9 Sarasota-Bradenton restaurants get high-priority violations, 8 ace inspections
Our digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with the latest information on which Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice area restaurants passed or failed.
You can use the database to search by Sarasota or Manatee County or by restaurant name. You can see which restaurants were fined and which were forced into temporary closure.
Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection." On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment.
Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.
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Sarasota-Manatee best restaurant inspections
The following restaurants or food trucks, listed in alphabetical order, passed their inspections Aug. 6-12 with zero violations:
Arby's, 19411 Times Circle, Venice
C&K Smokehouse BBQ, 12119 U.S. 301 N., Parrish
Carmen Latin Food & Catering Services, 6780 15th St. E., Sarasota
Cork's Cigar Bar, 424 12th St. W., Bradenton
Dodger Dogs, 6592 Superior Ave., Sarasota
Icy Creations, 7310 U.S. 301 N., Ellenton
Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, 4650 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton
Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza, 14633 S.R. 70, Bradenton
Sarasota County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations
The following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections Aug. 6-12:
Getaway Cafe
7125 Fruitville Road, Sarasota
Aug. 9
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
20 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations:
High Priority - Stop sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in the drawer reach-in cooler on the right side of the kitchen: chicken (46F - cold holding); mahi (48F - cold holding); cobia (46F - cold holding); shredded cheese (48F - cold holding); beef (46F - cold holding); hot dogs (46F - cold holding); sausage (48F - cold holding); shrimp (46F - cold holding). Operator stated that they had been stored there overnight. Operator set food aside for disposal. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in the drawer reach-in cooler on the right side of the kitchen: chicken (46F - cold holding); mahi (48F - cold holding); cobia (46F - cold holding); shredded cheese (48F - cold holding); beef (46F - cold holding); hot dogs (46F - cold holding); sausage (48F - cold holding); shrimp (46F - cold holding). Operator stated that they had been stored there overnight. Operator set food aside for disposal. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed sanitizer bucket stored next to beer dispensers and single service cups on the bar line. Operator moved sanitizer bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
Marco's Pizza
3599 Webber St., Sarasota
Aug. 8
Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.
8 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation:
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cold holding cheddar cheese shredded 62F in single door reach-in cooler. Person in charge placed in freezer to cool down. **Corrective Action Taken**
Mitch's Kitchen
789 U.S. 41 Bypass, Venice
Aug. 11
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
9 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations:
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee handle soiled plates then handle clean plates without washing hands. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed the following temperatures: tall 2-door cooler: roast pork (55F - cold holding); corned beef (57F - cold holding); butter (49F - cold holding); sausage patties (56F - cold holding). Operator stated reach-in cooler and food was at 40F less than 4 hours prior. Operator moved all items to single door reach-in cooler. Recheck temperature after 35F all items at 41F cold holding. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Restaurante Chapin Vasquez
773 U.S. 41 Bypass S., Venice
Aug. 11
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
6 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation:
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed rice (109F - hot holding); beans (115F - hot holding) at cooks line steam table. Employee stated items were cooked and placed on steam table 2 hours prior. Observed steam table was not plugged in at time of inspection. Employee placed items steam bath on stove top and reheated to 167F. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
3701 Bayshore Road, Sarasota
Aug. 11
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
21 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations:
High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Observed approximately 20 live ants on the front counter soda machine area. Observed approximately 1 live ant in the back prep area. Employee cleaned and sanitized soda area. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw burgers stored beer ready-to-eat bread in the reach-in cooler in the front counter area. Operator disposed of burgers. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza hot holding at 110 degrees in the back prep kitchen. Employee had stated they had been out for approximately 1 hour. Employee reheated pizzas to 165 degrees. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemicals stored next to food and single service items in the front counter area and dry storage area. Operator removed chemical bottles. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Observed the quaternary sanitizer in the three compartment sink at 500ppm. Employee added more water to the mixture and remeasured it at 300ppm **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
Manatee County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations
The following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections Aug. 6-12:
Cortez Cafe
12108 Cortez Road W., Cortez
Aug. 9
Call back — administrative complaint recommended. Follow-up needed.
5 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations:
High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2023-08-09: Observed dish washer handling dirty dishes and then clean dishes without washing his hands. **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2023-08-09: Observed yogurt 51F. and turkey 50F in cook line cooler. Operator iced down products. **Admin Complaint** **Corrective Action Taken**
Cortez Cafe
12108 Cortez Road W., Cortez
Aug. 10
Call back — complied. Zero violations.
Danny's Pizzeria
7220 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
Aug. 9
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
28 total violations, with 10 high-priority violations:
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed 2 cans of peeled tomatoes dented around the seams. Operator set aside cans for return. **Warning**
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed multiple cooks put gloves on without washing hands. **Warning**
High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Observed fly strip near soda fountain at server station. **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw sausage stored over deli meats in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Sliced cheese dated 7/28/23 in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed cheesecake holding at 58F in the salad station cooler, overnight per operator. Observed multiple items in the prep area Pepsi cooler holding above 41F, overnight per operator. Ham 53F, chicken 66F, meatballs 56F, sausage 55F. Operator discarded items. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cheesecake holding at 58F in the salad station cooler, overnight per operator. Observed multiple items in the prep area Pepsi cooler holding above 41F, overnight per operator. Ham 53F, chicken 66F, meatballs 56F, sausage 55F. Observed fresh garlic in oil at 71F at the pizza station. Cook placed into refrigeration. Observed cooked chicken wings at 45F, butter at 84F, and rue made with butter at 84F stored on the cook line counter, operator placed into refrigeration. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked onions at 109F above stove on cook line. **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed bottles of spray cleaner stored above salad prep area, pizza dough area. Observed spray bottle of cleaner hanging on shelf with clean pan storage. **Warning**
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed chlorine sanitizer bucket in prep area at 200ppm. Operator discarded sanitizer bucket. **Warning**
Little Caesars
573 10th St. E., Palmetto
Aug. 8
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
8 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation:
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Provided operator with information on food allergen awareness (Form HR 5030-038) and employee health/manager responsibility (Form HR 5030-039). Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
Peach's Restaurant
3240 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach
Aug. 9
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
10 total violations, with 6 high-priority violations:
High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed dish machine with chlorine sanitizing level less than 50ppm. Operator set up 3 compartment sink. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed dish washer rinse out dirty bus tub and then handle clean dishes with out washing hands. **Warning**
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed sugar stored in nonfood-grade container near dry storage area. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed hash browns on cook line underneath grill cold holding at 62F. Operator added hash browns to time as a public health plan and time marked hash browns. **Corrected on Site** Observed diced sausage (44F - cold holding); diced ham (44F - cold holding); pancake batter (46F - cold holding) in walk-in cooler. Operator opened door for walk-in freezer to bring temperature down in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. Observed butter on counter at prep area with no time mark but on written plan. Operator time marked butter. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed electronic screen wipes in hostess station stored next to condiment packets. **Warning**
Peach's Restaurant
3240 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach
Aug. 10
Call back — extension given, pending. Follow-up needed.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Inspections: Sarasota-Bradenton restaurants high-priority violations
