Restaurant Inspections: 20 Roaches, Dirty Conditions, No Beard Guard

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

Roach activity, dirty conditions and improper food storage were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Sept. 17, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Brandon

Bonefish Grill, 1015 Providence Road

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 14
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 13

An ice machine with an accumulation of a “black/green mold-like substance,” dirty conditions and a cutting board beyond cleaning all raised red flags here. The biggest concerns noted by the inspector, however, included improper food storage conditions and the discovery of live roaches. Nine live critters were found on the reach-in cooler’s gaskets near the salad prep area of the cooks’ line. A live roach was also found in the bar. The eatery was temporarily closed after the first inspection, but was allowed to reopen with the need for a follow-up noted. It did meet state standards during a Sept. 16 return visit from the inspector with only four basic violations noted.

St. Petersburg

The Burg Bar & Grill, 1752 Central Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 14
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 7
• Basic violations – 26

Dead roaches, an employee’s failure to use a beard guard during food prep and dirty conditions were among the basic violations noted by the inspector. Food-contact surfaces that were not sanitized and the discovery of live roaches and roach droppings really raised red flags. The inspector noted finding roaches under the prep counter where sub sandwiches had just been prepped. Twenty small live roaches were also found between the back of the make table and the microwave/prep table. Another live critter was found in an aluminum foil box near the slicer table, along with others near the sinks. The establishment was temporarily shuttered after the visit, but was allowed to reopen with the need for more follow up noted on Sept. 15.

Image via Shutterstock