More than a dozen Alachua County restaurants fail food inspections by the state

Staff report
·17 min read

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.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Alachua County, Florida, for the week of July 10-16, 2023. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here. You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name.

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 July 10-16 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which Alachua County restaurants had high-priority violations?

Asian Wok & Grill

3314 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 11

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

Seven total violations, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed a pan of cooked chicken stored on top of the oven, 91-101F. This was placed back in the oven. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Burger Barn

205 N. US 301, Hawthorne

Routine inspection on July 12

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

10 total violations, with five high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee handle personal cell phone with gloved hands, then engage in food prep.

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Two flying insects present during inspection.

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 6.1.23.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In glass door reach in cooler milkshake mix, fish 47-49F. At fliptop cheese 50F. Ice cream mix 57F in top of shake machine. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Wastewater on ground of establishment. Pipe to the left of ordering window not connected, wastewater observed on the ground and drive thru area blocked by employee car. **Warning**

China Star

2120 SW 13 St., Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 10

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

Four total violations, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in the cook line make table: chicken 49, shrimp 47, chicken 44, beef 44, pork 45F, ice will be employed to cool. ALSO, egg rolls in the walk-in cooler 49F. **Warning**

Crybaby's

1 W. University Ave. , Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

20 total violations, with two high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 6/1/2023.

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle with blue liquid inside on prep table.

Davids Real Pit BBQ #2

5121 NW 39th Ave. Suite A, Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

11 total violations, with five high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual ware washing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Three-compartment sink, 200 ppm. Mana added water to sink, 75 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Employee cracked eggs and proceeded to handle to go container without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flies in kitchen area.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Item stored on counter next to grill: cheese (74F - Cold Holding). Manager stated item placed on counter 30 minutes prior to temperature being taken. Item cooked in omelets during inspection. Manager stated going forward item would be held on time. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in warmer across from grill: sausage (118F - Hot Holding); eggs (121F - Hot Holding). Manager stated items prepared 30 minutes prior to temperature being taken. Manager had employee reheat items on grill: sausage (179F - Reheating); eggs (171F - Reheating). **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

El Indio

5011 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville

Food-licensing inspection on July 14

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 foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw beef in reach in cooler in side room, operator moved chicken to the bottom. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. ice cream (57F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler at front counter, cooler had frozen over, unable to tell how long food had been higher than 41F.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. beans (44,45F - Cold Holding); beef (45F - Cold Holding) inside walk in cooler, operator stated truck delivery had arrived a few hours prior to inspection, door left open, items by door. Operator cracked lids. ice cream (57F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler at front counter, cooler had been frozen over, unable to tell how long food had been out, see stop sale. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

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 - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 10ppm. Operator added more bleach and spoke to employees about using cold water instead of hot. 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Flaco's Cuban Bakery and Coffee Spot

200 W. University Ave., Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

One total violation, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection: High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. sour cream (46F - Cold Holding); sausage (45F - Cold Holding); ham (48F - Cold Holding); chicken (45F - Cold Holding); pico (46F - Cold Holding) items placed on ice. Chicken 45F, ham 45-47, sour cream no change, sausage no change. ham (45F - Cold Holding); chicken (47F - Cold Holding) beans (46F - Cold Holding); items more spread out inside cooler and bags cracked open. Retemped chicken 44F, beans no change. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: Sour cream 40, ham 41, tomatoes 42, pico 40. Ropa vieja 41, beans 43, ham 44-45, chicken 41, tempeh 46, pico 40. **Admin Complaint**

Hass Kitchen

1220 W. University Ave., Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

One total violation, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. milk wash (84F - Cold Holding) feta (48F - Cold Holding); salmon (51F - Cold Holding); sour cream (50F - Cold Holding); mushroom paste mix (38F - Cold Holding); cheese (50F - Cold Holding); hummus (49F - Cold Holding) operator added ice to some items and also called cooler tech to come look at cooler. Items in front reach in cooler and front line. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: Feta 40, avo cream 39, milk wash not set up, mushroom paste 45, tomato mix 46. Items were placed on counter so employee could clean cold holding equipment, items placed in reach in cooler. **Admin Complaint** **Corrective Action Taken**

Hawthorne Cafe

6005 SE US Hwy 301, Suite 404, Hawthorne

Routine inspection on July 12

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

Eight total violations, with three high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In fliptop raw shell eggs stored over pickles. Person in charge moved to appropriate location. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Chicken salad made in-house and sauerkraut by GLM Foods with date mark of 6/22, 6/30.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At fliptop on right side, ham, cheese 49-50F. Left side of unit holding items 43F or below. Person in charge states had open to stock recently prepped items. Ambient temperature of unit at 37F. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville

4075 SW 33 Place, Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

Four total violations, with two high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: in the cook line make table: cut tomato 48, shred cheese 47, turkey 48F. These were placed out in that cooler this morning. Nothing is stored in the 2 bottom drawers. The stove is next to this reach-in cooler and was in full use cooking a large amount of beef and vegetables. These items were moved to the freezer for quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken* ALSO, in the walk-in cooler: butter packs 57-60 and cream cheese packs 60F. These were out for service since the start of breakfast, no temperature control. These were discarded. See stop sale. **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed: laundry fresh spray stored on the

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

One total violation, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: in the cook line make table: cut tomato 48, shred cheese 47, turkey 48F. These were placed out in that cooler this morning. Nothing is stored in the 2 bottom drawers. The stove is next to this reach-in cooler and was in full use cooking a large amount of beef and vegetables. These items were moved to the freezer for quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken* ALSO, in the walk-in cooler: butter packs 57-60 and cream cheese packs 60F. These were out for service since the start of breakfast, no temperature control. These were discarded. See stop sale. **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-14: No food was in the make table. Walk-in cooler cream cheese 51F, carry over from breakfast. Cream cheese was discarded. Other items in the walk-in cooler 39F. **Admin Complaint** **Corrected On-Site**

Indian Street Food

3550 SW 34th St. Suite M, Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 12

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

Seven total violations, with two high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed cooked chicken 61F in the left make table.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in the left make table, Chicken 61F. This was above the cold holding area. ALSO, in the right make table sauces 44,47,47; **Warning**

McDonald's - Hawthorne

5615 SE US 301, Hawthorne

Complaint inspection on July 12

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

Seven total violations, with two high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 4 flying insects in kitchen during inspection. **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. Time marks missing from onions, tomatoes, online. Person in charge marked appropriately. **Corrected On-Site**

Mr. Han Restaurant

6944 NW 10th Place, Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

17 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. 0ppm, operator primed line, retested 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Holding fried wonton strips, in container that has hinged lid. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish over peas in walk in cooler, employee placed raw fish with like items. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. spring roll (51F - Cold Holding); duck (53F - Cold Holding); eggroll (52F - Cold Holding); dumplings (54F - Cold Holding); chicken (54F - Cold Holding) reach in cooler across from fryers ice was added to cooler to help with ambient temperature. peas (55F - Cold Holding); pork (51F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler across from wok station, items on top of other items not directly inside cooler. Employee placed in bottom part of cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Degreaser spray bottle hanging next to tongs on spice cart. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross-contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Test strip started to turn back white after turning purple indicating the solution was too strong, employee added water. Retested 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

one total violation, with one high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. spring roll (51F - Cold Holding); duck (53F - Cold Holding); eggroll (52F - Cold Holding); dumplings (54F - Cold Holding); chicken (54F - Cold Holding) reach in cooler across from fryers ice was added to cooler to help with ambient temperature. peas (55F - Cold Holding); pork (51F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler across from wok station, items on top of other items not directly inside cooler. Employee placed in bottom part of cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-14: No time/temperature control for safety food in cooler at time of inspection, technician is to come back to re check cooler and possibly change motor. Peas 32F, eggs at room temperature. **Admin Complaint**

Tacos 352

8181 NW 39th Ave. Suite 30, Gainesville

Routine inspection on July 13

Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

20 total violations, with seven high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Item stored in reach-in cooler behind front counter: beans (46F - Cooling). Manager stated item prepared the day before. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Item stored in reach-in cooler behind front counter: beans (46F - Cooling). Manager stated item prepared the day before. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee entered kitchen and proceeded to pan food items without washing hands. Manager had employee stop and wash hands. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Beef stored in to go bag in reach-in freezer next to kitchen hand washing sink.

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on 6/1/2023.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in reach-in cooler across from oven: cheese (51F - Cold Holding); pork (51F,49F,50F,48F - Cold Holding); chicken (48F - Cold Holding); beef (50F - Cold Holding); lettuce (15 minutes) (68F - Cooling). Manager stated items were at 41F two hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved items to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Container of soap stored above container of sugar. Manager placed soap on floor. **Corrected On-Site**

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: Restaurant, food truck inspections: Gainesville area, July 10-16