Introduction to Restaurant Inspections
The state temporarily shut nine South Florida restaurants last week with violations ranging from “objectionable odors” and almost 200 rodent droppings in a kitchen to about 100 live flies flying around and landing on “unwashed potatoes and onions.” The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for “high-priority violations,” such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
How Restaurant Inspections Work
Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please don’t contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.)
Palm Beach County Restaurant Closures
Line Caribbean Restaurant
214 SE Second Ave., Delray Beach
Ordered shut: Aug. 7
Why: 14 violations (four high-priority), including:
- About 190 rodent droppings in kitchen areas such as “underneath reach in-freezer , reach-in cooler, three-compartment sink and cooking equipment,” on flour, rice and food container lids and “on cleaned container.”
- Nine live flies around the kitchen, including “in the garbage can” and “around utensils in storage area.”
- Stop sale ordered for meat marinade and tomato pesto because of “mold-like growth.”
- “Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris throughout kitchen.”
- “Objectionable odors in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 8 after a follow-up inspection found one intermediate violation.
Aroma Indian Cuisine
731 Village Blvd., Suite 110, West Palm Beach
Ordered shut: Aug. 6
Why: Seven violations (three high-priority), including:
- About 30 roaches in kitchen “crawling on shelves over prep table” and “on wall next to dish machine.”
- About 100 flies “in kitchen flying around/landing on unwashed potatoes and onions.”
- “At walk-in cooler, raw lamb stored over cooked potato dumplings.”
Status: Closed Aug. 7 after a follow-up inspection found two high-priority violations. Reopened later that day after a third visit found no violations.
CocoCabana Bar & Grill
2944 S. Jog Road, Greenacres
Ordered shut: Aug. 6
Why: Five high-priority violations, including:
- About 62 rodent droppings found “on lid to uncooked beans storage container,” “under dishwashing machine,” “under three-compartment sink,” “under dry seasoning storage rack,” “under canned goods storage rack,” on “top of sealed packages of single-service napkins and cup trays,” “on floor under oven and in front of stove,” “inside rinse sink to dish machine” and “in customer dinning room under booth next to DJ stand.”
- One live roach “crawling on floor in front of dry seasoning rack.”
- Stop sale ordered for house-made chicken stock “due to temperature abuse.”
- “Inside reach-in cooler, raw salmon stored directly above cooked goat.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 7 after a second inspection found no violations.
Tradición Michoacána
4556 Cresthaven Blvd., West Palm Beach
Ordered shut: Aug. 6
Why: Four violations (two high-priority), including:
- 14 rodent droppings “under ice cream machine in back kitchen,” “between white and stainless steel freezer units in back kitchen against wall” and “between freezer and ice cream topping unit at front counter.”
- “Employee used cellphone and began working with clean equipment without washing hands in between.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 7 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Souvlaki Fast (inside Tanger Outlets)
1741 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite F01, West Palm Beach
Ordered shut: Aug. 4
Why: 14 violations (six high-priority), including:
- About seven roaches “crawling on clean and sanitized dishes, dish storage rack and wall next to the dishes.”
- About nine dead roaches “on floor in front of mop sink,” “under oven in kitchen” and “by soda dispenser on floor.”
- About 12 live flies “on rim of open iced tea machine full of tea,” “on soda syrup dispenser machine and tomato on floor under shelf” in kitchen and “landing on electrical cable from ceiling.”
- Stop sale ordered for iced tea because of the fly landing on container’s rim.
- “In walk-in cooler, raw chicken stored above raw beef.”
- “Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.”
- “Employee handled cash payment and, without washing hands, began to prepare soufflé cups of portioned sauces.”
Status: Closed Aug. 5 after a second inspection found six violations (three high-priority). Reopened later that day after a third visit found three violations (one high-priority); a follow-up inspection was required.
Broward County Restaurant Closures
Tarka Karahi and Kabab House
7881 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs
Ordered shut: Aug. 6
Why: 12 violations (two high-priority), including:
- 10 rodent droppings by kitchen’s two-door stainless refrigerator, “underneath dry storage shelves” and “by cookline cooking equipment.”
- “Raw chicken over ready-to-eat sauce in walk-in cooler.”
- Dish area “covered with standing water.”
- “Observed cooked foods in walk-in cooler not covered.”
- “Wall soiled with food debris behind cooking equipment in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 7 after a follow-up visit found six violations (one high-priority).
The Original Pancake House
2851 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Aug. 7
Why: Five violations (one high-priority), including:
- Four live roaches “on wall behind flip-top cooler next to hand-wash sink on cookline” and “under Atosa Freezer in prep area.”
- Five dead roaches “on floor under flip-top cooler next to hand-wash sink.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 8 after a second inspection found no violations.
Sugar Bae
8253 Sunset Strip, Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Aug. 6
Why: 10 violations (three high-priority), including:
- 11 roaches “crawling on dish-washing machine,” “on wall behind double-decker oven” and “in kitchen behind water fountain.”
- Time/temperature issue involved precooked turkey.
- “Employee with artificial nails/nail polish working with exposed food without wearing intact gloves. Observed operator touch precooked turkey with bare hand while wearing nail polish.”
- “Observed accumulation of black substances buildup on cutting board in kitchen.”
- “Observed floor surface covered with standing water in bar.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 7 after a second visit found five violations (one high-priority), with a follow-up inspection required. A reinspection later that day found three intermediate violations that required another follow-up visit.
Tower Deli
2315 S. University Drive, Davie
Ordered shut: Aug. 4
Why: 13 violations (seven high-priority), including:
- About 25 flies “in prep area landing on garbage and clean dishes,” “at dry storage landing on cans and single-use items,” “on cookline landing on cooked potatoes and raw shell eggs” and “at front counter landing on cut vegetables and packaged bread.”
- Stop sale ordered for cooked potatoes and raw shell eggs because of fly activity.
- Time/temperature issues involved diced tomatoes, sliced cheese, raw salmon and cooked vegetables.
- “Observed burn cream stored over flip-top cutting board on cook line,” and “Windex over single-use spoons in dry storage area … and over food storage bags at front counter.”
- Floor near walk-in freezer covered in standing water.
Status: Reopened later that day after a reinspection found one intermediate violation; another follow-up visit was required.
Conclusion
The temporary closure of these nine restaurants in South Florida due to various health and safety violations serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in food establishments. It is crucial for restaurants to adhere to the guidelines set by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to ensure the well-being of their customers.
FAQs
Q: What are the common reasons for restaurant closures in South Florida?
A: Common reasons include rodent droppings, live flies, roaches, improper food storage, and time/temperature issues.
Q: How can I report a possible violation in a restaurant?
A: You can contact the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to file a complaint.
Q: What happens when a restaurant fails a state inspection?
A: The restaurant must stay closed until it passes a follow-up inspection.
Q: Can I get a refund if I ate at a restaurant that was later closed due to health violations?
A: It’s best to contact the restaurant directly to inquire about their refund policy.
Q: How often are restaurant inspections conducted?
A: Restaurant inspections are conducted weekly by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
