2 Pensacola area restaurants forced to temporarily shut down in wake of weekly inspections
Here's the breakdown for recent restaurant inspections in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for the week of Oct. 23-29. 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.
During the latest round of inspections from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, two restaurants were temporarily closed, two restaurants did not pass their first inspections and received an administrative complaint, an additional five restaurants did not pass their first inspections and received at least one high priority violation and 26 restaurants were awarded a perfect score on the first try. A full list of those restaurants who received a perfect score can be found at the bottom of this article.
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.
Two restaurants temporarily closed
Rio Bravo, 5030 Bayou Blvd.
Inspection details: Complaint Inspection on Oct. 26Follow-up inspection: Operations ordered stopped until violations were corrected. The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection the same day with zero violations.Total violations: Four total violations, with two high-priority violationsDetails of high priority violations:
High Priority - Raw sewage on the ground of the establishment. Observed: raw sewage on the ground of the establishment. Upon complaint inspection observed sewage flowing onto the ground from the sewage line located underneath the deck behind the white gate of the rear building. During the inspection, the sewage line cap was off. The operator put the cap back on, the operator stated that the exposed sewage line goes to the kitchen dish machine. Also, during the complaint inspection (the inspector) instructed operator to run the dish machine, during the cycle of the dish machine observed sewage overflowing from the drain line onto the floor. The drain line is adjacent to the cook line in the kitchen. Warning
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed employee preparing food after eating with same gloves on. Observed employee pick food off the ground and continue to prepare food. Warning
Ah Los Panchos Tamales Y Tacos #2, mobile
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 26Follow-up inspection: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected. A follow-up inspection is still required.Total violations: Four total violations, with two high-priority violationsDetails of violations related to closure:
Basic - Mobile food dispensing vehicle connected to utilities on more than a temporary basis. Mobile food unit is connected to underground wastewater tank which their wastewater is flowing into. No quick disconnect for pipe running from unit to tank. Warning
Basic - Portable water and greywater tank missing from mobile unit. Both freshwater and greywater tanks not on location. The unit is hooked up to potable water at location with quick disconnect. Instructed owner that freshwater and greywater tank must be hooked up even though unit is hooked up to a water source. Warning
High Priority - Raw sewage on ground of establishment. Upon inspection observed sewage on the ground around where wastewater flows from the mobile unit into an homemade underground wastewater tank and onto the ground surrounding the homemade wastewater tank. Warning
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired June 1, 2023. Operator renewed during inspection. Corrected On-Site
Two restaurants receive administrative complaints
Cactus Cantina, 22 S. Palafox St. Unit B
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 23Follow-up inspection: Violations required further review but were not an immediate threat to the public. In a follow-up inspection the next day, a time extension was given, and another follow-up inspection was still required. The restaurant complied with a third inspection on Oct. 25 with zero violations.Total violations from initial inspection: Five total violations, with two high-priority violationsDetails of high priority violations:
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed four live flying insects in the following areas: two in mop sink area in back of kitchen and two in dish washing area in kitchen. Warning
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed expired DBPR license at time of inspection. Admin Complaint
Lao Ocean, 368 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 25Follow-up inspection: Violations required further review but were not an immediate threat to the public. A follow-up inspection is still required.Total violations: Four total violations, with two high-priority violationsDetails of high priority violations:
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 06/01/2022 Admin Complaint
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Bowl of shelled eggs over mixed vegetables inside reach in cooler on cook line.
Five restaurants receive high priority violations
Bagelheads, 916 E. Gregory St.
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 24Follow-up inspection: Violations required further review but were not an immediate threat to the public. The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection the same day with zero violations.Total violations: Seven total violations, with one high-priority violationDetails of high priority violations:• High Priority - Self-service display lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Bagel display on front counter. Operator removed display. Corrected On-Site
Hot Spot Barbecue, 901 E. La Rua St.
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 27Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. A follow-up inspection is still required.Total violations: Two total violations, with one high-priority violationDetails of high priority violations:• High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee picked item up from ground and did not change glove. Instructed operator to request employee to change glove. Corrected On-Site
Ticket Sports Bar, 7333 North Davis Highway
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 24Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. A follow-up inspection is still required.Total violations: Four total violations, with one high-priority violationDetails of high priority violations:• High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Triple sink quaternary sanitizer at bar reading 500 parts per million. Manager diluted sanitizer with regular water to 400 parts per million. Corrected On-Site
Papa John's Pizza # 2616, 1813 Alhambra St., Navarre
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 27Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. A follow-up inspection is still required.Total violations: Three total violations, with one high-priority violationDetails of high priority violations:• High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Glass cleaner stored next to Buffalo sauce on dry storage rack.
Shan Kishi Express, mobile
Inspection details: Routine Inspection on Oct. 23Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public. A follow-up inspection is still required.Total violations: Two total violations, with one high-priority violationDetails of high priority violations:
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Carton of shelled eggs over cabbage inside upright reach in cooler.
26 restaurants receive a perfect score:
Culvers, 8792 Navarre Parkway
Joey Cargo Entertainment, mobile
Los Panchos Tamales Y Tacos III, mobile
Papa Nalu Aloha Grill, 3499 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Sauce Boss Burger Co, mobile
Slim Chickens, 8006 Navarre Parkway
Tastebuds, 4579 Watkins St., Pace
Texas Roadhouse, 6645 U.S. Highway 90
Thai Salads, mobile
Whataburger #932, 5346 Stewart St.
Akari Sushi, 40 W. Nine Mile Road, Unit 3
Carnes Asada Darling Inc, mobile
Chile Lindo - Tacos El Amigo, mobile
Courtyard By Marriott, 3200 W. Nine Mile Road
El Asador, mobile
La Gran Fiesta LLC, mobile
Moe's Southwest Grill #6232, 7175 E. North Davis Highway
Paddy O'Leary's Irish Pub, 49 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach
Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach
Pedro Taqueria, mobile
Perdido Key Sports Bar LLC, mobile
Taco Latino, mobile
The Daily Squeeze Juice Bar and Cafe, 901 N. 12 Avenue
The Shaka Bar, 649 Pensacola Beach Boulevard
Viva Chile Cafe, mobile
Adonna's Garden St. Cafe and Bakery, 811 W. Garden St.
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.
Visit data.pnj.com/restaurant-inspections to read more.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area restaurant inspections: 2 restaurants temporarily close
