Restaurant Inspections: Roach On Ceiling, Dirty Dishes, Bad Handwashing

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

Roach activity, dirty conditions and unsafe food temperatures were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Jan. 30, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Clearwater

Shanghai Express, 2296 State Road 580

• Initial inspection date – Jan. 27
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 0
• Basic violations – 25

The state inspection report notes a number of concerns related to such issues as build-up of food debris on food bins, dead roaches and dirty floors. High priority concerns included improper food temperature control, raw meat stored with ready-to-eat food and live roaches. Approximately 10 roaches were found behind a refrigerator near the fryer, the report noted. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up inspection on Jan. 28.

Sarasota

La Pollera Colorada 41, 7980 N. Tamiami Trail

• Initial inspection date – Jan. 25
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 2

The state report noted such concerns as raw meat stored above unwashed produce and dead roaches found near the front counter. Live roaches were also found with 20 spotted near a reach-in cooler on the cook line. The inspector also found some near a three-compartment sink. The eatery failed to meet state standards during several follow-up inspections, but was allowed to reopen Jan. 29 with the need for another follow-up noted.

Tampa

El Pio Pio, 6911 Limestone Lane

• Initial inspection date – Jan. 26
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 4

The inspector noted such concerns as dead roaches found on the floor, employer failure to wash hands and food being stored on the floor of this mobile eatery. High priority concerns include the presence of roach droppings and live roaches. Critters were found crawling on the floor, in the reach-in cooler gasket and on the reach-in cooler. The establishment met state standards during a return inspection on Jan. 27.

Triana Caribbean Cuisine, 8330 N. Florida Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Jan. 27
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 6

The inspector noted such concerns as employee failure to wash hands, the use of improper containers and potentially hazardous temperature controls. Live roaches, however, were also found in abundance. The inspector noted the critters were seen on the wall, under a sink, under the fryer, near the front counter and even on a cutting board. A roach was also spotted on the ceiling and roach droppings were also evidenced, as well. The establishment failed to meet state standards during a return visit on Jan. 28, but did so on Jan. 29.

China Wok, 8412 N. Armenia Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Jan. 27
• High priority violations – 9
• Intermediate violations – 7
• Basic violations – 26

The inspector noted such concerns as dirty equipment door handles, dead roaches, employee failure to wear a hair net and improper equipment and utensil washing. High priority concerns included improper food temperature control, improper hand washing and live roaches. Roaches were found on a utensil, in between equipment and elsewhere. More than 25 roaches were found on the door handle to the walk-in-cooler, the state reported noted, and about 10 more under the steam table on the cook line. The eatery failed a return inspection on Jan. 28, but did meet state standards later that same day.

Mangu Latin Café, 9005 E. Adamo Drive, Suite B

• Initial inspection date – Jan. 28
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 17

The inspector noted such concerns as a hole in the wall, dirty conditions and standing water in a hand washing sink. Improper food temperature controls and live roaches also raised red flags. Live roaches were found near the cook line, on dry storage shelving, behind the refrigerator and on the gasket of the reach-in cooler. The eatery failed a return inspection on Jan. 28, but met state standards Jan. 29.

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