6 Marion County restaurants/food trucks get perfect scores; 12 fail inspections

Staff reports
·12 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 Marion County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Marion County for the week of July 24-30, 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 Marion County restaurant inspection site.

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

These restaurants met all standards during their July 24-30 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which Marion County restaurants had high priority violations?

Darrell's Diner 6

17350 SE 109 Terrace Road, Summerfield

Routine Inspection on July 26

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

5 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Reach-in cooler at the cook line steak ham date marked 07/14/23.

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Reach-in cooler at the server station, milk 52F sour cream packets and cream cheese 52F. Stop sale.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the server station, milk 52F sour cream packets and cream cheese 52F. Stop sale. **Warning**

Dickeys Barbecue Pit

17961 S. U.S. 441, Summerfield

Routine Inspection on July 26

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 - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. June 1, 2023

Dominos Pizza

3131 SE College Road, Ocala

Routine Inspection on July 27

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

4 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Hot and cold faucets missing device near dry storage room.

Lechonera El Fogon De Nelly

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on July 28

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

5 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. June 1, 2023

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Fresh garlic and oil 87F, per operator, item moved out of refrigeration at 1:00pm, item will be discarded at 5:00pm.

No. 1 New York Pizza

184 Marion Oaks Blvd., Ocala

Routine Inspection on July 24

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

15 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Medicine on shelf over reach in freezer at front counter. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Gyro meat initially cooked longer than 60 minutes was cooled prior to being fully cooked. See stop sale. Gyro meat cone removed from vertical oven then placed in freezer and cooled for future cooking. Stop sale issued.

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in three door unit in kitchen: raw chicken on shelf over milk and sauce. Manager moved chicken. On dry storage shelf: raw shell eggs on shelf over pasta. Manager moved all. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Gyro cone being partially cooked then placed in freezer for later cooking. Provided operator with gyro tear sheet. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Sonic Drive In

11211 SE 178 Place, Summerfield

Routine Inspection on July 26

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

8 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the end of the cook line, chili 53F, manager voluntarily discarded

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Splitter added, no back flow preventer on any side of the splitter

Sonny's Real Pit BBQ

1794 SW County Road 484, Ocala

Routine Inspection on July 28

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

4 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Male employee at the grill station, touched raw burgers and continued working with cooked food and handle tongs, inspector addressed situation, employee stopped, washed his hands and continued **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the cook line (under the grill) : hot dogs 46F, rice 48F, ribs 51F, slaw 52F, raw chicken 46F, Manager add ice. ** Warning** **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Subway #47518

2019 SW County Road 484, Ocala

Routine Inspection on July 27

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

6 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In walk-in cooler: turkey 52F, ham 51F, turkey 51F, roast beef 49F, cut tomatoes 58F and 56F, cheese 50F, per Manager, delivery arrived around 12:00 also door kept open during re organization of the cooler, Manager moved all items to freezer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from ambient temperature to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within four hours. See stop sale. Tuna salad prep at 10:00 at 4:15pm temperature was 46F and 47. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. In walk-in cooler and reach-in cooler at the front counter, tuna salad 48F and 47F tuna was prep at 10:00am. Also in walk-in cooler**Warning** **Warning**

Texas Roadhouse

3015 SW 32nd Ave., Ocala

Routine Inspection on July 27

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

12 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Displayed food not properly protected from contamination. Tray with cups of butter on top of meat case near hostess stand. Fruit on bar not covered. Butter cups were moved and fruit was covered with a hinged lid. **Corrected On-Site**

  • 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. Female employee touched drink and apron then put on gloves and began opening cans without washing hands. Male employee touched drink and apron , put on gloves then touched salad plate without washing hands. Management spoke with both employees. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Whipped cinnamon butter 74F on tray on top of meat case near hostess stand. Placed butter in cooler during this inspection. Discussed Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) with manager. Provided DBPR documents during this inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

The Blue Gator Of Dunnellon

12189 S. Williams St., Dunnellon

Routine Inspection on July 24

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

11 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen near cookline. One fly in bar area. Five flies in storage room near mop sink. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Inside make-table in pan above fill line: cheese slices (55F - Cold Holding). Employee stated the cheese was held inside unit almost five hours prior.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside make-table in pan above fill line: cheese slices (55F - Cold Holding). Employee stated the cheese was held inside unit almost five hours prior. Stop sale issued.

The Blue Gator Of Dunnellon 2

12189 S. Williams St., Dunnellon

Routine Inspection on July 24

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

11 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen near cookline. One fly in bar area. Five flies in storage room near mop sink. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Inside make-table in pan above fill line: cheese slices (55F - Cold Holding). Employee stated the cheese was held inside unit almost five hours prior.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside make-table in pan above fill line: cheese slices (55F - Cold Holding). Employee stated the cheese was held inside unit almost five hours prior. Stop sale issued.

The Equestrian Grill

10155 SW County Road 484, Dunnellon

Routine Inspection on July 25

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

11 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Pan of sliced tomatoes covered in a white mold-like substance. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Bread stored inside grocery bags inside reach-in freezer in prep area near back door. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 06/2023.

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken stored above pan of fries inside reach-in cooler in kitchen near cookline. Manager placed raw chicken in the bottom shelf during this inspection. Raw chicken stored above cooked beef inside reach-in cooler in prep area near back door. Manager moved raw chicken to shelf below beef during this inspection. Raw beef stored above cooked chicken on shelf inside reach-in cooler in prep area. Manager placed raw beef below the cooked chicken during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle of "Spic and Span" stored on prep table near cookline above clean dishes. Employee removed the spray bottle from the table during this inspection. **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 Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala area restaurant and food truck inspections July 24-30, 2023