SC inspectors gave these Greenville area restaurants the worst ratings in October. Here’s why

South Carolina restaurant inspectors performed 355 routine and follow-up inspections in Greenville County in October and three earned the state’s lowest grade.

Two were cited for grime and debris, among other failings, and one for storing food at improper temperatures.

In all, 324 received A grades and 25 B.

Orient on Main/Sushi Murasaki in downtown Greenville was inspected on Oct. 31 and was graded 72, a C.

The Department of Agriculture inspector found employees handling cut tuna and cooked shrimp with their bare hands, a sink at the sushi station blocked with product thawing under running water and the cook line sink had no soap or paper towels.

The mechanical ware washing had no chlorine sanitizer and a can opener blade was soiled with food debris.

Several containers of product prepared the previous day were not at proper temperature including chicken, crab salad and spicy tuna mix.

Several containers were not properly labeled.

Product was stored under heavily soiled shelving in the walk-in cooler, fried breadcrumbs were stored in an open container on a lower shelf in the storeroom, an ice scoop handle touched ice in the server station and stainless steel scrubbies were stored in a sushi station cooler.

Shelving throughout the facility was soiled with food debris, grease and grime as were storage bins of dry ingredients.

Rusted and soiled galvanized shelving in the kitchen area was not smooth and cleanable. There was a large hole in the floor under a bar hand sink and the floor under a ware washing machine and bar hand sink areas had bio film growth.

El Patron on North Weston Street in Fountain Inn scored 75 on Oct. 22 after an inspector saw an employee drinking from an unlidded cup at the food prep table, a broken sink and no hand washing signage in men’s or women’s restrooms.

Various foods were at improper temperature including refried beans, ground beef and queso.

Multiple ready to eat salsas had no date marks.

The inspector saw a chemical spray bottle stored beside to go boxes, Windex next to clean dishes and bug spray that is not approved for commercial kitchens.

A fly strip hung from the ceiling over the clean side drain board of a dish machine. Raw chicken was stored on a shelf above lemons in a walk-in cooler.

An inspector returned on Oct. 24 and issued an 88 grade, a B.

Refried beans, ground beef and sliced chicken were not at proper temperatures. On Oct. 27, the restaurant received a 100.

Love Sushi on Woodruff Road in Greenville was inspected on Oct. 15 and graded 75, a C, and received a 100 on Oct. 24.

During the first inspection, the restaurant’s hot water unit was turned off but once the owner turned the heater back on, the sinks reached proper temperature.

A container storing knives and other utensils was dirty and the knives had visible debris, food was not at proper temperature including sauces, butter, raw chicken.

The sushi log for using time as a Public Health Control had not been maintained.

The back screen door had gaps that would potentially allow insects to enter the facility and a bucket of wiping cloths was stored on the floor. The chlorine sanitizer solution was 0 ppm.

Ventilation hoods had a buildup of organic matter.

This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM.