This Rock Hill restaurant earned the lowest health inspection score so far in 2024
A Rock Hill restaurant used a box that came with raw chicken to store ready-to-eat foods and didn’t sanitize counter wiping cloths between uses, earning it the lowest inspection score so far this year in York County.
Golden China at 2742 Celanese Road scored a 74% during its routine inspection Feb. 8, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The C grade is a first this year for any restaurant in York, Lancaster or Chester counties. South Carolina restaurants are graded on a scale from A to C.
The report notes a follow-up inspection to be performed at Golden China within 10 days.
The inspection last week found more than a dozen violations, many of them repeat offenses. The report lists employee food stored on food prep surfaces while prep was happening, a back screen door that doesn’t fit tight, unlabeled food storage bins, no date marking system to know if ready-to-eat food has been held more than 24 hours and issues maintaining temperature for several foods like fried rice.
There also was food buildup on a hood vent and shelf cover, plus grease or debris on the cook line and freezer floors, according to the report.
Restaurant inspections are graded on a 100-point scale. A score of 88 or higher is an A grade. A Grade B score is 78 to 87, and anything lower is a Grade C. A B score indicates safety practices need improvement and a C score shows “significant improvement” needed, according to the health department.
There are cases where the numerical score can differ from the letter score. The health department factors in past performance or violations, for instance.
Past records for Golden China show it had a non-lettered passing grade in June of 2021 followed by two A grades last year. The restaurant scored 88% in mid-January 2023 and 98% a week later at the follow-up inspection.
Through Sunday, 403 listed inspection reports for the three-county Rock Hill region this year are largely A scores. There are 21 scores in the B range, with only Golden China at a C grade.
The Rock Hill Herald contacted the restaurant for comment regarding its score prior to publication.
