Restaurant Inspections and Closures
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 hygiene and food safety. Recently, several restaurants and a food truck were temporarily closed due to high-priority violations.
Importance of Restaurant Inspections
Restaurant inspections are vital in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses. The inspections help to identify potential health hazards, such as improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and mold growth. Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up inspection.
Recent Closures in Palm Beach County
Several restaurants in Palm Beach County were temporarily closed due to high-priority violations. These include:
Le Bon Gout Restaurant
Located at 1230 S. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth Beach, Le Bon Gout Restaurant was ordered shut on July 8. The restaurant had 15 violations, including five roaches in the kitchen and four dead roaches. A stop sale was ordered for cooked rice and tomato sauce due to temperature abuse.
Souvlaki Fast
Souvlaki Fast, located inside Tanger Outlets at 1741 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite F01, West Palm Beach, was ordered shut on July 9. The restaurant had 17 violations, including about four live roaches in the kitchen and one dead roach. A stop sale was ordered for raw lamb and cooked lasagna due to improper storage.
Tacos El Viejon
Tacos El Viejon, a food truck located at 1801 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, was ordered shut on July 8. The food truck had six violations, including no potable running water due to an electrical problem. A time/temperature issue involved salsa.
Recent Closures in Broward County
Several restaurants in Broward County were also temporarily closed due to high-priority violations. These include:
Ol’Days
Ol’Days, located at 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, was ordered shut on July 9. The restaurant had 19 violations, including about 119 live flies in the kitchen and five dead roaches. A stop sale was ordered for cut tomatoes, quinoa, coco cream, and cheese due to temperature abuse. Mold growth was also observed on tuna salad.
Mandeville’s Country Style Restaurant
Mandeville’s Country Style Restaurant, located at 3056 S. State Road 7, Miramar, was ordered shut on July 8. The restaurant had six violations, including 12 live roaches in the kitchen and two dead roaches. A stop sale was ordered for cheese and cooked rice and fish due to temperature abuse.
Cedeño’s Cuban Café
Cedeño’s Cuban Café, located inside Broward Mall at 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation, was ordered shut on July 8. The restaurant had four violations, including about 64 rodent droppings in the dry storage area and underneath the food preparation table.
More than 100 live flies buzzing around, 60+ rodent droppings near a container of rice and a prep table, and no potable running water were among the issues that led to the temporary closure of five South Florida restaurants and one food truck last week.
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.)
Conclusion
Restaurant inspections are essential in maintaining high standards of hygiene and food safety. The recent closures in Palm Beach and Broward counties highlight the importance of these inspections. Restaurants must ensure that they maintain a clean and safe environment for food preparation and storage to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses.
FAQs
What happens if a restaurant fails a state inspection?
If a restaurant fails a state inspection, it must stay closed until it passes a follow-up inspection.
How can I file a complaint about a restaurant?
If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
What are high-priority violations?
High-priority violations include improper food temperatures, dead cockroaches, and mold growth, among others. These violations can pose a significant risk to public health and safety.
How often are restaurant inspections conducted?
Restaurant inspections are conducted weekly by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
