Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Droppings 'Too Numerous To Count'

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

Roach activity, dirty conditions and rodent droppings were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending April 3, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

La Rumbita Restaurant, 7801 N. Nebraska Ave.

• Initial inspection date – March 28
• High priority violations – 10
• Intermediate violations – 8
• Basic violations – 23

The inspector noted a long list of concerns, including a crusty can opener, dirty conditions and potentially dangerous food storage temperatures. An employee’s decision to touch food with bare hands also raised red flags, the state report noted. Roaches and rodent activity were also pointed out. Live roaches were found in a dry storage area. As for rodents, the inspector found “approximately 40-50 semi-soft fresh droppings under steam table,” the report said. More droppings were found in a dry storage area, on top of the reach-in cooler, on a shelf and on an unused toaster stored on a shelf. The eatery failed a return inspection on March 28, but met state standards later that same day.

Pin Chasers Veterans, 5555 W. Hillsborough Ave.

• Initial inspection date – March 29
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 10
• Basic violations – 20

Dirty conditions, a food-encrusted microwave and the storage of pizza circles on the floor all raised the inspector’s eyebrows. So did an employee’s failure to wash hands, improper food storage temperatures and the discovery of a black/green mold-like substance on soda nozzles. Rodents were also a very big concern with droppings found in a number of places. The inspector noted about “50 in a cabinet on the front line,” more on a shelf and in a closest. The inspector returned March 30, at which time the eatery met state standards.

Rincon Guatemalteco, 708 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – March 31
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 11

The inspector noted such concerns as dead roaches found inside the establishment, roach droppings on shelving and cold food held at temperatures that were too high. Live roaches were also found on shelving near the cook line and above the prep table. Evidence of rodents was also discovered, the inspector noted. Droppings were found on a shelf above the prep table, on a door frame and in other locations. The eatery failed to meet state standards again on April 1, but did pass inspection later that same day.

Sarasota

The Serving Spoon, 1825 S. Osprey Ave.

• Initial inspection date – March 30
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 8

Uncovered food in the walk-in freezer, an expired license and eggs with broken shells were among some of the concerns noted in the state’s reports. Rodent poop, however, was among the biggest issues found. The inspector noted the number of dry and wet droppings were “too numerous to count.” The inspector did go on to note 75 droppings found in a back storage area, more under an AC unit, some on a shelving unit in the food prep area, 25 under the area where soda boxes were stored and more. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up inspection on March 31.

St. Pete Beach

Rick’s Reef, 6712 Gulf Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – March 31
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 7

The inspector noted such issues as “old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils (squeeze bottles),” an expired license and a dirty slicer blade. Bigger concerns centered on raw animal food not being properly separated from cooked food and the discovery of live roaches. Crawling roaches were found at the end of the cook line, near a hand sink and under the soda machine, among other places. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up visit on April 1.

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