7 Bay Area Restaurants Temporarily Closed by State

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at eight Tampa Bay area eateries last week when conditions inside didn’t meet guidelines for health and safety.

Roach and rodent activity were among the biggest reasons behind the closings, but food storage issues were also concerns some of the shuttered establishments. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Aug. 16, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Casa Mexicana, 7730 Palm River Road, Suite 300

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 11
• High priority violations – 8
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 18

The inspector noted such high priority violations as improper food storage and employee failure to wash hands. Rodent activity was also discovered as “evidenced by rodent droppings found. 10+ hard and dry by chest freezer, approximately 5 hard and dry in bar.” Live roaches were also found by the steam table, sink and under the bar. The eatery was allowed to reopen after a return of the inspector Aug. 12, but the need for another follow-up was noted.

Submarine Gyros Town, 4008 Orient Road

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 11
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 22

The inspector noted such high priority violations as potential for cross contamination of food, moth balls found in the oven and improper pesticide use. Live, small flying insects and live roaches were also found. Live roaches were found in such areas as a shelf over the cooks’ line, on the exterior of the ice bin and under the tables holding the flat-top grill. The eatery failed to meet standards on two follow up visits on Aug. 12 and again on Aug. 13. A second visit on Aug. 13 resulted in the restaurant meeting inspection standards.

McDonald’s, 1002 S. 78th St.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 12
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 0
• Basic violations – 4

The inspector noted live roach activity as the primary concern. Roaches were found under the prep table, near the fry machine, by the cooler and “30 on baseboard by fry machine.” The restaurant failed to meet a first follow-up inspection on Aug. 12, but met standards later that same day.

Kreyol Delight, 4818 E. Busch Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 13
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 13

The inspector noted roach and rodent activity as the top high priority concerns. Rodent droppings were found near the kitchen hand sink and in the dry storage room. Roaches were found near the three-compartment sink. The restaurant failed to meet standards during a follow-up visit Aug. 14, but did on a second visit that same day.

Babylon Hookah Lounge, 4812 E. Busch Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 13
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 8

Live, small flying insects in the kitchen and live roaches were the top high priority concerns. The restaurant was allowed to reopen after an Aug. 14 follow-up, but the inspector noted the need for another return visit.

Clearwater

House of China, 3899 Ulmerton Road

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 10
• High priority violations – 8
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 17

Temperature control and food storage issues were among the high priority violations noted. The inspector also found rodent droppings, “50+ droppings ranging from soft to semi soft to semi hard to hard found under and behind the white chest freezer across from the cook line in the kitchen.” Another 50-plus droppings were fund under the soda bottle storage area. The eatery was allowed to open after an Aug. 11 return visit, but the inspector noted the need for additional follow-up.

Oriental Super Buffet, 2456 Gulf to Bay

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 11
• High priority violations – 11
• Intermediate violations – 11
• Basic violations – 39

The inspector noted such high priority concerns as employee failure to wash hands, improper food storage and eggs held at room temperature. Live roaches were also found, including 12 on the cook line. The restaurant failed to meet standards on a return visit Aug. 12, but was able to do so later that day.

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