Restaurant Inspections: Roach On A Plate, Poop On A Counter

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

Roach activity, dirty conditions and evidence of rodents were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Aug. 27, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Clearwater

The Green Corner, 1261 S. Ft. Harrison Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 21
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 8

Rusty walk-in cooler shelves, improper food storage temperatures and a mold-like substance found inside the ice machine all caused concerns for the state’s inspector. The biggest issue discovered, however, was evidence of rodent activity. The inspector noted finding four soft droppings and 21 hard droppings under the soda fountain’s cabinet. Four dry droppings were also found in the bottom of a sugar packet case. Sugar packets were also found chewed open, including 24 behind a box of sugar. More droppings, “too many to count,” were also found under a built-in cabinet, the state’s report noted. The eatery was temporarily closed down, but was allowed to reopen when it met state standards during a return visit on Aug. 22.

Maggie Mae’s Sunrise Café, 1261 Gulf Blvd., Suite 104

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 22
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 7

Creamers and honey packets stored on the floor, improper mop storage, and the discovery of WD40 on a shelf next to breading and sanitizer near cooked bacon all raised the inspector’s eyebrow. The discovery of live roaches, however, was the biggest red flag. The inspector noted finding two live roaches under a booth in the dining room, one behind the server station and four more in the dining room “in frames of wood across from booths.” The eatery was ordered to close, but reopened after meeting state inspection standards on Aug. 23.

Sarasota

Beckham’s On The Trail, 8579 S. Tamiami Trail

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 21
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 3

A dirty slicer blade, greasy kitchen floor and failure to provide soap at a sink all caused concerns here. The inspector, however, also noted issues with roach and rodent activity. A dead roach was found in the microwave and four more were uncovered inside a “low boy unit bottom cooler.” Four pieces of dry rodent poop were spotted on the “cook line counter,” the state’s report noted. Roach droppings were found near the pans and “five roach egg casing shells” were found under the toaster on the cook line. The inspector also noted finding a roach on a plate on the cook line, five inside the low boy cooler unit and two more on food pans. “Six live roaches (were found) between heat lamp shelving over make table cook line one was dropping eggs,” the report noted. The eatery was ordered to close temporarily following the state’s visit on Aug. 21. It reopened after meeting inspection standards on Aug. 22.

St. Petersburg

Hardee’s, 3795 N. 34th St.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 22
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 22

Dirty conditions, a hole in the wall and a leaky pipe all raised the inspector’s eyebrow. The biggest concerns here, however, centered on roaches and rodents. The inspector noted finding a live roach near a dish storage area. Rodent droppings were found under a storage rack. Rub marks were also found on a wall near and above the soda machine. Potentially hazardous food storage conditions also raised a red flag. The eatery was temporarily shut down Aug. 22, but met state standards during a return visit that same day.

Skyway Jack’s, 2795 34th St. S.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 24
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 8

Improper food storage conditions, a cutting board that could no longer be cleaned and dirty walk-in cooler gaskets all raised red flags for the inspector. Live roaches also caused major concerns. The inspector noted finding about 15 live critters on the wheel of the reach in cooler on the cook line. Three more were found in the dry stock area. The eatery was ordered to shut temporarily on Aug. 24, but met state standards during a return visit that same day.

New Port Richey

Trinity Varsity Club, 3523 Little Road

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 22
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 14

The inspector noted a number of concerns in this establishment. Dirty nonfood-contact surfaces, improper food storage practices and the discovery of a moldy substance inside the ice machine all raised red flags. The inspector also noted the oven had an accumulation of grease and food debris and that a mold-like substance was found outside of the ice bin under the soda machine. Live roaches also caused concerns. The inspector noted finding 10 in the gasket of the reach-in cooler. The eatery was ordered to shut down, but met state standards on Aug. 23.

Largo

Wild Willy’s Bar & Grill, 13355 S. Belcher Road

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 22
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 15

Broken ceiling tiles, mold in the soda holster and standing water in the bar area all caused concerns. The discovery of rodent droppings, however, raised the biggest red flag. The inspector noted finding seven soft droppings near the chest freezer, 23 droppings under and behind a soda box and more behind a prep table, near the alcohol storage area and near the bar’s beer cooler. Rodent rub marks were also found behind the grill in the kitchen and near the soda box rack. Improper food storage practices also caused concerns. The eatery met state standards during a return visit on Aug. 23.

Check out these stories to read other recent inspection reports:

• Restaurant Inspections: 75-Plus Rodent Droppings
• Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Poop On Buffet
• Restaurant Inspections: Leaky Ceiling Drips On Food
• Restaurant Inspections: Taco Bus Rodents, Dirty Dunkin’

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