Wedding & Event Venue Near Beaufort, SC.

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) – Beaufort County Administrator has been fired just days after he was placed on leave by the County Council.

Eric Greenway took the job in June 2021 but just two years into his five-year contract, he’s out of a job.

“We have voted to terminate him with cause,” Council Chairman Joe Passiment said Friday. “This still is a personnel matter and we are advised by our legal counsel we cannot talk about it yet. We will talk about it when we are told we can.”

John Robinson, assistant county administrator of Public Safety, will now serve as acting county administrator.

It all started with a complaint of misconduct that came to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Sheriff PJ Tanner and 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone did feel there was enough to have someone outside of the county look into it. The Public Integrity Unit in South Carolina’s 1st Solicitor District is now reviewing the complaint.

Meanwhile, former employee Lisa Lynch, who was fired Tuesday, is now claiming retaliation, saying she went in the next day and testified to the council about months of sexual harassment by Greenway.

The council has already started a full review of all county purchases and contracts since the beginning of the year, but officials won’t say if that’s part of the misconduct complaint against Greenway.

Because he was fired with cause, Greenway is not due any severance pay or buyout of any kind. The former administrator now has five days to file a lawsuit about that decision and appeal his firing.

WSAV tried to contact various members of the council, but they say because it’s a personnel decision and there is the possibility of a lawsuit, they were advised by lawyers not to comment.

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Eight Beaufort County food businesses were cited with “B” grades in June health inspections by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:

Berkeley Hall Clubhouse, 366 Good Hope Road in Bluffton, scored an 88% (A) in a routine inspection on June 16. Even though that normally would merit an B grade, the business was given a A and a chance to correct violations. Inspectors noted problems with the temperature of the dish machine, cooked beef brisket held past the seven-day disposition date, consumer advisory statements not linked to relevant menu items, and issues with the facility not following a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food-safety plan.

The clubhouse scored a 98% (B) in a follow-up inspection June 27. This normally would merit an A grade, but the clubhouse was given a B because of a continued issue with the HACCP: Thawed fish was not properly labeled.

The clubhouse was reinspected on June 28 and scored a 100% (A).

Corner Perk, 1297 May River Road 11C in Bluffton, scored an 80% (B) in a routine inspection June 15. Inspectors noted problems with the chlorine level in the chemical dish machine, cold-holding temperatures, containers of soap and bleach without labels on the bottles, pesticide labeled for residential use stored near the dish machine, a box of potatoes on the floor, and equipment in need of maintenance.

The coffee shop was reinspected on June 21 and scored a 100% (A).

Delcid la Moreliana, 802 Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena Island, scored an 82% (B) in a routine inspection June 2. Inspectors noted that the person in charge did not posses a certified food protection manager certificate; a kitchen handwashing sink did not have paper towels; the manual washing procedure had no chemical sanitizer, and the final rinse temperature was too low; pots, pans and food storage containers were stored while unclean; lack of a date-marking policy; chemicals stored with food ingredients; two bowls of meat were thawing at room temperature; several paper bags of food ingredients were stored on the floor; single service cups, takeout trays and napkins were stored on the floor; there was no sanitizer for warewashing; and there was a heavy buildup of grime and food debris on kitchen shelving and inside cabinets.

The restaurant was reinspected on June 12 and scored a 95% (A) and again on June 22 and scored a 100% (A).

Ela’s on the Water, 1 Shelter Cove Lane on Hilton Head Island, scored a 94% (B) in an inspection June 14 that was the result of a public complaint. A note from the inspector says the facility’s plumbing system underground is failing, and gray water is backing up into the the outside service sink and into the parking lot. DHEC defines gray water as wastewater that is generated by appliances such as sinks, showers and laundry.

The restaurant was subject to a routine inspection on June 23 and scored an 82% (B). Inspectors noted the lack of chlorine in the chemical dish machine; issues with cold food holding temperatures, food cooling processes and the need for repairs of the walk-in cooler; hood filters with a thick layer of grease and grime; problems with plumbing at the three-compartment sink and from the restaurant to the sewer system outside; and debris in the grout lines of the kitchen floor.

The restaurant was inspected again on June 29 and scored a 100% (A).

Lowcountry Produce, 1919 Trask Parkway in Seabrook, scored an 84% (B) in a routine inspection June 19. Inspectors noted a hand-washing sink without cleanser or paper towels, problems with cold food holding temperatures, food items without date marks, a kitchen window propped open with no means of preventing the entry of pests, the presence of live cockroaches throughout the facility, coolers in need of repair, spilled grease and debris on the floor behind the cook line, and damaged walls with paint flaking off in the line area.

The restaurant was reinspected on June 29 and scored an 89% (B). Inspectors noted continued issues with cold food holding temperatures and date marking, coolers in need of repair, and kitchen walls with damage and in need of painting.

The restaurant was reinspected on July 5 and scored a 100% (A).

Okko, 95 Matthews Drive Suite C on Hilton Head Island, scored an 81% (B) in a routine inspection June 27. Inspectors noted a handwashing sink without cleanser; grime on the cook line breading container and ice machine reflector plate; problems with cold food holding temperatures; pest sprays and medication stored next to food; boxes of food stored on the floor of the freezer; coolers in need of repairs; and the need to clean gaskets of the prep unit, shelves throughout the facility, handles to coolers and hood filters.

The restaurant was reinspected on June 29 and scored a 100% (A).

Pizza Hut #34753, 35 Robert Smalls Parkway in Beaufort, scored a 98% (B) in an inspection June 29 that was the result of a public complaint. This grade normally would merit an A grade, but the report says this was a consecutive violation: Running water in the three-compartment sink was not reaching a high enough temperature. Previous inspection reports were not immediately available on the DHEC website.

The restaurant was reinspected on July 7 and scored a 100% (A).

Polanco Modern Mex Kitchen, 9 Market St. #1 in Beaufort, scored an 82% (B) in a routine inspection June 21. Inspectors noted that the person in charge did not posses a certified food protection manager certificate; there was a case of corn in dry storage with mold and pests; unclean plates were stacked and stored as clean; plates and utensils were washed and rinsed but not sanitized; there was no date-marking system for foods; the consumer advisory on the menu was incomplete; the kitchen door was propped open without an air curtain or screen; there were flies and cockroaches in the kitchen; in-use wiping cloths were held in soiled water; single-use cups were being used as scoops in ingredient bins; there were no sanitizer test strips for the warewashing equipment; and the unisex restroom did not have a lidded trash can.

The restaurant was reinspected on June 30 and scored a 97% (A).

Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score.

During June, DHEC recorded 155 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of these health inspections on its website.

Newer food grade decals include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see a food establishment’s latest report.

Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from June 1-30, 2023.

At the top left of the chart, there is a space to search for the name of a restaurant. Please note that this month’s inspections take up two pages. Switch to page 2 at the top right.

This story was originally published July 14, 2023, 12:17 PM.

Nine Beaufort County food businesses were cited with grades below an “A” in routine health inspections in May by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:

China Wok, 350 Shanklin Road, Suite 5, in Beaufort, scored a 79% (B) in a routine inspection May 31. Among the issues noted: A food employee changed tasks from handling raw chicken to handling utensils and plates without washing hands; the hand washing sink was blocked by buckets on the floor; an open plastic bag of ground beef was stored in the same vessel and directly on top of boxes of raw shrimp in the walk-in cooler; problems with cold food holding temperatures; cans of WD-40 and spray epoxy were stored with food; use of multiple insect control chemicals not labeled for use in retail food establishments; working line utensils were stored in standing, soiled water; open baskets of unwrapped single-service cutlery were offered to consumers creating a risk of contamination; cardboard boxes delivery boxes were re-purposed as direct contact food storage containers; interior and exterior of microwave oven were heavily soiled; a shelf extension on the hot line was constructed of untreated lumber; and floors in kitchen, prep, and dish area had heavy accumulation of grime and scattered debris.

A follow-up inspection was scheduled to be performed within 10 days.

El Don Juan, 1 Matthews Court, Suite C, on Hilton Head Island, scored a 79% (B) in a routine inspection May 4. Among the issues noted: The hand washing sink was being used to thaw raw chicken; the char-grill had an accumulation of dried food remnants and grease; problems with cold food holding temperatures and with food cooling practices; Windex and Lysol were stored above dry ingredients; repackaged food was not labeled; the meat case had cracked glass; and the outdoor cooking area does not have a hand washing station and is not properly authorized.

The restaurant was reinspected on May 12 and scored a 97% (A).

IHOP Bluffton, 11 Towne Drive in Bluffton, scored an 83% (B) in a routine inspection May 23. Among the issues noted: The person in charge does not possess a food handler certificate; green chili had organic growth around it; the waffle maker was encrusted in food debris; problems with hot food and cold food holding temperatures; coolers and freezer in need of repairs; and encrusted grease, grit and grime on the reach-in cooler doors, reach-in freezer doors, walk-in cooler doors, prep area hood and all door handles.

The restaurant was reinspected May 30 and scored a 100% (A).

Jade Garden, 1304 Fording Island Road #K in Bluffton, scored an 80% (B) in a routine inspection May 16. Among the issues noted:

Cracked empty eggshells were stored with whole eggs; food was stored in uncovered containers with other containers on top of food; heavy accumulation of debris and organic matter on wok, knives, cutting board and utensils; problems with cold food holding temperatures; crab salad, pot stickers and chicken nuggets without dates; a fuzzy wiping cloth used for food spills and cleaning stored inside the sushi rice container and covering the rice; boxed food and bags of onions stored on the floor; wet and soiled wiping cloths stored on top of the food prep equipment; cut gallon jugs that are not easily cleanable used as scoops; equipment in need of repairs; an accumulation of grease and organic matter on the hood system; and an accumulation of organic matter and debris in the reach-in cooler.

The restaurant was reinspected May 24 and scored a 100% (A).

La Poblanita, 216 May River Road in Bluffton, scored a 97% (B) in a follow-up inspection May 5. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the business was given a B because of an issue that had not been corrected after a routine inspection on April 24. The remaining violation: Problems with cold holding temperatures in the cheese cooler.

The restaurant was reinspected on May 11 and scored a 100% (A).

Lady’s Island Dockside, 71 Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, scored an 80% (B) in a routine inspection May 1. Among the issues noted: Food employee washed mushrooms and rinsed a towel in the hand washing sink; hand washing signs are missing from two restrooms and at one of the kitchen hand washing sinks; ready-to-eat pasta was draining and shrimp was thawing in the three-compartment sink posing a risk of cross contamination; in-use cutting boards had black organic matter and dried food debris; ice scoop had build up of brown organic matter; reflector plates on both ice machines had build up of orange and black organic matter; problems with cold food holding temperatures; fish was thawing in standing water and in an unclean compartment of the three-compartment sink; shrimp and white fish were stored in a tub of standing water in the walk-in cooler; boxes of food were stored on the floor; soiled wiping cloths were stored in the coolers, in the hood system and on the food prep counters; a build up of organic matter in the three-compartment sink; a build up of scum and limescale in the dishwasher; a build up of grease and grime on the hood system filter; organic matter on refrigerator shelving; and kitchen floors needed cleaning.

The restaurant was reinspected May 9 and scored a 100% (A).

Rancho Grande, 136 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 4, in Beaufort, scored a 74% (C) in a routine inspection May 9. Among the issues noted: The hand sink was blocked with a knife and a food pan in the basin and an employee hand washing sign was not provided; spoiled meat and fish were stored in the prep unit and intended for use; lack of chlorine sanitizer in the chemical dish machine; problems with cold food holding temperatures; shredded chicken, salsa and heat-treated tomato sauce held in the walk-in cooler past their date marks; use of unapproved lavender-scented bleach on food contact surfaces; working spray bottles of chemicals without labels; use of submerged disposable cups as scoops in several working containers of sauces; scoop buried in ice machine; lack of sanitizer for the warewashing facilities; excessive ice-build up in the reach-in freezer; excessive debris and liquid at the bottom of the line prep cooler; food debris and and grime in the microwave; a leaking plumbing system in poor repair; and standing water in the kitchen.

The restaurant voluntarily closed to repair plumbing and refrigeration. It was reinspected May 10 and scored a 99% (A).

River Club, 188 Oldfield Way in Bluffton, scored an 84% (B) in a routine inspection May 25. Among the issues noted: No soap nor hand washing sign at the hand sink; problems with cold food holding temperatures; several prepared foods without dates; chemicals were stored with food and above food service equipment; a hotel pan of kitchen utensils was stored on the floor; equipment in need of repair; no chlorine test strips for dishwasher supplied.

A follow-up inspection was scheduled to be performed within 10 days.

Sunhouse #3, 3448 Trask Parkway in Beaufort, scored a 94% (B) in a follow up inspection May 5. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the business was given a B because of issues that had not been corrected after a routine inspection on April 26. Among the remaining violations: Excessive black organic matter in the ice machine bin and problems with cold holding temperatures on the one-door refrigerator.

The restaurant was reinspected May 15 and scored a 100% (A).

Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score.

During May, DHEC recorded 168 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of health inspections on its website.

Newer food grade decals will include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see the food establishment’s latest report.

Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from May 1-31, 2023.

At the top left of the chart, there is a space to search for the name of a restaurant. Please note that this month’s inspections take up two pages. Switch to page 2 at the top right.

Six Beaufort County food businesses were cited with grades below an “A” in routine health inspections in April by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:

Albergotti Grill, 2225 Boundary St. in Beaufort, scored an 82% (B) in a routine inspection on April 10. Among the issues noted: All hand-washing stations without paper towels; moldy produce in coolers; organic buildup on the ice machine; problems with cold food temperatures, lack of dates on prepared foods and food held past the date mark; leak under ice machine and door to the freezer unable to properly close; soda syrup and sticky grime on the floors near the ice machine and grime on the floors in the walk in cooler.

The restaurant was reinspected on April 17 and scored a 100% (A).

Beaufort Wet Willie’s, 2127 Boundary St. in Beaufort, scored an 82% (B) in a routine inspection on April 12. Among the issues noted: Food employee sneezed into gloved hand and continued to work; food employee touched raw product and then utensils and ready-to-eat hamburger buns without a hand wash and glove change; one hand-washing sink blocked with cleaning tools and supplies; one hand-washing sink without paper towels; food employee placed a package of raw hamburger meat on the sandwich prep board while preparing cheese sauce and plating hamburger buns; lack of chlorine sanitizer in the dish machine; build-up of pink organic matter inside of the ice machine; problems with cold food temperatures; containers of dry ingredients without identifying labels; and build up of soap scum, limescale, food crumbs and organic matter on the dish machine.

The restaurant was reinspected on April 21 and scored a 100% (A).

Blue Laguna Mexican Grill and Cantina, 841 William Hilton Parkway Suite L on Hilton Head, scored a 78% (B) in a routine inspection on April 27. Among the issues noted: Oysters stored in the walk-in cooler without identifying tags attached, and shelled oysters stored in standing water; lack of chlorine sanitizer in the dish machine and a build up of soap scum and limescale; organic build up inside the ice machine bin and on the soda nozzles; food without date marks; lack of consumer advisories about raw foods on menu; toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash stored with clean dishes; cooler unit near cookline in poor condition; and holes in walls by the ice machine.

The restaurant was reinspected on May 3 and scored a 100% (A).

La Mexicana, 21 Simmonsville Road Suite A in Bluffton, scored a 72% (C) in a routine inspection on April 13. Among the issues noted: Hand sink in meat market area blocked with hose connected to faucet; unpackaged frozen raw animal proteins stored together in a manner that promotes cross contamination in chest freezers; unclean cutting knives at sandwich prep counter; unclean meat saw, meat slicer, butcher cutting board, meat trays and tortilla processing machine; heavy accumulation of organic matter inside ice machine; problems with cold food temperatures; lack of food date marking system and repackaged bulk and house-made food offered for retail sale without labels; tilapia thawing in standing water; garage doors in back food storage room open; live roaches in kitchen near the hand-washing station; large quantity of freshly made masa dough stored improperly, uncovered in back room and exposed to the elements; pork bellies hung to dry in front of a dusty fan on an untreated greasy wooden frame; knives stored improperly and scoops without handles in dry food containers; an untreated 2x4 used as a food contact surface; chest freezer lid in poor condition; unclean spice containers and food storage containers; holes in walls and sagging ceiling tiles in the meat prep room; missing ceiling tiles in kitchen and food prep storage rooms; unclean floors and an excessive amount of tools and unrelated items stored in tortilla processing room.

The restaurant was reinspected on April 18 and scored a 96% (A).

New Sake Grill and Sushi, 1017 Fording Island Road Suite F104 in Bluffton, scored a 79% (B) in a routine inspection on April 12. Among the issues noted: Multiple food handlers went outside and returned to preparing food without hand-washing; escolar offered on menu labeled as white tuna; prep table not sanitized after use; spatula washed but not sanitized before re-use with different animal protein; several cutting boards with heavy accumulation of black organic buildup and deep scoring; utensils and food strainer stored with food residue; problems with both hot and cold food temperatures; lack of consumer advisory about raw sushi on menu; multiple unlabled chemical spray bottles; bleach and dish soap stored on top of onions; open Vaseline stored above hot line; large crack in sliding glass door cooler and other issues with the cooler; cutting board in use with large crack in center.

The restaurant was reinspected on April 21 and scored a 100% (A).

Tio’s Latin American Kitchen, 7 Venture Drive #106 in Bluffton, scored a 96% (B) in a follow-up inspection on April 20. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the business was given a B because of food temperature issues in the walk-in cooler that had been noted in a routine inspection the day before.

The restaurant was reinspected on April 21 and scored a 100% (A).

Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score.

During April, DHEC recorded 147 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of health inspections on its website.

Newer food grade decals will include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see the food establishment’s latest report.

Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from April 1-30, 2023.

At the top left of the chart, there is a space to search for the name of a restaurant. Please note that this month’s inspections take up two pages. Switch to page 2 at the top right.

A tale of two Beauforts

Two of our favorite Southern small towns share a name—sort of. Beaufort and Beaufort are spelled exactly the same way, which is why people mix them up all the time (much to the chagrin of the residents of each spot). However, these two towns are not the same place, and, despite the written similarity of their shared moniker, they're not pronounced the same way either. Learn the differences, and you'll never mix them up again.

A Tale of Two Beauforts

First of all, Beaufort and Beaufort are located in different states. One is Beaufort, North Carolina, the third-oldest town in the state and one of the most beloved small towns in the "Inner Banks," the inland coastal region of Eastern North Carolina (just west of the Outer Banks). It's situated between Cape Lookout and Emerald Isle.

On the other hand is Beaufort, South Carolina, another inland coastal gem located a stone's throw from St Helena Island and Parris Island, between Edisto Beach and Hilton Head Island. It's said to be the second-oldest town in South Carolina.

Beaufort Pronunciations

As mentioned, while these two towns' names are spelled identically, they don't share identical pronunciations. Beaufort, North Carolina, is pronounced "BOW-fert" or "BOH-fert." It has a similar pronunciation as the one you find in the old-fashioned name "Beauregard." It calls for the pronunciation of "beau" that we associate with the word's definition as "an admirer" or "a sweetheart."

Beaufort, South Carolina, is pronounced "BEW-fert." Cassandra King writes for Southern Living, "Contrary to the spelling, it's pronounced "BEW-fert," with the lips pursed as though blowing a kiss." It's "BEW-fert," with a similar sound as the one you find in the word "beautiful."

Beaufort Histories

According to the Town of Beaufort, Beaufort, North Carolina, "was first known as Fishtown because the fishing industry was and has been an important part of the county's history. Beaufort was later named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort."1 It's the county seat of Carteret County and has a population of approximately 4,000.

According to the Beaufort Visitor's Center, Beaufort, South Carolina, was founded in 1711.2 It was also named the South's Best Small Town by Southern Living readers in 2017—a charming community filled with sleepy streets, beautiful homes, and plenty of places to launch a boat or a paddleboard.

Takeaways? There are at least two Beauforts you should be aware of. They're not in the same state, and they're not pronounced the same, so there's no excuse to get them mixed up ever again.

WATCH: The South's Best Small Town: Beaufort, SC

They're two of our favorite Southern small towns—have you visited both of the Beauforts?