State Shuts Down 6 South Florida Eateries for Rodent Droppings, Roaches

The state temporarily closed six eateries in Broward and Palm Beach counties last week for violations such as flies landing on a prep table, an employee handling clean utensils and dishes without washing hands, and rodent droppings near chewed-open packets of ketchup.

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. 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 to Report Violations

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 Violations

Sunshine Bistros

1619 N. State Road 7, Lauderhill

Ordered Shut:

May 14

Why:

Nine violations (two high-priority), including:

• About three “live roaches in kitchen area underneath prep table and by mop sink.”
• About five dead roaches “in kitchen area underneath prep table and around mop sink” and “in hallway leading to kitchen.”
• “Microwave in kitchen soiled with food debris” and “hood filters soiled at kitchen cook line.”
• “Stored container of onions in hallway not covered.”
  

  Status:

  Reopened May 15 when a second inspection found no issues.

Suri Sushi Thai

141 Weston Road, Weston

Ordered Shut:

May 13

Why:

Nine violations (six high-priority), including:

• Approximately six live flies “observed at sushi bar.”
• Stop sale ordered for “sushi rice without time mark” at the sushi bar, because “the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined.”
• Time/temperature issues also involved shrimp “at flip-top cooler across from fryer,” tempura shrimp “on counter at sushi bar,” white rice and boiled eggs.
• “Observed utensils stored in sink at sushi bar.”
  

  Status:

  Reopened May 14 when a second inspection found no issues.

Palm Beach County Violations

Verdea Restaurant and Wine Bar

4350 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens (inside Embassy Suites by Hilton Palm Beach Gardens)

Ordered Shut:

May 16

Why:

Five violations (two high-priority), including:

• Roughly 90 live flies landing “on food preparation table,” “on [kitchen] walls, exterior of ice machine and ceiling,” “on dishwashing machine and walls,” and on shelves at cook line, as well as observed “at bar area landing on hand-washing sink, soiled cloth, and bar top.”
• One “live roach in kitchen walking on floor under dishwasher”
• About 10 dead roaches in kitchen “on floor behind reach-in cooler,” “on glue traps … under cook line” and in dry storage area.
• “Kitchen floor soiled with grease and food debris under cook line.”
  

  Status:

  Ordered shut a second time after a same-day reinspection revealed four violations (two high-priority). Reopened May 17 after a third inspection found zero issues.

Mike’s Wings & Seafood

2968 Jog Road, Greenacres

Ordered Shut:

May 14

Why:

Eight violations (three high-priority), including:

• About 109 rodent droppings in kitchen “on top of open boxes of single-service utensils,” “on top of reach-in cooler … at front counter,” and “next to containers of frying oil.” (Report added: “Under cabinets are approximately 50 individual portioned packets of ketchup that have been chewed open and eaten.”)
• “In reach-in freezer, thank you bags used in direct contact for storage of raw chicken.”
• Raw shell eggs “not properly separated from ready-to-eat” rice.
• Time/temperature issue involved raw shrimp “thawing in standing water.”
  

  Status:

  Ordered shut again during its second inspection on May 15 for eight violations (two high-priority). On May 16, it was shut again with four violations (one high-priority). The restaurant reopened May 17 after a fourth inspection found three basic issues.

Green House Boba Tea and Pho

721 Village Blvd., Suite 107E, West Palm Beach

Ordered Shut:

May 13

Why:

Five violations (all high-priority), including:

• About eight live roaches “in kitchen crawling on/under expo line.”
• One employee who “entered kitchen from dining room, put on gloves and began preparing food for customers without washing hands.”
• “Employee touched face and then handled clean equipment and utensils and dishes to prepare and serve food to customers without washing hands.”
• A “portioned plastic container of raw chicken” improperly stored over “portioned plastic-wrapped raw pork” at reach-in freezer.
• Time/temperature issue involved cooked rice.
  

  Status:

  Reopened May 14 when a follow-up inspection found no issues. Then another inspection on May 14 shut the restaurant again with seven violations (two high-priority), including 31 live and dead roaches (three live roaches seen “crawling on meat slicer and food preparation table”). A fourth inspection on May 15 cleared it to reopen with one intermediate issue.

Voodoo Bayou

11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., Suite 5095, Palm Beach Gardens

Ordered Shut:

May 13

Why:

Five violations (one high-priority), including:

• About five live flies in kitchen “landing on walls, and ceiling and storage shelves near dishwashing area.”
• “At cook line, handwashing sink used to fill bowl with water.”
• “Raw, in-shell clams/mussels/oysters from different original containers mixed together prior to preparation for service. In reach-in cooler, large bin of oysters commingled together.”
  

  Status:

  Reopened the same day with two intermediate violations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, six restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach counties were shut down last week due to various high-priority violations, including rodent droppings, live roaches, and improper food handling. These closures highlight the importance of regular inspections and the need for restaurants to maintain high standards of cleanliness and food safety.

FAQs

Q: How can I report a possible violation?

A: If you spot a possible violation, you can contact Florida DBPR to file a complaint.

Q: What happens if a restaurant fails an inspection?

A: Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up inspection.

Q: How can I check if a restaurant has been shut down?

A: You can check the Florida DBPR website for a list of restaurants that have been shut down due to high-priority violations.

Q: What are high-priority violations?

A: High-priority violations include improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and other serious health and safety issues.

The state temporarily closed six eateries in Broward and Palm Beach counties last week for violations such as flies landing on a prep table, an employee handling clean utensils and dishes without washing hands, and rodent droppings near chewed-open packets of ketchup.