4 South Florida restaurants shut

Introduction to Restaurant Inspections

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducts weekly restaurant inspections in Broward and Palm Beach counties. These inspections are crucial in ensuring that restaurants maintain high standards of cleanliness and food safety. The Sun Sentinel highlights restaurants that are temporarily shut down due to "high-priority violations," such as improper food temperatures or the presence of dead cockroaches.

How Restaurant Inspections Work

Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must remain closed until it passes a follow-up inspection. If a customer suspects a violation, they can file a complaint with the Florida DBPR. It’s essential to note that The Sun Sentinel does not inspect restaurants and should not be contacted regarding potential violations.

Broward County Restaurant Closures

Chef Dee’s

Located at 3919 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, Chef Dee’s was ordered shut on August 28. The restaurant had 19 violations, including seven high-priority ones. Some of the violations included:

• About eight roaches crawling in the kitchen "under reach-in cooler," "under triple sink," and "underneath dish machine."
• About 19 dead roaches in the kitchen "under triple sink" and "under prep table."
• An employee handling raw pork chops without washing their hands and then handling cleaned food utensils.
• A cook eating food from a saucepan with gloved hands and then handling cleaned food utensils without washing their hands.
• Time/temperature issues with baked potatoes.
• Stop sale ordered for two raw shell eggs with cracked/broken shells.
• Cleaned cutting boards stored on the floor next to the ice machine.
  Chef Dee’s reopened on August 29 after a follow-up visit found five violations, including one high-priority violation.

Riviera

Located inside Hotel Maren Fort Lauderdale Beach at 525 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Riviera was ordered shut on August 25. The restaurant had 15 violations, including four high-priority ones. Some of the violations included:

• About 12 flies landing on and flying around the "downstairs bar."
• Last date served not marked on clam tags.
• Accumulation of slime on soda gun nozzle at the ocean-facing side of the downstairs bar.
• Raw fish stored above olives inside the salad station flip-top cooler.
• Stop sale ordered on raw tuna stored inside packaging indicating removal upon thawing.
• Time/temperature issues with butter balls, cream cheese, avocado mousse, and shredded cheese.
• Salad station flip-top cooler lid interior soiled with a black mold-like substance.
  Riviera reopened the same day after a reinspection found five intermediate and basic violations, and a follow-up inspection was required.

Palm Beach County Restaurant Closures

Wendy’s

Located at 701 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, Wendy’s was ordered shut on August 28. The restaurant had three high-priority violations, including:

• More than 76 rodent droppings found on the floor of the dry storage shed outside, in the dry storage area inside, under the Frosty machine, and under the left grill, commingled with 15+ empty saltine wrappers, resembling a nest.
• Stop sale ordered for buns stored on racks with visible gnaw marks and saltine crackers, portioned mayonnaise, and ranch dressing gnawed on in the dry storage area.
  Wendy’s reopened on August 29 after a follow-up visit found no violations.

Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar

Located at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 20, Wellington, Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar was ordered shut on August 27. The restaurant had four violations, including three high-priority ones. Some of the violations included:

• About 63 rodent droppings found in the kitchen dry storage, on the floor under clean dish storage racks, under the dish machine, and on the floor in front of the reach-in cooler and tandoor oven, as well as in the customer dining room.
• Approximately three flies seen landing on the trash can and wall next to the back door.
• An employee entering the kitchen from the customer dining room with soiled customer dishes and handling clean plates of customer food without washing their hands.
  Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar was closed on August 28 after a follow-up inspection found one high-priority violation but reopened later that day after a third visit found no violations.

Conclusion

Restaurant inspections are essential in maintaining food safety and cleanliness standards. The temporary closure of these four restaurants in South Florida serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to high-priority violations. By highlighting these closures, The Sun Sentinel aims to inform the public and promote awareness about the need for restaurants to prioritize food safety.

FAQs

• What happens when a restaurant fails a state inspection?
  A restaurant that fails a state inspection must remain closed until it passes a follow-up inspection.
• How can I file a complaint about a potential violation?
  You can file a complaint with the Florida DBPR if you suspect a violation.
• What are high-priority violations?
  High-priority violations include issues such as improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and other serious food safety concerns.
• Can I contact The Sun Sentinel to report a potential violation?
  No, The Sun Sentinel does not inspect restaurants and should not be contacted regarding potential violations. Instead, contact the Florida DBPR.
  

  Slime on a soda gun nozzle. About 19 dead roaches in a kitchen. And more than 76 rodent droppings and 15 empty saltine wrappers forming “what looks like a nest” under a grill at a fast-food burger joint.

  These were among the violations that last week temporarily shut four South Florida restaurants — two each in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

  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.

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.)