Insects prompt closure of Palm Bay Road Applebee's; 11 restaurants fail inspection

Rob Landers, Florida Today
·11 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 Brevard County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Brevard County, Florida, for the week of Oct. 23-29, 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 Brevard County restaurant inspection site.

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

These restaurants met all standards during their Oct. 23-29 inspections and no violations were found.

Note: The ** denotes restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week

Which Brevard County restaurants were temporarily closed by inspectors?

These restaurants failed their Oct. 23-29 inspections and were temporarily closed. Follow-upinspections are required.

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar

1545 Palm Bay Road, Melbourne

Complaint Inspection on Oct. 24

Facility Temporarily Closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.

Seven total violations, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 in dining area 40 in dish area 5 in dry storage 10 by triple sink 15 by mop sink 20 in service area **Admin Complaint**

Which Brevard County restaurants had high priority violations?

Big Dogs Barbecue & More

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Oct. 25

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

11 total violations, with three high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Cooked potatoes prepared in a private home. See stop sale.

  • High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Stainless RIC -ribs (46F -cooling); cooked chicken halves (46F - Cooling); pulled pork (47F - cooling); cooked brisket (47F - cooling); **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food originating from an unapproved source. Cooked Potatoes found. PIC stated potatoes were cooked at operators home.

Big Dogs Barbecue & More

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Oct. 26

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

Eight total violations, with twp high-priority violations

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Stainless RIC -ribs (46F -cooling); cooked chicken halves (46F - Cooling); pulled pork (47F - cooling); cooked brisket (47F - cooling); **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-26: Ribs- 50 Chicken- 49 Pork-50 Brisket- 50 **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food originating from an unapproved source. Cooked Potatoes found. PIC stated potatoes were cooked at operators home. - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-26: Food that was issued a stop sale was not served but not discarded. **Admin Complaint**

Diana's Tacos

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Oct. 27

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

Two total violations, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Beans 58F, cooked last night, did not cool properly. Operator discarded. **Corrected On-Site**

Hibachi Buffet

735 N Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island

Complaint Inspection on Oct. 24

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

25 total violations, with nine 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. 0ppm. Operator replaced source chemical. Retest at 100ppm **Corrected On-Site**

  • 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 handled soiled dishes then began touching clean dishes without washing hands

  • High Priority - Food contaminated by employees/consumers and operator continued to serve food. See stop sale. Raw chicken shipping boxes reused to store cooked chicken and shrimp. Raw chicken residue still present on interior of cardboard boxes

  • High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Dish washer using 3-sink system does not have a sanitizer sink available for third step of process. Washed, rinsed and then placed dishes back in circulation for use with cleaned wares

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In bottom of reach in cooler on cook line. Raw beef stored over sauces

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk in cooler. Raw chicken stored over raw beef, raw fish and cooked noodles. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 3 live roaches in dish area. 2 in test strips vile. 1 crawling on machine. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler on cook line cooked noodles (47F - Cold Holding); raw beef (47F - Cold Holding); cut cabbage (47F - Cold Holding) **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. No vacuum breaker installed on hose bibs

Lounge

625 Barefoot Blvd., Barefoot Bay

Routine Inspection on Oct. 25

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

Four total violations, with three 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. 0 ppm

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Oasis ice cream 50F 2nd carton 49F

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Oasis ice cream mix 50F 2nd carton 49F

Spiro's Kouzina

225 Palm Bay Road N.E. Suite 172, Melbourne

Routine Inspection on Oct. 23

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

Nine total violations, with three high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shelled eggs over ready to eat salads Raw chicken over raw lamb over ready to eat tzatziki**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Drawers ; cooked chicken (56F - Cold Holding); cooked gyro (52F - Cold Holding); spinach pie (56F - Cold Holding); cheese (51F - Cold Holding) **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Drawers under flat top grill ; cooked chicken (56F - Cold Holding); cooked gyro (52F - Cold Holding); spinach pie (56F - Cold Holding); cheese (51F - Cold Holding) Kept in cooler overnight, no temps taken in morning, see stop sale **Warning**

Suntree County Club

350 Country Club Drive, Melbourne

Routine Inspection on Oct. 25

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

Six total violations, with two high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. stop sale (43F - Cold Holding); slice deli ham (45F - Cold Holding); slice deli turkey (45F - Cold Holding); slice cheese at (46F - Cold Holding) items has in unit at least 24hrs or more. Ambient air in unit reading 46F cold holding.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. stop sale (43F - Cold Holding); slice deli ham (45F - Cold Holding); slice deli turkey (45F - Cold Holding); slice cheese at (46F - Cold Holding) items has in unit at least 24hrs or more. Ambient air in unit reading 46F cold holding. **Warning**

Taj Modern Indian Cuisine

2290 Town Center Ave., Suite 115, Melbourne

Complaint Inspection on Oct. 26

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

19 total violations, with five 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. 0 ppm

  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. All prepared foods

  • High Priority - Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sother proper protection from contamination. Located next to entrance door

  • High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled.employee moved trash and went to work with food without removing gloves and wash hands.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Smoothie 46F

Tgi Fridays

2000 Evans Road, Melbourne

Routine Inspection on Oct. 27

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

Eight total violations, with four 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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 00ppm), operator attempting to prime machine. Setting up triple sink **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Flip top by fryers 12 Egg rolls, chicken wings 10lbs motz sticks 32oz, 8lbs boneless wings, shredded potatoes, 5lbs breaded chicken All items stocked in cooler last night, all items temping in 50F range. Operator discarded **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip top by fryers Egg rolls. (56F - Cold Holding); chicken wings. (53F - Cold Holding); motz sticks (54F - Cold Holding); boneless wings (52F - Cold Holding); shredded potatoes (53F - Cold Holding). Operator states stocked cooler last night, stop sale on all items **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Need to relocate position of backflow to side of splitter with black spray hose attached

Ven Paca Latin Food

1390 S. U.S. 1, Malabar

Routine Inspection on Oct. 24

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

16 total violations, with three high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Ant/roach spray improperly stored, on same shelf with cooking utensils, operator moved. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Raw chicken stored over open bag of plantains **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

  • High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Tested at 200+++ppm, operator diluted until reaching 100ppm **Corrective Action Taken**

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 Florida Today: Melbourne area restaurant and food truck inspections Oct. 23-29: Restaurant inspection: 8 Brevard are perfect; 11 fail