Restaurant Inspections: A Closer Look
South Florida Restaurants Temporarily Closed Due to Violations
Two South Florida restaurants, one in Broward and one in Palm Beach counties, were temporarily closed by the state last week due to serious health and safety violations.
Palm Beach County
- McDonald’s
- Address: 4614 Hypoluxo Road, Lake Worth
- Ordered shut: December 12
- Reasons:
- About seven rodent droppings "in kitchen on floor of dry storage area."
- Employee washed and rinsed a spatula at the triple sink and then returned to cook line with the spatula to reuse without sanitizing.
- Status: Reopened on December 13 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Broward County
- Cabo Blanco Restaurant
- Address: 1936 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
- Ordered shut: December 11
- Reasons:
- About 12 live roaches "under tin foil of bottom shelf of prep table on cook line in kitchen," "inside of wheel of cook line flip-top," and "inside of door gasket of cook line flip-top."
- About 11 dead roaches in the kitchen — on the ground at cook line and "on top of tin foil-lined bottom shelf of prep table on cook line."
- Raw shrimp stored above ready-to-eat onions in the reach-in cooler.
- Time/temperature issue involved cooked chicken.
- A spray bottle of bleach stored on top of unwashed potatoes.
- Soiled soda gun at the bar.
- Total lack of water at the kitchen hand-wash sink.
- Status: Reopened on December 12 — pending a follow-up inspection — after a second visit found two intermediate and two basic violations.
Conclusion
The South Florida Sun Sentinel regularly highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We look through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for "high-priority violations," such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of restaurant inspections?
- The purpose of restaurant inspections is to ensure that food is handled, prepared, and served in a safe and sanitary manner.
- Can I report a possible violation to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation?
- Yes, you can report a possible violation to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
- Does The Sun Sentinel inspect restaurants?
- No, The Sun Sentinel does not inspect restaurants. We only report on inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
