with follow-up inspections scheduled to ensure they’re on the right track. It’s clear that health and safety are paramount, and keeping diners safe is no small task. Let’s hope that these restaurants will rise to the occasion and score better the next time.
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Additional Resources
- Myrtle Beach Online: Health Violations
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- AOL: Health Violations in Restaurants
- Google Search: Restaurant Health Violations
- Myrtle Beach Online: Latest Inspection Results
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Restaurant
- AOL: Latest Health Violations Report
- Google News: Restaurant Health Inspection
