Editor's note: To keep our food and dining readers informed, the Greenville News covers sanitation and health grades given to the food and dining industry by inspections administered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA). Overall inspection scores and letter grades are updated on the storefront immediately after an inspection.
Ready-to-eat food stored below raw chicken, debris buildup on utensils, misdated products, and food stored below recommended temperatures were among the violations discovered during monthly health inspections.
A handful of Greenville County restaurants received "C" food inspection grades in July, as the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) identified seven retail food establishments with improper storage methods, issues of cleanliness, and other health-related issues.
As SCDA performs more than 2,500 routine and follow-ups around the county each year, this past month's report highlights food debris buildup, poultry/dairy products kept at the wrong temperature, contamination, and more.
In our coverage, we will identify two kinds of violations: a priority and a foundation, which examines the highest risk of causing foodborne illness and contributing factors that could cause illness.
On a scale of 100, food grades below 78 signify that the food establishment's practices need significant improvements. During routine inspections, a "C" Grade restaurant is classified as such, and 10 days later, it is followed up to be sure changes are made.
Below is a snapshot of the July 2024 retail food establishments that have fallen to a "C" grade and the follow-up inspections that have been upgraded since the initial visit:
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Arizona Steakhouse tagged with 13 inspection violations, follow-up visit to take place in August
location: 3952 Grandview Drive (Simpsonville)
During a routine inspection on July 31, SCDA found 13 out-of-compliance violations, including six foundational and five priority violations. Some of the most notable violations were:
- observance of potato slicer, meat cleaver, and can opener with debris buildup.
- observed no temperature control for safety food items on the kitchen line with date marking.
Initial score: 71 out of 100; a follow-up visit has yet to take place as of Aug. 9.
Since 2022, Arizona Steakhouse has consistently scored "A" food grades on three inspections before the July 31 report.
Bul Go Gi - Korean Grill corrects misdated products during July inspection violation follow-up
location: 2435 E. North St 111-A (Greenville)
During a routine inspection on July 22, SCDA found nine out-of-compliance violations, including five foundation and five priority violations; some of the most notable were:
- observed raw beef at 61 degrees Fahrenheit stored at the drain board of a three-compartment sink.
- observed two containers of vegetable stock, cream cheese with onions and carrots without prep or discard date, and Kimchi exceeded seven days.
The initial score was 82 out of 100; a follow-up took place on July 26, and the retail food establishment received an A food grade, with all issues corrected and a score of 100.
Dating back to 2021, Bul Go Gi - Korean Grill has consistently scored "A" and "B" food grades on seven inspections before the July 22 report.
Konnichiwa of Greenville observed food storage mishaps, follow-up inspection to come in August
location: 101 Falls Park Drive (Greenville)
During a routine inspection on July 29, SCDA found 12 out-of-compliance violations, including two foundation and four priority violations; some of the most notable were:
- food separation, packaging, and segregation — raw, ready-to-eat food stored on the floor below raw chicken in a walk-in cooler (violation corrected).
- Temperature control for safe food — observed cooked products stored on the counter (carrots at 61 degrees Fahrenheit and broccoli at 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
- ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food — pork not labeled with prep or discard date.
Initial score: 76 out of 100; a follow-up visit has yet to take place as of Aug. 9.
The SC Food Grades database has no food grade history for Konnichiwa of Greenville.
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La Choza receives seven out of compliance violations, corrects issues for perfect food grade score
location: 6245 White Horse Rd. (Greenville)
During a routine inspection on July 23, SCDA found seven out-of-compliance violations, including three foundation and three priority violations; some of the most notable were:
- observed cooked food aluminum trays inside a cooler with no date markings.
- observed condensate dripping from air conditioning into manual dishwashing sink.
Initial score: 84 out of 100; a follow-up took place on July 25 and the retail food establishment received an A food grade with all issues corrected and a score of 100 .
Dating back to 2021, La Choza has consistently scored "A" food grades on eight inspections before the July 23 report.
Lin's Asian Cafe #1 had labeling, contamination violations; follow up inspection to take place in August
location: 850 E. Suber Rd. (Greer)
During a routine inspection on July 31, SCDA found eight out-of-compliance violations, including two foundation and four priority violations; some of the most notable were:
- observed cooked chicken at 46 degrees fahrenheit
- observed all temperature control for food safety food and ready-to-eat food not labeled with prep or discard date, including shrimp, noodles, tofu, sweet and sour chicken, sautéed chicken, steak, and vegetable stock.
- observed food in a manner where there is a potential for contamination.
Initial score: 80 out of 100; a follow-up visit has yet to take place as of Aug. 9.
Since 2021, Lin's Asian Cafe #1 has consistently scored "A" and "B" food grades on eight inspections before the July 31 report.
Shortfields in Travelers Rest corrects initial food storage violations from SCDA
location: 24 S. Main St (Travelers Rest)
During a follow-up inspection on July 26, SCDA found seven out-of-compliance violations, including two foundation and two priority violations; some of the most notable were:
- cream of mushroom soup prepared the previous day and observed at 54 degrees Fahrenheit had been cooling for more than six hours (violation corrected).
- temperature control for safety foods not maintained at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below: including sauce, sausage, chicken, raw fish, raw beef patties, tomatoes, raw chicken, raw beef steaks, baked potatoes, sliced deli meats, lasagna, and dressing (violation was not corrected; products discarded).
- packaged fish not removed from packaging upon thawing.
Initial score: 87 out of 100; a follow-up took place on July 29 and the retail food establishment received an A food grade with all issues corrected and a score of 100 .
Since 2022, Shortfields of Travelers Rest has consistently scored "A" and "B" food grades on seven inspections prior to the July 31 report.
Voila improves improper prep and discard date of food items, re-classified as "A" grade restaurant.
location: 755 Hammett Bridge (Greer)
During a routine inspection on July 25, SCDA found five out-of-compliance violations, including one foundation and four priority violations; some of the most notable were:
- ready-to-eat food not labeled with prep or discard date, including potatoes, chicken, turkey, ham, cheese, goat cheese, and cooked vegetables) and some exceeded seven days (lentil soup cooked peppers).
Initial score: 87 out of 100; a follow-up took place on July 29 and the retail food establishment received an A food grade with all issues corrected and a score of 100 .
Dating back to 2022, Voila has consistently scored "A" food grades on five inspections before the July 25 report.
For a look into the full food grade reports in Greenville and across South Carolina, visit https://apps.dhec.sc.gov/Environment/FoodGrades
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– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription .
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville Co. restaurant food grades: Food stored below raw chicken, buildup on utensils
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