Here’s the breakdown for recent restaurant inspections in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for the week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5. Florida’s restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So, every week, we provide that information for you.
During the latest round of inspections from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, four restaurants did not pass their first inspections and received an administrative complaint, an additional nine restaurants did not pass their first inspections and received at least one high priority violation and 33 restaurants were awarded a perfect score on the first try. A full list of those restaurants who received a perfect score can be found at the bottom of this article.
Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment.
Four restaurants receive administrative complaints
Jimmy Johns, 5331 N. Palafox St., Suite A
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 30
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. The restaurant still had two violations in a follow-up inspection the next day, and a time extension was given.
Total violations: Four total violations, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed four live flying insects in the following areas: one in mop sink area, two in dry storage area, and one in three compartment sink area. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Fatboiz A Real Sandwich Shop, 1673 Pace Blvd., Suite 1
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 31
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Two total violations, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
Thai 98, 4104 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 3
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Two total violations, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 06/01/2023 **Admin Complaint**
Tropical Smoothie Café, 211 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 30
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Five total violations, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 06/01/23 **Admin Complaint**
Nine restaurants receive high priority violations
O’Riley’s Irish Pub Downtown, 321 S. Palafox St,
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 1
Follow-up inspection: Violations required further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection the next day with zero violations.
Total violations: Four total violations, with three high-priority violations
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed one live roach on floor in hallway between dish washing area and kitchen area. Employee killed and cleaned up roach during inspection. **Warning**
- High Priority – Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed temperatures in walk in cooler with shredded cheese 44 degrees Fahrenheit (held 24 hours), shrimp 44 degrees Fahrenheit (held 24 hours), and corn beef 44 degrees Fahrenheit (held over 24 hours).
- High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed temperatures in walk in cooler with shredded cheese 44 degrees Fahrenheit (held 24 hours), shrimp 44 degrees Fahrenheit (held 24 hours), and corn beef 44 degrees Fahrenheit (held over 24 hours). See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
Moe’s Southwest Grill, 5100 N. Ninth Ave.
Inspection details: Complaint Inspection on Oct. 30
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection the next day with zero violations.
Total violations: Three total violations, with two high-priority violations
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One small flying insect observed near make line, five small flying insects in back prep area. Not observed landing on food or food prep areas. Small flying insects observed swarming shared apron receptacle in shared dumpster area.
- High Priority – Presence of insects, or other pests. Small flying insects observed swarming shared apron receptacle in shared dumpster area.
Dunkin’ Donuts, 8039 N. Davis Highway
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 3
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Six total violations, with three high-priority violations
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Prewrapped chicken roasted pepper wraps in lower reach in cooler drawer temping at 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Determined to possibly be higher than 41 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours. Manager disposed of items during inspection.
- High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Prewrapped chicken roasted pepper wraps in lower reach in cooler drawer temping at 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Determined to possibly be higher than 41 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours. Manager disposed of items during inspection.
- High Priority – Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer bucket quaternary reading 500 parts per million. Manager remade bucket with less quaternary. After allowing time, sanitizer reading at 400 parts per million. Per manager, dispenser is broken, and quaternary has to be dispensed by hand. **Corrected On-Site**
McDonald’s Restaurant, 7198 Pensacola Boulevard
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 1
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection the next day with zero violaltions.
Total violations: One total violation, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed one live flying insect in drive thru area next to slushy machine. **Warning**
Pho Real, 8102 N. Davis Highway
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 3
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Four total violations, with two high-priority violations
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Shell eggs ambient air temperature at 50 degrees Fahrenheit in cook line reach in cooler for three hours. Manager moved eggs to reach in cooler with ambient temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Shell eggs ambient air temperature at 53 degrees Fahrenheit in drink cooler. Manager kept door closed for 45 minutes. Eggs ambient temperature dropped to 47 degrees Fahrenheit. **Corrected On-Site**
- High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Bean sprouts in plastic container in cook line reach in cooler at 59 degrees Fahrenheit for three hours. Manager moved sprouts to metal container and to reach in cooler away from cook line. **Corrective Action Taken**
La Hacienda of Milton, 6471 W. U.S. Highway 90
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 1
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Four total violations, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine sanitizer reading 0 parts per million. Tested on operator and inspector chlorine strips. Operator set up three-compartment sink with chlorine in lieu of dish machine. **Warning**
The Hangar, 3966 Avalon Blvd., Milton
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 30
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Five total violations, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within two hours. Grits 66 degrees Fahrenheit after two hours. Steamwell was never turned on. Operator placed food in walk in cooler to rapidly cool and re-start process. **Corrective Action Taken**
Burger King, 4120 Highway 90, Pace
Inspection details: Complaint Partial Inspection on Nov. 2
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: Four total violations, with three high-priority violations
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed three flying insects in office area. Office area is open to kitchen. **Warning**
- High Priority – Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Three undetermined dead insects observed behind tea brewing station. Operator cleaned and sanitized area during inspection. **Warning**
- High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. For cut lettuce and tomatoes. Time out of temperature control was 30 minutes. Operator added time mark to items during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
Whataburger, 8340 N. Century Blvd., Century
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Nov. 3
Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Total violations: two total violation, with one high-priority violation
Details of high priority violations:
- High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed one flying insect in dining room and one flying insect on make line. **Warning**
33 restaurants receive a perfect score
- Beach Club Resort Amenities, 18 Via De Luna Drive
- Bluefin Poke, 501 S. Palafox St., Suite 10
- Burger King #35, 4498 Mobile Highway
- D & R Lounge & Package, 4680 Cerny Road
- Fisheads, 16 Via De Luna Drive
- Flip N Yaki, 501 S. Palafox St.
- Jimmy Johns 2754, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite 16
- Lost Key Golf & Beach Club, 14359 Perdido Key Drive
- Mcdonald’s, 5897 W. Nine Mile Road
- Mcdonalds #7102, 6003 Mobile Highway
- Mr. Tacos Grill, mobile food dispensing vehicle
- Nelsons Liquor and Lounge, 2526 Gulf Beach Highway
- Nomadic Eats, mobile food dispensing vehicle
- Papa John’s Pizza # 629, 805 N. Fairfield Drive
- P’Cola Bistro, 3102 E. Cervantes St.
- Robbie’s By The Bay, 7600 Scenic Highway
- Santinos Pizza & Grinders, 8102 N. Davis Highway, Unit A
- Shrimp Basket, 14600 Perdido Key Drive
- The Truck Stop, 9 E. Gregory St.
- Waffle Boutique 2, mobile food dispensing vehicle
- Waffle House #393, 6913 Pensacola Blvd.
- Wing Stop #354, 5147 Bayou Blvd.
- Avalon Beach Inn/Red Roof Inn, 2672 Avalon Blvd.
- Baskin Robbins Of Gulf Breeze, 205 Gulf Breeze Parkway
- Dave’s Oyster Bar & Grill, 4699 Gulf Breeze Parkway
- Dewey Destin’s Navarre, mobile food dispensing vehicle
- Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant Of Navarre, 8673 Navarre Parkway
- Hachi, 1817 Alpine Ave.
- Holiday Inn Express – Milton, 8510 Keshav Taylor Drive
- Juana’s Pagodas and Sailors’ Grill, 1451 Navarre Beach Causeway
- Mariachi’s Express Mexican Grill, 8207 Navarre Parkway
- Subway Restaurant 22526, 2665 Avalon Blvd.
- Thai 54 Cuisine, 47 Gulf Breeze Parkway
What agency inspects restaurants in Florida?
Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is conducted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department of Health is responsible for investigation and control of food-borne illness outbreaks associated with all food establishments.
How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?
If you see abuses of state standards, report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors. Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online. Get the whole story at our restaurant inspection database.
What does all that terminology in Florida restaurant inspections mean?
Basic violations are those considered against best practices.
A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.
An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: “Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over.”
An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.
A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license.
Visit data.pnj.com/restaurant-inspections to read more.