Four South Florida Restaurants Shut Down Due to Health and Safety Violations

Introduction to the Issue

Three bakeries were among the four Broward County restaurants ordered temporarily shut last week during state inspections. Among the violations: flies landing on sandwich bread, roaches crawling in an oven door latch, and an employee who removed butter off the floor and continued cooking without washing their hands and changing gloves.

Affected Areas

No Palm Beach County restaurants faced emergency closure orders during this time period. 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.

Understanding the Inspection Process

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.)

Broward County

Las Americas Bakery of Dania Beach

419 E. Sheridan St., Dania Beach
Ordered shut: Sept. 17
Why: 13 violations (three high-priority), including:

• Four roaches “seen crawling behind stove at cook line,” “behind trash can next to Delfield freezer” and “on the side of three-door True freezer in kitchen.”
• Nine dead roaches “on floor next to prep table in kitchen,” “under steam table at cook line,” “behind dry storage rack in kitchen preparation area,” “under three-compartment sink in ware-washing area” and “under hand wash sink next to walk-in cooler.”
• “Employee removed butter from floor with gloves, [threw it] in the trash and continued cooking without washing hands and changing gloves.”
• “Raw fish stored over cooked mushrooms” and “raw pork stored over cooked beef.”
• “Sugar and apple sauce stored uncovered” at dry storage rack.
  Status: Reopened Sept. 18 after a follow-up inspection found one basic violation.

La Belle Monique Restaurant and Bakery

937 S. State Road 7, Plantation
Ordered shut: Sept. 17
Why: 21 violations (eight high-priority), including:

• About four live roaches “in oven door latch on cook line in kitchen.”
• About 17 live flies “at cook line prep area landing on a box of gloves and a bag of sliced bread,” “in dry storage area landing on shelving and boxes,” “in dishwashing area landing on shelving and three-compartment sink” and “landing on equipment on cook line in kitchen.”
• “Raw fish stored above cooked beef in walk-in cooler.”
• Stop sale ordered “due to temperature abuse” for cooked items including chicken wings, macaroni and cheese, rice and beans, rice, legumes, spinach, turkey, oxtail, goat, chicken, curry beef, griot and plantains, as well as raw fish and shredded cheese.
• Time/temperature issues involved cabbage and eggplant mix.
• “Observed employee handling cell phone then proceed to prepare food without washing hands.”
  Status: Closed Sept. 18 after a second visit found nine violations (four high-priority). Reopened later that day after a reinspection found four intermediate and basic violations; a follow-up visit was required.

Don Pan

11045 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines
Ordered shut: Sept. 17
Why: 12 violations (four high-priority), including:

• About 24 flies “at front food preparation area landing on clean food containers, clean counter and sandwich bread” and “landing on napkin dispenser and single-package condiments at self-serving station.” Stop sale ordered for sandwich bread.
• “Observed operator washing and rinsing utensils and food containers without sanitizing.”
• “Observed no date marked on marinara sauce stored in refrigeration.”
• “Hood ventilation system inadequate as evidenced by grease accumulation on walls and ceiling.”
  Status: Reopened Sept. 18 after a follow-up visit found two basic violations.

The Oak Cafe & Farmers Market Restaurants

2121 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park
Ordered shut: Sept. 19
Why: 13 violations (five high-priority), including:

• More than 16 rodent droppings “by back door,” “in rear kitchen by microwave counter,” “under cook line cooler” and “on floor next to hot box.”
• 11 dead roaches “on floor next to water heater,” “under counter in front counter area” and “under microwave table in back kitchen.”
• Three dead flies “on floor under windowsill in dining room” and “on the floor next to water heater.”
• Stop sale ordered for yams “due to temperature abuse.”
• “Raw pork stored over ackee with ready-to-eat food in a freezer — not all products commercially packaged.”
• “Observed ackee in store takeout bags.”
  Status: Reopened Sept. 20 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
  

Conclusion

The temporary shutdown of these restaurants highlights the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and food safety in the food service industry. It is crucial for restaurants to adhere to health and safety regulations to prevent the spread of illnesses and ensure customer safety.

FAQs

1. What happens when a restaurant fails a state inspection?
   • Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up.
2. How can I report a possible violation in a restaurant?
   • If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR.
3. What are high-priority violations in restaurant inspections?
   • High-priority violations include issues such as improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and other serious health and safety concerns.
4. Can a restaurant reopen after being shut down?
   • Yes, a restaurant can reopen after being shut down once it passes a follow-up inspection and addresses all the violations found during the initial inspection.