Restaurant Inspections: Roaches, Rodents and Flying Bugs

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at five Tampa Bay area eateries over the last week or so when conditions inside the establishments failed to meet guidelines for health and safety.

Roach and rodent activity were among the biggest reasons behind the closings, but food storage issues and flying bugs were also concerns at some of the shuttered establishments. In its Emergency Closures report dated Sept. 9, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Brandon

Yucatan Bar & Grille, 2016 Town Center Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 3
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 6
• Basic violations – 15

The inspector noted such high priority violations as improper food storage temperatures and the need to order a stop sale on some food items due to “temperature abuse.” Small flying insects were found in the bar and kitchen, as well. Fifty live roaches were counted near the cook line, 17 in the back of the refrigerator and 15 near the hand wash sink, among others. The restaurant failed to meet state standards during a secondary visit on Sept. 4, but passed inspection Sept. 5.

Seffner

Cracker Barrel, 6150 Lazy Days Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 1
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 7
• Basic violations – 27

The inspector noted concerns with raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food and improper food storage temperatures. Live roaches were also a concern. One was found on a broom, four near the microwave shelf, 10 live on a counter and 19 alive in the reach-in cooler area, among other sightings. The restaurant met state standards during a follow-up inspection on Sept. 2.

Tampa

Happy Wok, 13606 University Plaza

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 31
• High priority violations – 8
• Intermediate violations – 9
• Basic violations – 21

The inspector noted such high priority violations as use of improper food storage containers, improper temperature control and raw animal food stored over cooked animal food. Roach activity was also evidenced with six found live near a table in the middle of the kitchen, five found on the MSG bin and one under the sink. The inspector also found rodent droppings in the dry storage room, by the freezer and in another dry storage area. A “rodent burrow or rodent nesting material” was also uncovered. The eatery failed to meet state standards again on Sept. 1, but passed inspection later that same day.

Far East Restaurant, 5002 E. 10th Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 3
• High priority violations – 12
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 24

The inspector noted such high priority violations as employee failure to wash hands, operating without a valid state license, food contact areas that were not sanitized and improper temperature control. Live roaches were also found. Forty were located between the prep table and wall, eight under the prep table and others in the kitchen. The inspector also noted rodent chew marks along the walls. The restaurant failed to meet state standards during a follow-up on Sept. 4, but did pass screening in another visit conducted that same day.

Dade City

Doc’s Pub & Grille, 14946 U.S. 301

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 4
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 6

The inspector noted improper food storage temperatures as one of the high concerns. Roaches, rodent activity and flying insects, however, were the biggest issues. The inspector found 25 live roaches near the cook line, discovered rodent droppings in a storage shed and saw flying insects in the kitchen near food preparation areas. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up inspection on Sept. 5.

Image via Shutterstock