Myrtle Beach Restaurant Inspections Reveal Some Troubling Findings
Hey Myrtle Beach! It looks like we’ve got some not-so-great news from the latest health inspections in our wonderful coastal town. Grab a seat, and let’s dive into what’s been happening in the local dining scene.
Inspections in the Spotlight
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) recently completed a series of inspections in Horry and Georgetown County, and yeah, a few restaurants did not score as high as we would hope. Between September 26 and October 16, the SCDA performed 252 restaurant inspections. Out of those, three restaurants received C grades (yikes!) and eight earned B grades.
In general, restaurants scoring between 88 and 100 get an A grade, scores from 78 to 87 get a B grade, and anything below 77 is classified as a C grade. It’s a bummer to see that only four spots had scores below 88, but let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what was found.
King Kong Sushi Bar and Grill
First up is King Kong Sushi Bar and Grill located at 2144 Oakheart Road, which received a score of 78. During an inspection on October 16, there were some serious red flags. Inspectors discovered mildew and pink slime in the ice machine and fly traps hanging above food prep areas. As if that wasn’t alarming enough, crab sticks and raw calamari were lying around at unsafe temperatures. Sushi lovers beware: it was noted that sushi rice lacked proper timing labels. That’s not exactly following the rules, people! Expect a follow-up inspection on October 26.
Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy
Next on the list is Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy at 740 Coastal Grand Circle, scoring 80. An inspection on October 14 found a heavy presence of flies in the kitchen, which is definitely not what you want to see while tucking into your tacos. Beyond the hovering flies, the kitchen was buzzing with too many cooking equipment issues and unacceptable food temperatures. Yikes! Another follow-up inspection is on the docket for October 26.
Gio’s Italian Kitchen
Now, let’s chat about Gio’s Italian Kitchen over in Pawleys Island, which got an 81 score. Found on October 15, inspections revealed issues like butter and tiramisu not being stored properly and food lacking any dates. No bueno! Plus, there were a few unsafe handling practices observed as employees were seen handling food without gloves. At least there’s a follow-up on October 25 to see if they can clean up their act.
Lance Self Serve
Lastly, we have Lance Self Serve, scored at 85. This establishment caught some attention during a routine inspection on October 10 for having a C grade decal torn halfway off, a mess of debris on shelves, and some dirty floors. To make things worse, the hand sinks were in poor shape and hard to reach due to clutter everywhere. When asked about some food storage violations, the owner seemed to just walk out on the inspector! They got a follow-up inspection on October 18, but details on that visit aren’t available yet. SCDA has referred them for enforcement—possibly racking up hefty fines if they don’t get things in order.
Stay Informed, Myrtle Beach!
As members of this lovely beach community, it’s important to know what’s happening with our food establishments. Keeping an eye on health grades can help ensure we’re dining safely and deliciously! Let’s hope these restaurants can clean up their act quickly because no one wants to be cautious about grabbing a bite. Keep your chin up, Myrtle Beach, and let’s support our local restaurants, better equipped and safer than ever!
