9 Lake County restaurants cited for high-priority violations
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 Lake County restaurant inspections site.
Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Lake County for the week of Sept. 11-17, 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 Lake County restaurant inspection site.
Which Lake County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?
These restaurants met all standards during their Sept. 11-17 inspections and no violations were found.
Amber Brooke Farms Eustis, Mobile food dispensing vehicle**
Haystax Restaurant, 2744 W Old Hwy 441, Mount Dora**
Hungry Howies, 27615 US Hwy 27 Ste 107, Leesburg**
Salsa, 2270 Vindale Rd, Tavares**
Wave Asian Bistro, 301 N Baker St Ste 100, Mount Dora
** Restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week
Which Lake County restaurants had high priority violations?
Coastal Del Mar Seafood Grill
990 Del Mar Dr, Lady Lake
Routine Inspection on Sept. 13
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
19 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. Butter sauce 118f, spinach dip 116f. Cooling since 9:15 am. **Warning**
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Server handled dirty dishes and then clean tongs and clean plate. **Warning**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Butter sauce 118f, spinach dip 116f. Cooling since 9:15 am. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. -Butter 49f. Less than 4 hours. Advised to rapid chill. **Warning**
Ichiban Buffet
10301 US Hwy 441, Leesburg
Complaint Partial Inspection on Sept. 15
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 - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Chlorine dishmachine reading 0ppm on dish surface. Operator contacted EcoLab at time of inspection to schedule visit. Confirmed that chlorine based sanitizer is attached, however sanitizer not reaching dish level. Operator set up three-compartment sink with chlorine sanitizer (150-200ppm) at time of inspection and was instructed to use three compartment sink for sanitization of all dishes until dishmachine is fixed. **Warning**
Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille
350 Lakeshore Dr, Eustis
Routine Inspection on Sept. 12
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 - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. - 1 live fly
High Priority - Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination.
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. - spray bottle
Lakeside Inn
100 N Alexander St, Mount Dora
Routine Inspection on Sept. 12
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
25 total violations, with 8 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. O ppm **Warning**
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. - Dish washer
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. - 3 Flying insects at front bar. **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature.
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. - hard boiled eggs date 8/31 Operator discarded **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse.
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. cut fruit (60F - Cold Holding); raw shell egg (60F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (60F - Cold Holding); liquid eggs (60F) Per operator Food item have been out for 60 minutes. Suggest to place in cooler for quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. -Dish sop stored on prep table -Chemicals store next to clean utensils in back area.(COS) - chemicals stored next to clean over clean containers.(cos)
Muse Bar & Bistro
2385 S Hwy 27, Clermont
Routine Inspection on Sept. 12
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 - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Swai for the ceviche **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw portioned beef behind cooked pasta on sandwich top reach in cooler next to grill **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery 1242
905 Bichara Blvd, Lady Lake
Routine Inspection on Sept. 13
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
25 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. -1 moth on cookline. **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. -Raw beef stored behind cheese. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. -Butter 47f. Less than 4 hours. Manager placed to rapid chill. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
Spanish Springs
997 Alverez Ave., Lady Lake
Complaint Inspection on Sept. 13
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
8 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. -Approximately 25 in bar area. **Warning**
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Ham dated 08-19.
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Ham dated 08-19.
Spanish Springs
997 Alverez Ave., Lady Lake
Complaint Inspection on Sept. 15
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 - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. -Approximately 25 in bar area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-15: Approximately 10-15 in bar area. **Time Extended**
The Crazy Gator
402 N. Bay St, Eustis
Complaint Inspection on Sept. 12
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
47 total violations, with 7 high-priority violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. **Warning**
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. -Person preparing salad and serving food. **Warning**
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. - all line cooks leaving line going to coolers in prep area and returning **Warning**
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. **Warning**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. -1 fly in kitchen area **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. -spray bottle of cleaner hanging on hand sink a t front bar. - bottle of oven cleaner stored next to rolls. - spray bottle stored next to bottle sauces in prep area. - spray bottle of cleaner hanging on shelf in server area **Warning**
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. - hose Bibb located next to hand sink in kitchen area. **Warning**
Tortilleria Y Paleteria Jalisco
123 East Broad Street, Groveland
Routine Inspection on Sept. 11
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
10 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. Corn 83f. Less than 4 hours. Advised to reheat.
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 Daily Commercial: Leesburg area restaurant/food truck inspections: Sept. 11-17, 2023
