Restaurant Inspections: Mold, Roaches, Bad Smell

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

Roach activity, foul odors and unsafe food temperatures were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Nov. 1, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Robert’s Meat & Sandwich Shop, 3435 S. Westshore

• Initial inspection date – Oct. 29
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 5

The inspector noted such concerns as improper food storage temperatures and a cutting board that could no longer be cleaned properly. Fifteen “live roaches” around the slicer and coffee pot, however, really captured the inspector’s attention. Dead roaches were also found under the prep tables and ice machine. The establishment met state standards during an Oct. 30 follow-up inspection.

Gyroland, 3313 N. Nebraska Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Oct. 27
• High priority violations – 7
• Intermediate violations – 9
• Basic violations – 21

The inspector noted such concerns as walk-in cooler shelves that were encrusted with food, improper food storage temperatures and a soiled cutting board. Bigger concerns included five live roaches found near the pizza table, one in the cooler, five live on a door handle and in other areas of the establishment. Roach droppings were also found under the front service area counter, around the freezer and near the cooler. The eatery failed to meet state standards during an Oct. 28 follow-up visit. It did, however, during a second follow-up conducted on Oct. 28, state records indicate.

Zephyrhills

Fung Garden Chinese Restaurants, 5118 Gall Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – Oct. 27
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 6
• Basic violations – 35

The inspector noted such concerns as “objectionable odors in bathroom,” an employee touching a bare body part and then helping with food preparation without washing hands and an accumulation of black/green mold inside the ice machine. The inspector also found live, small flying insects in the kitchen and live roaches near the dish machine and under the cooler. Roach droppings were also found. The eatery met state standards during an Oct. 28 follow-up inspection.

To read about other recent temporary closings, check out these related articles:

• Restaurant Inspections: Black Mold, Roaches, Maggots
• Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Poop, Flying Bugs, Dirty Conditions
• Restaurant Inspections: Fishy Dish, Rodents, Hole in the Wall

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