Brownish Water, Food Debris, and More: Restaurant Inspections in South Florida

The state of restaurant inspections in South Florida has raised concerns among residents and visitors alike. Last week, the state temporarily shut down two restaurants and one food truck due to various violations, including "no potable running water," a soiled microwave, and "brownish water with food debris backing up through floor drain." Employees were also seen touching their nose, trash bags, and cellphones without washing their hands afterward.

Introduction to Restaurant Inspections

The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The inspections are conducted weekly, and the newspaper spotlights places ordered shut for 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 inspection.

How to File a Complaint

If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. However, please note that the Sun Sentinel does not inspect restaurants and should not be contacted for this purpose.

Restaurant Closures in Palm Beach County

Meraki Juice Kitchen (Food Truck)

In West Palm Beach, the Meraki Juice Kitchen food truck was ordered shut on January 7 due to seven violations, including six high-priority ones. The violations included:

• "No potable running water at hand wash sink or triple sink."
• Employees touching their nose, trash bags, and cellphones without washing their hands.
• Blender not sanitized at the triple sink.

The food truck reopened on January 8 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.

Restaurant Closures in Broward County

Lakay Mama Restaurant

Lakay Mama Restaurant, located at 5572 W. Oakland Park Blvd. in Lauderhill, was ordered shut on January 6 due to 15 violations, including two high-priority ones. The violations included:

• About 48 dead roaches found in various areas of the kitchen.
• Brownish water with food debris backing up through the floor drain under the three-compartment sink.
• Microwave handle soiled with food debris, mold-like substance, or slime.
• No hot running water at the three-compartment sink.
• No probe thermometer provided to measure the temperature of food products.

The restaurant reopened on January 7 but required additional follow-up inspections due to ongoing violations.

Dunkin’

The Dunkin’ location at 901 W. State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale was ordered shut on January 7 due to six violations, including one high-priority one. The violations included:

• About six live roaches found on the floor behind the flip-top coolers.
• Food debris on the floor behind the donut stand.
• Accumulation of dust on the ceiling vents above the front counter.

The restaurant reopened on January 8 after a second inspection found two basic violations.

Conclusion

The recent restaurant closures in South Florida highlight the importance of regular inspections and adherence to health and safety protocols. It is crucial for restaurants to maintain a clean and safe environment for their customers to prevent the spread of illnesses and ensure a positive dining experience.

FAQs

• Q: How can I file a complaint about a restaurant?
  A: Contact the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to file a complaint.
• Q: What happens if a restaurant fails a state inspection?
  A: The restaurant must stay closed until it passes a follow-up inspection.
• Q: How often are restaurant inspections conducted?
  A: Restaurant inspections are conducted weekly by the Florida DBPR.
• Q: What are some common violations that can lead to restaurant closures?
  A: Common violations include improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and lack of potable running water.
  

  Food debris and water posed problems last week, causing the state to temporarily shut two South Florida restaurants and one food truck. Violations included “no potable running water,” a soiled microwave and “brownish water with food debris backing up through floor drain.”

  Employees also were seen touching nose, trash bag and cellphone but not washing their hands afterward.

  The South Florida 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 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.)

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Meraki Juice Kitchen (food truck)
West Palm Beach

Ordered shut: Jan. 7

Why: Seven violations (six high-priority), including:

• “No potable running water at hand wash sink or triple sink.”
• “Employee touched nose then handled clean utensil to serve food”; “observed manager and employee touch trash bag, enter food truck, then began handling carton of liquid eggs from reach-in cooler,” “observed employee enter food truck, then put gloves on, then … handle clean pans” and “employee handled cellphone, then handled blender cup to prepare juice” — all without washing hands.
• “Blender cleaned but not sanitized at triple sink.”

Status: Reopened Jan. 8 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.

BROWARD COUNTY

Lakay Mama Restaurant
5572 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderhill

Ordered shut: Jan. 6

Why: 15 violations (two high-priority), including:

• About 48 dead roaches “inside hand washing sink at entrance to kitchen,” “in corner of wall next to hand wash sink,” “on electrical circuit next to front counter entrance door,” “on floor in corner of kitchen next to standing mixer,” “under nonfunctional steam table in kitchen next to cans of sausage,” “stuck on nonfunctional oven door in kitchen” and “on glue stick in heater room where dry goods are stored.”
• “Observed in kitchen, brownish water with food debris backing up through floor drain under three-compartment sink. When faucet is turned on, employee is collecting the dirty water in buckets.”
• “Microwave handle soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime” and “dry storage ingredients rack soiled with food debris.”
• “No hot running water at three-compartment sink.”
• “No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.”

Status: Reopened Jan. 7 after a second visit found nine violations (one high-priority). A Jan. 13 follow-up inspection, which was required, again yielded nine violations (one high-priority), and another follow-up inspection was required.

Dunkin’
901 W. State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale

Ordered shut: Jan. 7

Why: Six violations (one high-priority), including:

• About six live roaches “on floor behind left flip-top cooler at cook line” and “on floor behind right flip-top cooler at cook line.”
• “Observed food debris on floor behind donut stand at front counter.”
• “Observed accumulation of dust on ceiling vents above front counter.”

Status: Reopened Jan. 8 after a second inspection found two basic violations.