Inspections: Live roaches, rodent droppings temporarily close Sarasota area restaurants
Our digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with the latest information on which Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice area restaurants passed or failed.
You can use the database to search by Sarasota or Manatee County or by restaurant name. You can see which restaurants were fined and which were forced into temporary closure.
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.
Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.
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Sarasota-Manatee best restaurant inspections
The following restaurants, food trucks and caterers, listed in alphabetical order, passed their inspections March 17-23 with zero violations:
The Breakfast Company, 8491 Cooper Creek Blvd. Unit 107, University Park
Dog Friendly, 113 Tampa Ave. W., Venice
El Phat Distro, 2801 14th St. W. Ste A, Bradenton
Fritovarela, 6051 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota
Godson's Pizza House, 3306 W. Manatee Ave., Bradenton
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nokomis Sarasota South, 206 Albee Road W., Nokomis
Hot Dog Triplets A, 3326 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
Jimmy John's, 5300 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
McDonald’s, 6708 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
Original Word of Mouth, 115 W. Dearborn St., Englewood
The Sophisticated Sandwich, 3413 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
Traila Latina504, 1205 Ninth St. W., Bradenton
Vino Bistro, 1419 Fifth St., Sarasota
Wendy's, 295 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey
Sarasota County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations:
The following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections March 17-23:
Art Ovation Hotel
1255 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota
March 21
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Seven total violations, with three high-priority violations:
High Priority - Fish not held frozen before, during and after being packaged onsite using a reduced oxygen packaging method. See stop sale. Establishment packaged onsite using a reduced oxygen packaging for raw thawed grouper, tuna and snapper. Chef discarded the items. **Warning**
High Priority - Stop sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Establishment packaged onsite using a reduced oxygen packaging for raw thawed grouper, tuna and snapper. Chef discarded the items. **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle containing cleaning fluid stored next to clean equipment on a preparation table in the back kitchen area. Employee removed the bottle. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Drunken Poet Cafe
1572 Main St., Sarasota
March 21
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Nine 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. Sanitizer dishmachine reading 00ppm chlorine. Manager stopped using the dishmachine, set up the three compartment sink to properly sanitize equipment until the dishmachine is repaired, and called the technician. **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw tuna stored over washed, peeled and cut avocados in the reach-in cooler on the sushi line. Employee removed the tuna. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Wiping cloth sanitizer reading +200ppm. Manager replaced the sanitizer new reading 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
Meadows Pub
5013 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota
March 20
Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.
Six total violations, with two high-priority violations:
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee began work then started to scoop ice without washing their hands. Employee sanitized the ice scoop and washed their hands. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
The Old Salty Dog
1485 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
March 22
Emergency order recommended: Facility temporarily closed.
Twenty-one total violations, with six 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 dishwasher machine at 000 parts per million chlorine sanitizer. Informed operator they can use dishwasher machine to wash dishes and equipment but must set up three compartment sink for sanitizing dishes and equipment. after washing. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 12 small flying insects at bar area by garage can. **Warning**
High Priority - Observed multiple cans of pesticide labeled for household use only present in establishment in office. **Warning**
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed five live roaches on wall by cracked coping behind salad prep station. Observed one live roach behind ice machine. **Warning**
High Priority - Roach excrement and/or droppings present. Observed electrical socket on wall behind slicer machine has have buildup of roach droppings on it. **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed spray bottle of cleaning chemical on shelf at wait station above soda machine next to clean glass. Observed operator move items. Repeat 11-9-23 **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
The Old Salty Dog
1485 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
March 23
Emergency order callback complied. Met inspection standards.
Manatee County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations:
The following restaurants and food trucks, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections March 17-23:
Bortell's Lounge
10002 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria
March 20
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Eight total violations, with one high-priority violation:
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs over ready-to-eat cheese and olive oil. Operator removed eggs. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Hugo II
645 Cedars Ct., Longboat Key
March 21
Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.
Four total violations, with two high-priority violations:
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Operators working with an expired license. Operators are having issues with the website and are planning on calling in to renew. **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw chicken stored over ready-to-eat noodles in the produce reach-in cooler. Operator moved the noodles. **Corrected On-Site**
Kelsey's
7020 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
March 18
Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.
Thirteen total violations, with six high-priority violations:
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands — food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved alternative operating procedure. Observed in main kitchen area employee put burger bun on serving plate with bare hand. Bun temperature was 114F. Educated person in charge on employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands — food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved alternative operating procedure. Employee discarded bun and washed hands and put on clean gloves. **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Person in charge updated license while inspection was open. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed in walk-in cooler in main kitchen area raw bacon and raw shell eggs over pickle buckets. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout. Person in charge removed pickles. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. Gave person in charge handout of future legal action. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds seven days after opening/preparation. Observed in walk-in cooler beef chili date marked 3/10/24. Educated person in charge on ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds seven days after opening/preparation. Person in charge voluntarily discarded beef chili. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Stop sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed in main kitchen area employee put burger bun on serving plate with bare hand. Bun temperature was 114F. Educated person in charge on employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands — food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved alternative operating Procedure. Employee discarded bun and washed hands and put on clean gloves.
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed on cooks line cooked chicken wings (75F - cold holding.) Person in charge stated that they had been out of the cooler for approximately one hour and placed them back in the walk-in cooler. Educated person in charge on time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. **Corrective Action Taken**
Longbeach Cafe
6836 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key
March 20
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Seven total violations, with three high-priority violations:
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw sausage stored over uncooked potatoes in the left side reach-in cooler. Operator moved the sausage. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 25 dry rodent droppings behind and underneath the ice machine on the floor of the dry storage. Dry storage area has two reach-in coolers and is next to the rear exit and 20 feet from the kitchen. Operator stated that they did have a problem a couple months ago and showed me the report stating that vermin control caught two rats. Operator stated they could not move the ice machine to clean behind and are waiting for the company to take it to be replaced. **Warning**
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed sanitizer bucket at 200ppm chlorine. Operator emptied the bucket out and remade it to 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Longbeach Cafe
6836 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key
March 21
Call back — complied. Met inspection standards.
Mr. Taco
3326 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
March 21
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Five total violations, with two high-priority violations:
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Person in charge paid for license while inspection was open. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed in upright reach-in cooler raw shell eggs over whole cream and cheese. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and printed a copy to person in charge. Person in charge removed raw shell eggs. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Polo Crab House
3020 15th St. E., Bradenton
March 19
Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.
Fourteen total violations, with two high-priority violations:
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed in reach-in cooler in main kitchen area raw seafood over cooked potato. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout. Person in charge removed seafood. **Corrected On-Site**
The Porch Restaurant
9707 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria
March 22
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Nine total violations, with three high-priority violations:
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed a container of pain relief creams stored next to food and above a prep station on the cook line. Operator removed the container. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Stop sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in the far left reach-in cooler on the cook line: chicken (50F - cold holding.) Operator stated the chicken had been left there overnight. Operator willingly disposed of the product. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in the far left reach-in cooler on the cook line: chicken (50F - cold holding); fish (53F - cold holding); beef (53F - cold holding). Operator stated that the chicken was in there overnight and that the rest of the food was in there for approximately three hours. Operator willingly disposed of the chicken and placed all the other foods on ice. Observed in the right side make table on the cook line: hard-boiled eggs (47F - cold holding); sliced cheese (47F - cold holding). Operator stated that the items had been there for approximately three hours. Operator placed items on ice. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
Salem's Fresh Eats
5635 14th St. W., Bradenton
March 22
Call back — administrative complaint recommended. Follow-up needed.
Three total violations, with one high-priority violation:
High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-22: Observed in front kitchen area butter blend 80F. Person in charge stated that it had been on the food preparation table for approximately two hours and placed it back in reach-in cooler As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Admin Complaint**
Sara Bay Country Club
7011 Willow St., Sarasota
March 18
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Fourteen total violations, with two high-priority violations:
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed butter at 78 degrees held on countertop. Operator discarded. **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed cleaning chemicals stored near food. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
Solorzano’s Pizzeria
5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive Unit 4, Longboat Key
March 21
Emergency order recommended: Facility temporarily closed.
Eight total violations, with three high-priority violations:
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over ready-to-eat cheese in the back reach-in cooler. Operator moved the eggs. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately three rodent droppings on a shelf with chemicals and approximately five rodent droppings below them in the back corner of the warewashing area. Warewashing area is approximately 10 feet from the food prep area. Operator is currently cleaning the area. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. See stop sale. Observed pizzas on the front counter not time marked. Operator stated they had been out for approximately one hour. Operator marked items appropriately. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Solorzano’s Pizzeria
5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive Unit 4, Longboat Key
March 22
Emergency order callback complied. Met inspection standards.
Spot Tacos and More
2303 First St., Bradenton
March 22
Follow-up needed: Warning issued.
Six total violations, with four high-priority violations:
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. Observed in reach-in cooler in back kitchen area: cooked beef (54F - cooling); cooked pork (52F - cooling); in-house roasted red pepper and garlic sauce (51F - cooling). Person in charge stated it was placed in reach-in cooler on 3/21/2024. Educated person in charge on cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout in English and Spanish. Person in charge voluntarily discarded all food items. **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed in reach-in cooler in back kitchen area raw beef steak over flour tortilla shells and cheese. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout in English and Spanish. Person in charge removed raw beef. Observed in front kitchen reach-in cooler raw pork over cooked deli ham. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout in English and Spanish. Person in charge removed raw pork. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed in reach-in cooler in front kitchen area raw ground beef over beef steak and pork steak. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout in English and Spanish. Person in charge removed raw ground beef. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Stop sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in reach-in cooler in back kitchen area: cooked beef (54F - cooling); cooked pork (52F - cooling); in-house roasted red pepper and garlic sauce (51F - cooling). Person in charge stated it was placed in reach-in cooler on 3/21/2024. Educated person in charge on cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout in English and Spanish. Person in charge voluntarily discarded all food items. **Warning**
Sushi Hana
4274 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton
March 21
Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.
Nine total violations, with four high-priority violations:
High Priority - Raw shell egg in use with cracks shell in reach-in cooler across from wok station. Person in charge voluntarily discarded egg.
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed in reach-in cooler across from wok station raw shell eggs over cooked dumplings and washed produce. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout in English, Spanish and Chinese. Person in charge removed raw shell eggs. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in front kitchen sushi area raw fish roe (53F - cold holding.) Educated person in charge on time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Person in charge stated in had been out of reach-in cooler for approximately 30 minutes and placed back in reach-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed in main kitchen area grease cutter stored on food preparation table. Person in charge removed chemical and washed table. **Corrected On-Site**
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Inspections: Roaches, rodent droppings close Sarasota area restaurants
