Restaurant Inspections: 75-Plus Rodent Droppings, Bare Hands

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

Roach activity, dirty conditions and rodent poop – a whole lot of it – were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Aug. 20, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

St. Petersburg

Community Café, 2444 Central Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 16
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 12

A dirty air vent, a cutting board that couldn't be cleaned and an employee’s failure to wear a beard guard while making food all caused concerns for the inspector. The biggest issues, however, centered on raw chicken being stored over cheesecake in the reach-in freezer and the discovery of live roaches. The inspector noted finding about eight live critters under a freezer on the cook line. The eatery was temporarily closed on Aug. 16, but met state inspection standards the next day.

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Tampa

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, 8020 Citrus Park Drive

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 17
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 9

Dirty conditions, a hole in the ceiling and the discovery of a dead rodent all raised the inspector’s eyebrow. The discovery of flies in the kitchen, potentially hazardous food storage practices and water on the floor also caused concerns. The biggest issue, however, was the discovery of rodent droppings in the establishment. “I counted 75+ rodent droppings, too many to get a complete count,” the state’s report said. Those droppings were found in such areas as a dry storage room, on prep racks in the back dock area and next to the smoker, according to the state’s report. The state’s inspector returned on Aug. 17 and allowed the eatery to reopen with the need for a further inspection. That inspection happened on Aug. 18. The eatery met state standards for health and safety at that time, records show.

Clearwater

Westshore Pizza, 1969 Drew St.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 16
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 10
• Basic violations - 23

A greasy floor, dirty equipment handles and a moldy build-up on freezer gaskets all caused concerns for the inspector. Other issues included a crusty can opener blade, residue in food storage containers and a slicer blade that was “soiled with food debris.” An employee was also spotted working with dough without intact gloves on. The inspector noted the female employee had “artificial nails/nail polish” on while preparing the dough. A failure to sanitize food contact surfaces, potentially hazardous food storage practices and live roaches raised the biggest red flags though. The inspector noted finding 12 live roaches in a damaged wall of the walk-in cooler on the cook line. The eatery was ordered shuttered on Aug. 16, but met state standards on Aug. 17.

Lakeland

Forno Restaurant & Pizzeria, 3615 S. Florida Ave.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 15
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 0
• Basic violations – 11

The inspector noted such basic concerns as missing ceiling tile, a hole in the wall and a leaky pipe. The discovery of 13 live roaches, however, raised red flags. The inspector noted finding the critters on a wall in the back of the kitchen, near the walk-in cooler and in a dry storage area. The eatery was temporarily shut down on Aug. 15, but met state standards the next day, records show.

Check out these stories to read other recent inspection reports:

• Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Gnaw Marks
• Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Poop On Buffet
• Restaurant Inspections: Leaky Ceiling Drips On Food
• Restaurant Inspections: Taco Bus Rodents, Dirty Dunkin’

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