Restaurant Inspections: Can Opener Roaches, Mold, Flying Bugs

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, unsafe food temperatures and greasy, food-encrusted surfaces were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Nov. 8, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Green Iguana, 1708 E. 7th Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Nov. 4
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 23

The inspector noted a number of concerns, including grease accumulations on the floor and cooking equipment, a hole in the wall and encrusted material on the can opener blade. Major concerns centered around employee failure to wash hands, potentially hazardous food storage temperatures and the discovery of live flying insects and roaches. The inspector found two live roaches on the reach-in cooler’s glass, seven by bulk dry storage containers and four in a hole in the wall, among other locations. Roach droppings were also a concern. The facility failed to meet state standards during a Nov. 5 follow-up, but did so later that same day.

Lupita’s Antojitos, 7532 N. Armenia Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Nov. 4
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 3

This mobile diner was shuttered after the inspector noted improper hand washing and dead roaches found on an ice tea container, in the reach-in cooler and inside an igloo cooler. Live roaches were also found, including “15-plus in reach-in cooler and gasket.” The eatery failed to meet state standards again on Nov. 5, but did so on Nov. 6.

La Cabana Restaurant, 5302 N. Armenia Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Nov. 5
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 13

The inspector noted such concerns as outdoor storage of the ice maker, raw animal food being stored with ready-to-eat foods during preparation and a dirty cutting board. High priority concerns included the discovery of flying insects and roaches – a lot of them. The inspector noted 20-plus on paper towels and more on glue traps above the prep table, on a wooden shelf above the prep table and on the door frame next to the cook’s line, among other locations. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up inspection on Nov. 6.

Sarasota

Villa Italian Kitchen, 8201 S. Tamiami Trail

• Initial inspection date – Nov. 2
• High priority violations – 9
• Intermediate violations – 8
• Basic violations – 3

The inspector noted such concerns as potentially hazardous food temperature control issues, employee failure to wash hands and dead roaches found on the premises. Live roaches were also found, along with a “large amount of droppings present around hot water heater.” Black/green mold was also found on the ice machine’s interior. The inspector noted a need for a return visit during a follow-up on Nov. 3, but did not keep the restaurant shuttered.

Lutz

China Taste, 3967 Van Dyke Road, No. 301

• Initial inspection date – Nov. 3
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 16

The inspector noted such concerns as raw animal food stored above unwashed produce, dead roaches and improper temperature control. The inspector also found live roaches in a can opener, the sink and on shelving above the sink, the state report says. The eatery met state standards during a Nov. 4 follow-up inspection.

Apollo Beach

Asian Fusion Buffet, 117 Harbor Village Lane

• Initial inspection date – Nov. 3
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 13

The inspector noted such concerns as fly sticky tape hanging over food, the storage of raw animal food over prepared food and a black/green mold-like substance in the ice machine. Other concerns included the discovery of live roaches by the grill/steam table, on the floor and near the reach-in cooler. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up visit on Nov. 4.

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