4 Alachua County restaurants cited for high-priority violations

Staff reports
·6 min read

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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 Alachua County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Alachua County for the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 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 Alachua County restaurant inspection site.

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

These restaurants met all standards during their Jan. 29-Feb. 4 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which Alachua County restaurants had high priority violations?

Blue Star Grill

23352 NW 186th Ave., High Springs

Complaint Inspection on Jan. 29

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 - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed: in the walk-in cooler, raw beef and chicken in pans, stored on a shelf over ready to eat sauces. The beef and chicken were moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: raw shell eggs on the cook line counter, 79F, Batter on the cook line 55F, butter spread in back prep 64F. These items were then adjusted time mark to finish the 4 hour rule. Time as a public health control template has been emailed. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: breakfast potatoes on the cook line, 91F. These were discarded. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed: a sanitizer spray bottle at the dining area wait station, pointed at tableware. The bottle was relocated. **Corrected On-Site**

Keke's Inc

4062 Plaza Blvd., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 31

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 - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: in the first cold make table on the cook line : pre cooked chicken 47, cooked mushrooms 52, slice cheese 47, cut tomato 44. Per Garrett, the breaker sometimes flips due to possibly the toaster on that circuit. The breaker had already been turned back on. ALSO, cream cheese packs 74F, these were set out 1.5 hours ago to warm up for service. Theses were moved to a time stamp item. I ALSO, in the corner cold make table, shred cheese 51F. This container was moved to the walk-in freezer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2024-01-31: 1st reach-in cooler on the cook line Slice cheese 41, cut tomato 42, ***cooked mushrooms 45, cooked cubed chicken 47***, shred cheese in the corner 40, 39. Ice bags were added to the mushrooms and the chicken **Admin Complaint**

Ocean Buffet

6795 W. Newberry Rd, Gainesville

Complaint Partial Inspection on Jan. 31

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 - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: on multiple hot bars(buffet): chicken 97,shrimp 120, shrimp 126, shrimp 97-123, chicken 117, shrimp 104, chicken 109-126F. The time as a public health control form was found. The dry erase sheets for each bar were found. Items started to be marked. The sushi bar time mark sheet was up to date with the correct date and time marks. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Steak N Shake

3714 SW 42nd St., Gainesville

Complaint Inspection on Jan. 31

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 - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed: the soft serve mix in the left hopper at 49F and has separated.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: the soft serve Left hopper, mix at 49F. The soft serve in this hopper is separated. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. Observed: reheated chili in an amber cambro, added to the 109F chili on the cook line, now 110F . When reheated again, reheated to 114F. The Manager then placed the cambro pan into the microwave for reheating. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: chili on the cook line 109F.

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 The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville area restaurant/food truck inspections: Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2024