Broward County
La Caleñita Restaurant & Bakery
1931 Pembroke Road, Hollywood
Ordered shut: December 19
Why:
- About 13 live flies “landing on guava pastries, apple turnovers at front counter display case” (stop sale ordered) and “on glass shelves, walls of front counter bakery display case.”
- Stop sale also ordered for “raw tilapia packaged on-site using a reduced oxygen packaging method fully thawed in walk-in cooler.”
- “Raw beef stored above ready-to-eat corn in walk-in cooler.”
- “Bottle of windshield washer fluid stored on prep table with beverages, unwashed produce.”
Status:
Reopened the same day after a second visit found four violations (three intermediate and one basic), with a follow-up inspection required.
Fat Freddy’s Sub Shop
221 Prospect Road, Oakland Park
Ordered shut: December 17
Why:
- Operator seen “talking on cellphone [then engaging] in food preparation without washing hands.”
- “Entire establishment has no potable water.”
- Inside of “beverage-air, reach-in cooler interior has accumulation of food debris.”
- “Observed raw sausage over rolls not all commercially packaged in Frigidaire reach-in freezer.”
Status:
Reopened December 18 after a follow-up visit found one high-priority violation.
Palm Beach County
Strathmore Bagels & Deli
4095 State Road 7, Wellington
Ordered shut: December 16
Why:
- More than 180 live flies “behind front counter landing on clean plates, packaged bread, cutting boards used to prepare food, display cases,” “in kitchen bagel preparation area on walls by bagel roller and speed racks” and “in kitchen dry storage area outside of walk-in cooler flying around landing on walls and boxes.”
- Three dead roaches “behind front counter on shelves with clean plates over make-top cooler” and “in kitchen inside drawers under flat-top with commercially packaged cheese stored.”
- “Cook wiped hands on visibly soiled wiping cloth after removing from back pocket and then handled ready-to-eat food while putting on plate without washing hands.”
- “Waitress handled soiled plates while removing from table and then handled clean plates of food from serving window to take to customers table without washing hands.”
- Time/temperature issue involved “front-counter turkey.”
Status:
Remained closed on December 17 after a next-day inspection found three violations, but it reopened later that day after a third visit found one intermediate violation.
Conclusion
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has temporarily closed three South Florida restaurants due to severe violations. The restaurants, La Caleñita Restaurant & Bakery, Fat Freddy’s Sub Shop, and Strathmore Bagels & Deli, were ordered shut due to high-priority violations such as improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and lack of potable water. The restaurants were reopened after follow-up inspections found fewer violations.
FAQs
Q: Why were the restaurants ordered shut?
A: The restaurants were ordered shut due to severe violations of health and safety codes, including improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and lack of potable water.
Q: What kind of violations were found at each restaurant?
A: At La Caleñita Restaurant & Bakery, flies were found landing on pastries and raw tilapia was stored above ready-to-eat corn. At Fat Freddy’s Sub Shop, the operator was seen talking on their cellphone without washing their hands, and the establishment had no potable water. At Strathmore Bagels & Deli, over 180 live flies were found, as well as dead cockroaches and time/temperature issues.
Q: What happened after the restaurants were ordered shut?
A: After follow-up inspections, the restaurants were reopened. La Caleñita Restaurant & Bakery reopened the same day, while Fat Freddy’s Sub Shop reopened after a follow-up visit found one high-priority violation. Strathmore Bagels & Deli remained closed for a day before reopening after a third visit found one intermediate violation.
Q: How can I report a possible violation?
A: You can report a possible violation to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation by contacting them directly.
