2 St. Johns County restaurants get perfect scores; 16 fail inspection

Staff reports
·10 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 St. Johns County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in St. Johns County, Florida, for the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2023. 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 St. Johns County restaurant inspection site.

Which St. Johns County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?

These restaurants met all standards during their Nov. 27-Dec. 3 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which St. Johns County restaurants had high-priority violations?

Bojangles

2095 Sr 16, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on Nov. 27

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

11 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Observed mop sink with y splitter missing vacuum breaker on side with red hose.

Gaufres & Goods

212 Charlotte St, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on Dec. 1

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

7 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed 12 packs of pierogis left in unused pizza ovens from 11 am in morning.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed 12 packs pierogies (58F-62F - Cold Holding) in unused pizza oven. Person in charge leaves them to thaw and forgot about them. Person in charge disposed of all packs. **Corrective Action Taken**

Gusto Bistro Italiano & Wine Bar

4255 Us1 South Ste 8, St. Augustine

Routine Inspection on Nov. 28

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

12 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Operator renewed license during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On counter next to reach-in cooler, butter (75F - Cold Holding) Operator stated butter has been out for approximately 2 hours. Provided operator with documentation for holding butter on time control. Operator began to fill out paperwork during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Lastrada Italian Restaurant

4075 A1a South Ste 103, St Augustine

Routine Inspection on Nov. 27

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

16 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. On shelf near back door, can of tomato sauce has multiple dents on seam. Operator discarded tomato sauce. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach-in freezer across from cook line, repackaged beef and clams stored over beef stock. Operator rearranged freezer. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach-in cooler across from cook line, pasta (48F - Cold Holding); pasta (50F - Cold Holding); raw salmon (48F - Cold Holding); calamari (45F - Cold Holding) Operator stated pasta had been in cooler since the day before and discarded. Operator put salmon and calamari in different cooler to cool down. Operator stated he had been in and out of the cooler multiple times. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Inside next to triple sink, and outside of building on faucet, vacuum breaker missing from hose bibbs.

Quality Inn & Suites

901 A1a Beach Blvd, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on Nov. 28

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

9 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In waffle dispenser in dining room, waffle batter made with buttermilk (50F - Cold Holding) Operator stated waffle mix had been made approximately 3 hours prior. Provided operator with documentation for time as a public health control so she could keep waffle batter on time.

South Kitchen & Spirits

150 Pine Lake Dr, Ponte Vedra

Complaint Inspection on Nov. 29

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

24 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored in top portion of make table over ready-to-eat food in bottom portion of make table - no complete physical barrier between top and bottom. In the reach in cooler breading station, raw chicken over ready to eat French fries and sweet potato fries. Operator relocated the raw chicken. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In the open top reach in cooler opposite the grill area; stroganoff (46F - Cold Holding); Mac and cheese (48F - Cold Holding); herb butter (47F - Cold Holding); rice (45F - Cold Holding); sausage (47F - Cold Holding); cooked potatoes (48F - Cold Holding); shrimp (45F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (47F - Cold Holding). All time/temperature control food for safety in cooler not in temperature, operator pointed out the compressor fan is iced over and will attempt to fix. Operator had employee discard the food from the cooler. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In the open top reach in cooler opposite the grill area; stroganoff (46F - Cold Holding); Mac and cheese (48F - Cold Holding); herb butter (47F - Cold Holding); rice (45F - Cold Holding); sausage (47F - Cold Holding); cooked potatoes (48F - Cold Holding); shrimp (45F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (47F - Cold Holding). All time/temperature control food for safety in cooler not in temperature, operator pointed out the compressor fan is iced over and will attempt to fix. Operator had employee discard the food from the cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In the well of the main cook line, pulled chicken (124F - Hot Holding) operator placed the pulled chicken back into the steam compartment. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle on the top shelf over the prep table, operator relocated the chemical spray bottle. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Teriyaki Madness

140 Little Cypress Dr Ste 106, St. Johns

Routine Inspection on Nov. 29

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

11 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Cooked poultry not reaching a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Employee on the main cook line cooked chicken (146F - Hot Holding) to add to hot holding unit. Inspector had employee place chicken back on to grill to properly cook. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In the flip top reach in cooler wrapped cooked noodle (46F - Cold Holding) stored stacked above the cooling plane of the reach in cooler. Discussed with operator to not stack time/temperature control food for safety too high. At conclusion of inspection cooked noodles in temperature range. **Corrected On-Site**

The Collector - Luxury Inn & Gardens (General Store)

149 Cordova Street, St. Augustine

Routine Inspection on Nov. 27

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

1 total violation, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license expired 6/1/23. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-27: Observed license stilled expired 6/1/23. **Admin Complaint**

Wendy's

153 Capitol Green Dr, Ponte Vedra

Complaint Inspection on Nov. 29

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

9 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee on the main cook line with only one gloved hand adjusting long sleeve undershirt with bare hand, then handling clean single service fry containers to place customer order in.

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In the cook line pull out drawers, chicken patties (108/98/102F - Hot Holding). Operator discarded all chicken patties.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On both sides of the main cook line, cheese sauce (115/119F - Hot Holding). Operator reheated the cheese sauce in the microwave to over 165F. In the cook line pull out drawers, chicken patties (108/98/102F - Hot Holding). Operator discarded all chicken patties. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle stored hanging on the wire shelf over the back prep station. Operator relocated the chemical spray bottle. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

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 St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine area restaurant and food truck inspections Nov. 27-Dec. 3