6 Alachua County restaurants fail inspection; 1 temporarily shut down
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. You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name.
Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Alachua County, Florida, for the week of Sept. 4-10, 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 its 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 Sept. 4-10 inspections and no violations were found.
Blaze Pizza Store 1073, 3617 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville**
Tikka Express, 1011 W University Ave, Gainesville**
Wah Ha Ha Thai Food & Noodle Soup, 1902 SW 13 St, Gainesville**
** Restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week
Which Alachua County restaurants were temporarily closed by inspectors?
These restaurants failed their Sept. 4-10 inspections and were temporarily closed. Follow-up inspections are required.
Sugarcreek Restaurant
2226 NW 6th St., Gainesville
Complaint nspection on Sept. 6
Facility temporarily closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.
24 total violations, with 9 high-priority violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed: the dish wash machine at 0 ppm for chlorine. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed: 1 fly by the swinging doors. 1 fly on a syrup container in the dining area, East wall. **Warning**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed the license expired on 6-1-2023. **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed: household ant and roach spray stored on the bulk sodas. It was moved outside. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed: raw shell eggs stored over unprepared potatoes, in a bus pan on the floor in the walk-in cooler.
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed: 1 live roach on the floor by the bread rack, went under the baseboard. **Warning**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed: flip top #2 chop ham 47, shredded cheese 54, chop chicken 54, slice cheese 55, pooled eggs 57F. ALSO, in flip top #1: pork 46, slice ham 54, hash 54F. Slice cheese was above the pans on a plate. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: flip top #2 chop ham 47, shredded cheese 54, chop chicken 54, slice cheese 55, pooled eggs 57F. ALSO, in flip top #1: pork 46, slice ham 54, hash 54F. Slice cheese was above the pans on a plate. This was placed in a chest freezer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food re-served to customers. Observed: butter packs left on multiple tables frozen solid reuse by next guest. Inspector had staff remove from the table just seated and replace. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Complaint inspection on Sept. 7
Facility temporarily closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.
7 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed: 1 fly by the swinging doors. 1 fly on a syrup container in the dining area, East wall. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-07: No flys Observed: **Time Extended**
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed: 1 live roach on the floor by the bread rack, went under the baseboard. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-07: Observed: 1 live roach along the wall on the cook line. This was swept up. Not approved to vacate from Emergency Order of Suspension of License per Cindy Ross at 2:13 **Time Extended**
Which Alachua County restaurants had high-priority violations?
Eat at Tinker
502 S. Main St., Gainesville
Complaint inspection on Sept. 7
Follow-up Inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
17 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Sleeve of pills next to microwave in prep area. Employee moved items to first aid kit. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
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. Thermometer reached 152-153. Operator set up manual sanitizer 200ppm quaternary ammonia. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish over mayo in walk in cooler. Raw shell eggs over cheese in walk in cooler. Raw beef over cakes in walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Flying Biscuit Cafe
4150 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville
Routine inspection on Sept. 7
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 - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. bean mix (47F - Cold Holding) feta (47F - Cold Holding); egg liquid (48F - Cold Holding) items in top of reach in cooler on cooks line, other items are 41 or below. Ice was added to food items. Retemped items between 43-44. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Hand soap next to tortillas and bread on top of reach in cooler on cooks line, employee moved soap. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Metro Diner
2132 SW 34th St., Gainesville
Routine inspection on Sept. 5
Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
9 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. butter chips at the wait station 52-67. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut tomato in drawer (51F - Cold Holding); Canadian ham in drawer (51F - Cold Holding) butter chips at the wait station 52-67. **Warning**
Plantology
931 SW 2nd Ave., Ste 20, Gainesville
Routine inspection on Sept. 7
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. fries (49F - Cold Holding); chicken breast (49F - Cold Holding); cubed chicken (55F - Cold Holding) reach in cooler on cooks line flip top cooler, operator stated during lunch rush cooler is kept open for an amount of time. coleslaw (51F - Cold Holding); burger (54F - Cold Holding); tomatoes (55F - Cold Holding); tempeh stick (53F - Cold Holding) counter top reach in cooler, the lid even when closed has a large gap where the cold air is escaping, the cooler is running at 37. Ice was being brought to put on items. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-07: Tempeh burger 54, tempeh stick 53. Cooler is set and running at 37, owner spoke to inspector about switching to time. **Admin Complaint**
Scuola 2
931 SW 2nd Ave., Gainesville
Routine inspection on Sept. 7
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. cheese (56F - Cold Holding); taziki sauce (57F - Cold Holding); tomatoes 10 minutes (64F - Cooling); sausage (51F - Cold Holding); mozzarella (54F - Cold Holding); mushrooms (55F - Cold Holding); falafel (56F - Cold Holding) items in stand up large reach in cooler on cooks line and flip top reach in cooler. Thermometers read 40F. Other items are below 41F. Operator placed ice on items. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-07: Tomatoes 46, cheese 50, ham 47, sausage 48, sauce 46. Other items 41 or below. Talked to person in charge about switching top portion of cooler to time as a public health control 11-3, 3-7. **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 The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville area restaurant and food truck inspections for Sept. 4-10
