2 Polk restaurants closed by inspectors, one for the second time this year for rodents

Andy Kuppers, Lakeland Ledger
·8 min read

Two Polk County restaurants were temporarily closed by inspectors from Sept. 18 through Oct. 5, and for one of them, it was the second time this year rodents played a role in shutting it down.

Kash’s Red Top Pit Stop LLC at 12160 US 98 N. in Lakeland was temporarily closed Sept. 21 when an inspector noted about 40 rodent droppings: three on the floor by a three-compartment sink, about 20 under the sink and about 20 under a dry storage shelf near the sink.

The restaurant only had four total violations, and that was the only high-priority violation. The other three were basic. The next day, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with only one basic violation.

It's the second time this year the restaurant was temporarily closed because of rodent activity. The first time came on May 10 when an inspector noted about 90 rodent droppings and one live rodent on the premises, in addition to a food-temperature violation. It took the restaurant two days to clear inspection then.

>> INTERACTIVE: Explore all restaurant inspections in Polk County.

On July 19, the Red Top Pit Stop passed a call back inspection with zero violations.

In Haines City, a food truck had the misfortune of being inspected when its generator was down.

Flavors De Rosita, a mobile food vendor at 1687 Hinson Ave. in Haines City, was hit with 12 violations on Sept. 19, half of them high priority. Two were for operating without power and potable water. Two others were for pork that was held at an unsafe temperature. And two others were for live flies: The inspector noted two inside the food truck and one in a container of tortilla dough mix.

It passed a follow-up inspection the next day with zero violations.

The food truck was last closed down by an inspector in July 2022 for 15 total violations, including six high priority. They included two live roaches, operating without potable running water and a couple of food-handling and storage violations. It cleared a follow-up inspection the next day with two intermediate violations – both related to certification and training. The food truck met standards during inspections in October 2022 and March.

Restaurants with insect-related warnings

Forty-five other restaurants around Polk County were handed warnings or administrative complaints that required follow-up inspections during the two-week period, according to inspection reports. Those violations run the gamut, from issues with cleanliness or broken equipment, to clerical violations involving required training or certification. But only of those restaurant warnings was at least partially related to bugs.

Palace Italian Restaurant at 6120 U.S. 98 N. in Lakeland was hit with 15 violations on Sept. 20, four of which were high priority. The inspector noted roach droppings under a shelf in the serving area, as well as one dead roach near an outlet under a countertop. The other high-priority violations were for raw shell eggs stored over cooked meatballs, a cooked pizza held at 80 degrees and an unspecified chemical on top of a refrigerator next to condiments. The restaurant met standards with only four basic violations the following day.

Sept. 4-17 One Polk restaurant closed, 3 others warned for insect issues. Six vendors were perfect

The almost-perfect

Before we get into this period’s perfect inspections – those with zero violations – it’s fun to highlight a few restaurants that almost made that perfect list. These are restaurants with only one or two violations that seem, well, kind of small. This isn't a complete list, just enough to highlight how hard it is for restaurants to get a perfect score on an inspection.

For instance, Caribbean One Stop on 2426 Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven was gigged on Oct. 3 with only one violation: no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event. The restaurant has a history of only logging one or two violations. The last time it had more than two violations was September 2018.

Chef T’s Garden Grill, 1525 E. Gary Road in Lakeland, had two violations on Oct. 3: for an open dumpster lid and failing to provide a chemical test kit when using sanitizer. It was the largest number of violations for Chef T’s in a single inspection since December 2020, when it had three. The restaurant has never had more than four in an inspection.

Mia Pizza, 2440 Sand Mine Road in Davenport, might’ve made the perfect list if not for pesky ice buildup in its reach-in freezer – its lone violation. Dippin Dots Ice Cream, a mobile food vendor at 3800 U.S. 98 N. in Lakeland, also might’ve made it if not for a crimped water tank hose. The manager fixed it during the inspection, but it wasn't enough to avoid a gig from the inspector.

And then there’s Felipe Taco's, a mobile food vendor at 621 S. Rifle Range Road in Wahneta. Felipe’s had two basic violations on Oct. 4. One was for spoons under the prep counter that weren’t stored inverted – you know, in a protected manner. The other was for a cooler that wasn’t cold enough. That could've been a big deal, had there been any food in the cooler.

Restaurants with zero violations

The following 29 restaurants passed their initial inspections with zero violations. It does not include restaurants that had zero violations in a follow-up inspection after being warned.

  • Latin American Flavors, mobile food vendor, 2100 Old Tampa Highway, Lakeland.

  • Maxine's Fruit of The Spirit LLC, mobile food vendor, 4509 U.S. 92, Lakeland.

  • Big Baby Bitez, mobile food vendor, 502 E. Main St. (Catapult), Lakeland.

  • Cams Catering Co. Inc., caterer, 117 Bates Ave, SW, Winter Haven.

  • The Best Hot Dogs, mobile food vendor, 1100 U.S. 17-92 N., Haines City.

  • Taco De California, 854 6th St. NW, Winter Haven.

  • USA Mofongo Y Algo Mas LLC, mobile food vendor, 2115 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland.

  • Monitas Tacos LLC, mobile food vendor, 741 N Wabash Ave, Lakeland.

  • Five Guys Burgers And Fries, 1321 Posner Blvd., Davenport.

  • Tacos, 807 Eagle Ridge Drive No. 606, Lake Wales.

  • Taqueria Conchita, mobile food vendor, 1790 Shepherd Road, Mulberry.

  • Fresh Fiesta, mobile food vendor, 1800 State Road 559, Auburndale.

  • SB&B Eatery LLC, mobile food vendor, 1310 Daughtery Road, Lakeland.

  • Grape Expectations Fine Wine Bar, 5535 Cypress Gardens Blvd. 150, Winter Haven.

  • Delivery By Loren, mobile food vendor, 575 Old Polk City Road, Lakeland.

  • Liar's Lair Saloon, 14143 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales.

  • Hy Tech Cusine 2, mobile food vendor, 7400 E. State Road 60, Bartow.

  • Mary's Snack Shack, mobile food vendor, 3230 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales.

  • Fonda La Fortaleza Inc., mobile food vendor, 635 Lake Shore Way, Lake Alfred.

  • Lucy's Homemade Ice Cream, 705 Hinson Ave., Haines City.

  • Dusty's Tacos LLC, mobile food vendor, 333 EB St., Frostproof.

  • Y'All Come Back Saloon Bar and Restaurant, 3230 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales.

  • Cuppa Joe On The Go, mobile food vendor, 3631 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales.

  • Marco's Pizza 8640, 23801 U.S. 27 Unit 7, Lake Wales.

  • Mariyah's Hamburger And Shakes, mobile food vendor, 6121 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland.

  • Brazilian Esfirras By Bree LLC, 227 E. Lake Ave., Auburndale.

  • Whatcha Got Cookin, mobile food vendor, 10333 U.S. 27, Frostproof.

  • Taqueria Las Cunadas LLC, mobile food vendor, 839 S. Scenic Highway, Frostproof.

  • That 716 Pizza Joint, 1950 S. Combee Road, Lakeland.

Aug. 21 to Sept. 3: 17 Polk food vendors have perfect inspections. None are closed and 1 is warned for flies

Keep in mind as you read

Remember that in some cases, violations are noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Remember, too, that broken refrigerators, chipped tiles or fast work may add up to unintended mistakes.

Regardless, if you notice abuses of state standards, report them and DBPR will send inspectors. Call 1-850-487-1395.

The terminology

What does all that terminology in state 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 and the establishment may reopen only after inspection shows that all high-priority violations that caused the suspension are corrected.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Rodents close one Polk restaurant for the second time this year