Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Lake Wylie restaurants all passed their September inspections with A grades, according to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Countywide, 296 of 298 York County establishments inspected in September earned an A. The only two B grades went to Hickory Tavern in Rock Hill and Lake Wylie Pizza in York. Both earned their A back on follow-up visits within a week. No restaurant received a C.

The September results were first reported by YoCoNews on Friday, Oct. 2. In August, inspectors handed out nine B grades and two C grades across 303 inspections, WRHI reported.

Lake Wylie Pizza

Lake Wylie Pizza, at 1075 Filbert Highway, scored 82 points on a routine inspection Friday, Sept. 11. Inspectors found food in a lowboy cooler above the safe cold-holding limit of 41 degrees. Sliced cheese measured 51 degrees, cooked vegetables 48, sliced tomatoes 47 and cooked pasta 45.

The report also noted an employee cutting a sandwich without gloves and a container of cooked lasagna with no date mark. Staff corrected those problems on site.

The restaurant could not produce supplier documentation required for serving undercooked salmon. That issue was not fixed during the visit. Because inspectors found two or more priority violations, the person in charge was cited.

Lake Wylie Pizza earned its A back on a follow-up inspection Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Hickory Tavern

Hickory Tavern, at 2674 Celanese Road in Rock Hill, scored 96 points on a follow-up inspection Tuesday, Sept. 8, but still received a B. The grade was lowered because a priority violation from a Sept. 1 routine visit had not been corrected.

Inspectors cited drain flies in the mop sink, around the bar and near the dish area. They also found organic buildup on shelving in dry storage and in the walk-in cooler, plus a missing vent cover over the dish machine.

The department returned Tuesday, Sept. 15, and restored the grade to an A.

Local A grades

Fort Mill and Tega Cay establishments that earned A grades include Napa at Kingsley, Epic Chophouse, Firebirds on SC 160, Meto Pub in Tega Cay, Fish Market, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop and Dakshin Delights. Lake Wylie-area restaurants with A grades include Lake Wylie Grill, AFC Sushi at Publix on Highway 274 and Lake Wylie Pins N' Wins.

Under South Carolina's grading system, a score of 88 to 100 earns an A, 78 to 87 earns a B and 77 or below earns a C. Inspectors can also lower a grade when a priority violation appears on consecutive inspections. Every restaurant must post its grade at the entrance.

Residents can look up any restaurant's current grade and full inspection history through the SC Food Grades tool at agriculture.sc.gov.