11 Leon County restaurants get perfect scores; 12 fail inspection

Staff reports
·7 min read

You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name.

Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every week, we provide that information for you.

For a complete list of local restaurant inspections, including violations not requiring warnings or administrative action, visit our Leon County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Leon County, Florida, for the week of March 25-31, 2024. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.

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.

For full restaurant inspection details, visit our Leon County restaurant inspection site.

South Station has opened in the old Happy Motoring and its burgers are juicy double patties, cast iron cooked smashed beef with cheese, caramelized onions.
South Station has opened in the old Happy Motoring and its burgers are juicy double patties, cast iron cooked smashed beef with cheese, caramelized onions.

Which Leon County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?

These restaurants met all standards during their March 25-31 inspections and no violations were found.

** Restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week

Which Leon County restaurants had high priority violations?

El Jalisco

2915 Kerry Forest Pkwy Unit 301, Tallahassee

Complaint Inspection on March 26

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

8 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Guacamole 50,51, beef 50, cheese 55, sour cream 52, less than 4 hours per operator Iced during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bleach spray bottle on ice maker.

Holiday Inn Express

1653 Raymond Diehl Rd, Tallahassee

Routine Inspection on March 28

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

3 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed pan of raw chicken partially covered stored next to bagels in reach in cooler.

Midtown Noodles Bar

1660-6 N Monroe St, Tallahassee

Routine Inspection on March 25

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

4 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed sliced pork 44F, raw pork 47F, shrimp rolls 51F, raw chicken wings, veggie pork dumplings 50F, eel 45F in standing cooler at cook line at 3:45. Digital ambient temperature displays 58F. Per manager all items held since yesterday. See stop sale. **Warning**

The Hawthorn

1307 N Monroe St, Tallahassee

Routine Inspection on March 28

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

6 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed multiple food items held over 41F. Make Table at Cook Line: Russian dressing 53F, whipped feta 53F, sliced Swiss cheese 53F at 1:00. Reach in Cooler Drawers: provolone cheese 50F, sliced ham 52F, sliced turkey 48F, boiled eggs 49F, 50F, pico de gallo 52F, chorizo 49F at 1:00 Reach in Cooler: tomato salad 51F, meatloaf 49F at 1:00. Display Reach in Cooler at Front Counter: farm quiche 46F, seasonal quiche 45F at 1:30. Per manager make table and cooler doors has been frequently opened since 11:00. New temperatures: Make Table at Cook Line: Russian dressing 53F, whipped feta 49F, sliced Swiss cheese 49F at 1:15. Reach in Cooler Drawers at Cook Line: provolone 49F, sliced ham 48F, turkey 47F, boiled eggs 49F, pico de gallo 50F, chorizo 49F at 1:00. Reach in Cooler at Cook Line: tomato salad 51F, meatloaf 52F at 1:00. Display Reach in Cooler at Front Counter: farm quiche 45F, seasonal quiche 45F at 1:15. Manager began storing ice on food items at cook line and maintenance arrived to repair reach in cooler during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

Waffle House #1527

5022 Capital Circle, Tallahassee

Routine Inspection on March 26

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

6 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Heat strip failed to turn black to indicate the sanitization temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit was achieved on the dish surface and/or high temperature holding thermometer did not reach 160F. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. Observed dishwasher machine surface temperature 150.8F. Per manager maintenance will be scheduled for repair. Employee set up three compartment sink Chlorine 100ppm. **Repeat Violation** **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 and the time removed from temperature control. Observed shelled eggs held at room temperature at 11:00. Per manager shelled eggs held since 10:45. Manager time marked eggs during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

Woodchucks Cafe

2520 A West Tharpe St, Tallahassee

Routine Inspection on March 28

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

5 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw ground beef stored over cooked ham. Manager moved ham to a different shelf. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed two live roaches behind bulletin board in corner of kitchen. Employee killed both and sanitized the area. **Warning**

What agency inspects restaurants in Florida?

Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is conducted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department of Health is responsible for investigation and control of food-borne illness outbreaks associated with all food establishments.

How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?

If you see abuses of state standards, report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors. Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online.

Get the whole story at our restaurant inspection database.

What does all that terminology in Florida restaurant inspections mean?

Basic violations are those considered against best practices.

A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.

An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: "Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over."

An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.

A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee area restaurant and food truck inspections March 25-31: Restaurant inspection: 11 Leon are perfect; 12 fail