One Martin County restaurant gets perfect score; 5 fail inspection

Staff reports
·10 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 Martin County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Martin County, Florida, for the week of Oct. 9-15, 2023. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.

St. Lucie County: One restaurant gets perfect score; 8 fail inspection

Indian River County: 6 restaurants fail inspection

All things food: New restaurants, reviews, inspections & best bets for all occasions

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 Martin County restaurant inspection site.

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

These restaurants met all standards during their Oct. 9-15 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which Martin County restaurants had high priority violations?

Casa Tequila Stuart LLC

1725 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart

Complaint Inspection on Oct. 12

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

6 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw chicken over steak at walk in freezer , both products not in commercial packaging. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed Opened milk at reach in cooler on server expo line. Per operator, unsure when milk was opened. Best by date 9/22. See stop sale.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On shallow ice bath: shredded cheese (58F - Cold Holding) Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, out of temperature for 15 minutes. Operator submerged in deep ice bath and reduced amount of cheese in container. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed Sanitizer tablets and cleaning powder over bins of rice and beans by dish area. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Cracker Barrel #500

4101 Federal Hwy, Jensen Beach

Routine Inspection on Oct. 11

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

6 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw beef country fried steak over blueberries at reach in freezer cook line. Both products opened from commercial packaging. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed Raw Chicken and broccoli casserole over shredded cabbage at walk in cooler. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. sliced cheddar and American cheese (50F - Cold Holding) Observed at reach in cooler on cook line. Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, held in reach in cooler overnight. See stop sale.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. sliced cheddar and American cheese (50F - Cold Holding) Observed at reach in cooler on cook line. Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, held in reach in cooler overnight. See stop sale. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. mashed potatoes (120F - Hot Holding) Observed at hot holding unit in back prep area. Per operator, out of temperature for 1 hour. Operator placed back in oven to bring up to 135+F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Lola's Seafood Eatery

300 SW Federal Hwy, Stuart

Complaint Inspection on Oct. 9

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

8 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw chicken not in commercial packaging over conch white chest freezer in dry storage. Observed Raw clams and raw calamari not in commercial packaging over chocolate cake , raw clams and salmon not in commercial packaging over French fries white reach in freezers behind cook line. Educated operator on proper storage procedures.

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed Raw shell egg wash over pickled ginger and wasabi reach in cooler by fryer. Observed Raw fish and scallops over cut lettuce at walk in cooler. Observed Raw salmon over artichokes reach in cooler by flat top. Operator stored all products properly. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler car from flat top: diced tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding); feta (63F - Cold Holding); corn salsa (62F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (60F - Cold Holding); cooked peppers and onions (59F - Cold Holding); shredded cabbage (65F - Cold Holding); tuna (47F - Cold Holding); salmon (47F - Cold Holding); cooked lobster (48F - Cold Holding); mussels (52F - Cold Holding); clams (52F - Cold Holding); butter (47F - Cold Holding); Cole slaw (52F - Cold Holding) Per operator, all products not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, all products held in cooler since 11am. See stop sale.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler car from flat top: diced tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding); feta (63F - Cold Holding); corn salsa (62F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (60F - Cold Holding); cooked peppers and onions (59F - Cold Holding); shredded cabbage (65F - Cold Holding); tuna (47F - Cold Holding); salmon (47F - Cold Holding); cooked lobster (48F - Cold Holding); mussels (52F - Cold Holding); clams (52F - Cold Holding); butter (47F - Cold Holding); Cole slaw (52F - Cold Holding) Per operator, all products not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, all products held in cooler since 11am. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed Hand soap, bleach and fryer cleaner stored next to seasonings on wire rack by back door. Advised operator to move seasonings to another shelf away from chemicals.

Red Lobster #0461

3544 NW Federal Hwy, Jensen Beach

Complaint Inspection on Oct. 9

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

9 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw shrimp over French fries at tall stainless reach in freezer cook line. All products not in commercial packaging. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed Raw fish over cooked crab at tall stainless reach in cooler at cook line. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. shredded cheddar (52F - Cold Holding) Observed resting above ice bath at server expo area. Advised operator to ensure product is fully submerged in ice bath. Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, out of temperature approximately 30 minutes. Operator fully submerged in ice bath. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed lack of Vacuum breaker at mop sink, splitter and hose attached. **Warning**

Zaxbys

4200 NW Federal Hwy, Jensen Beach

Routine Inspection on Oct. 11

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

4 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in at cook line: hard boiled eggs (46F - Cold Holding); shredded cheddar (45F - Cold Holding) Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, held in excess of 4 hours. See stop sale. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in at cook line: hard boiled eggs (46F - Cold Holding); shredded cheddar (45F - Cold Holding) Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, held in excess of 4 hours. See stop sale. Pull out drawer at grill: chicken (49F - Cold Holding) Reach in at cook line: sliced American cheese (48F - Cold Holding); white American cheese (49F - Cold Holding) Per operator, not prepared or portioned today. Per operator, out of temperature for 3 hours. Operator placed ice packs on chicken. Operator placed sliced cheeses in tall stainless reach in cooler across from cook line. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. fried pickles (115F - Hot Holding); fried cheddar bites (122F - Hot Holding) Observed at hot holding pan on cook line. Per operator, out of temperature for approximately 15 minutes. Operator discarded products. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

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 Treasure Coast Newspapers: Stuart area restaurant and food truck inspections Oct. 9-15: Restaurant inspection: One Martin is perfect; 5 fail