Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Poop On Buffet

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, evidence of rodents and improper food storage were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending July 15, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Clearwater

Taco Bell, 1824 Gulf to Bay Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – July 12
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 10

The state’s inspector noted quite a few concerns inside the fast-food establishment, including debris on non-food contact areas, a dirty floor and a hole in the wall. The discovery of dead roaches, including more than 30 behind a freezer, really began to raise red flags. The inspector noted among the highest-priority concerns the presence of live roaches, including one on the cook line. Other live critters were found under an employee table, on a wall and behind two reach-in freezes. Roach droppings were also found in the back of the kitchen area on a freezer’s electric plug, the report noted. Management on the scene contacted an exterminator, enabling the eatery to meet state standards during a return inspection on July 12, the state’s report said.

Tan’s Chinese Restaurant, 432 Poinsettia Ave.

• Initial inspection date – July 11
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 10

Missing floor tiles, a hole in the ceiling and potentially hazardous food storage conditions all raised the inspector’s eyebrow. The discovery of 10 dead cockroaches around a stand-up refrigerator and more on the cook line, behind a freezer and under a sink also raised alarm bells. The inspector, however, took major issue with the discovery of live cockroaches and evidence of rodents within the establishment. According to the state’s report, crawling roaches were found near the fridge, by a fryer, under the steam well and in other places. Rodent droppings were found next to and on top of the refrigerator. The inspector also found rodent poop on a smoker unit, the report noted. Raw shrimp stored above cooked sauces also created some concerns. The inspector returned on July 12 and noted the need for another follow-up. The temporary closing order, however, was lifted.

Largo

Popeyes, 8700 Ulmerton Road

• Initial inspection date – July 11
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 6

The state’s inspector noted an “objectionable odor” in the establishment. As it turned out, the inspector also discovered wastewater backing up through floor drains along the kitchen’s cook line. A failure to provide hand soap and dirty cooler shelves also caught the inspector’s attention as did “20 live ants” in the dining room and a few flies in the kitchen. The eatery was temporarily closed, but did meet state standards during a return inspection on July 12.

Golden Corral, 10050 Ulmerton Road

• Initial inspection date – July 12
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 14

The state’s inspector found quite a few concerns inside the eatery, including dirt and food under the buffet counters, soiled floor drains and a greasy kitchen floor. A dead rodent was also found in the trash compactor while six dented cans of cream of mushroom soup forced a stop sale order, the state’s report noted. Flies in the buffet area and the dining room also raised red flags as did potentially hazardous food storage practices. An accumulation of mold was found in the ice machine and on the soda dispensing nozzles, the report noted. Rodent activity also caused some major concerns. The inspector found “too numerous to count rodent droppings in the buffet salad bar cabinet,” the report said. Other droppings were found under the buffet line salad dressings, under the fresh fruit area, under a steam table, under the cracker and soup areas and in various other locations in the establishment. The eatery failed a return inspection on July 13, but was allowed to reopen later that same day. A July 14 return by the inspector resulted in state standards being met, records show.

Sarasota

Checkers, 5331 Fruitville Road

• Initial inspection date – July 11
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 6

The inspector noted such minor concerns as damaged tiles, slimy gaskets on a reach-in cooler and plumbing in disrepair. The biggest concern was the discovery of wastewater backing up through floor drains. The eatery was allowed to reopen on July 11, but didn’t meet inspection standards fully until July 14, state records show.

Plant City

Smokin’ Aces Steakhouse, 2509 N. Park Road

• Initial inspection date – July 11
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 3

Dirty non-food contact services, dead roaches and a lack of the proof of food manager certification all caught the inspector’s attention. The biggest concern here, however was the discovery of 20 to 25 “live roaches under detergent next to the dish machine,” the state’s report noted. Roaches were also found behind a sink. The inspector returned to the eatery on July 12 and found conditions were up to state standards.

Hudson

Show Palace, 16128 U.S. 19

• Initial inspection date – July 13
• High priority violations – 7
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 11

Dirty non-food contact areas, broken floor tiles and holes in the ceiling and a wall all caused concerns. The discovery of potentially hazardous food storage conditions also raised a red flag here. The biggest concerns involved the discovery of flies in the kitchen and live roaches. The critters were found crawling behind a prep table, on a knife rack, by clean dishes, under a warmer and on the kitchen’s back door, among other places. The inspector also noted a lack of adequate sneeze guards on the salad bar. The establishment met state standards during a second return visit on July 14.

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