Restaurant Inspections: Ceiling Leak Drips On Food

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at seven Tampa Bay 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 June 24, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Garibaldi’s Restaurant, 1235 E. Hillsborough Ave.

• Initial inspection date – June 22
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 18

The state’s inspector noted a number of concerns, including dead roaches, a hole in the ceiling and an “objectional odor in the establishment.” High-priority concerns centered on potentially dangerous food storage conditions and the discovery of live roaches. The state’s report mentions a roach found skittering on the prep table, five above a paper towel holder and others in the establishment. Roach droppings were also found. The eatery was inspected again a few times, meeting state standards on June 23.

China Yuan Restaurant, 8502 N. Armenia Ave.

• Initial inspection date – June 21
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 22

The inspector noted a number of minor concerns inside the eatery, including dirty conditions, dead roaches, an employee not wearing a hair net and storage of food on the floor. Potentially hazardous food storage conditions and an employee touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands also raised red flags. Twenty-four roaches on the wheels of the reach-in cooler also caught the inspector’s eye, as did more by the fryer oil boxes, the cook line woks and under the woks on the floor. The eatery was inspected again on June 22 and met state standards.

Denny’s, 5603 E. Hillsborough Ave.

• Initial inspection date – June 22
• High priority violations – 7
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 29

The inspector had a lot of concerns about the upkeep of the establishment, noting such issues as dirty equipment, standing water on the floor and cracked tiles. Potentially hazardous food storage conditions also raised a red flag as did “cut lettuce, shredded cheese exposed to leaking water from ceiling,” according to the report. The discovery of small flying insects in the kitchen also causes concerns. The eatery was inspected again on June 22 and was found within state standards.

Buccaneer Square Bingo, 8625 W. Hillsborough Ave.

• Initial inspection date – June 22
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 6
• Basic violations – 10

The inspector noted such issues as an objectionable odor, someone smoking inside the building and ready-to-eat food not being properly marked. A backup of sewage through a floor drain and an expired license were among the biggest issues, the state’s report noted. The establishment met state standards when the inspector visited again on June 23.

Hungry Howie’s, 14916 N. Florida Ave.

• Initial inspection date – June 23
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 6

Dead roaches found by the reach-in freezer, an inaccessible handwashing sink and dirty conditions were all concerns for the inspector. The discovery of five live roaches under the front cashier counter also raised a red flag. The eatery was inspected again the same day and did meet state standards, records show.

Sarasota

Senor Siesta, 5110 Ocean Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – June 20
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 2

The state’s inspector noted such concerns as a manager lacking proof of food manager certification, the use of a dirty wiping cloth and a lack of soap at a sink. The biggest concerns centered on raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat items and “temperature abuse” in regard to food storage. Seven live roaches were also found near a sink. The eatery was inspected again on June 21 and met state standards, records indicate.

Lakeland

Rodeway Inn and Suites, 4645 Socrum Loop Road

• Initial inspection date – June 20
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 2

An improper display of fruit in a breakfast bar and a hole in the wall caught the inspector’s attention, according to the state’s report. The biggest red flag, however, came up when the inspector found rodent droppings on the floor, in an unused bar area and near a sink, among other places. Some of the droppings, the state’s report noted, were still “moist.” The establishment was inspected again on June 21 and met state standards.

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