Polk County restaurant ordered to close for 5th time this year because of rodent droppings

Andy Kuppers, Lakeland Ledger
·8 min read
10

Twenty-two Polk County restaurants received perfect initial inspections during the two-week period from Aug. 7 to 20. But one restaurant continued a string of bad inspections.

Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar in the Lake Wales Country Club was temporarily closed by state inspectors for the fifth time this year on Aug. 15 because of rodent activity.

The restaurant, at 2925 State Road 60 E, Lake Wales, was previously closed on Jan. 19, March 23, May 24 and June 14. In all of those cases, inspectors noted rodent droppings, as well as dead rodents and roaches, and in one instance live roaches. State inspection reports show a total of $1,500 in fines levied against the restaurant this year.

In the most recent inspection, the restaurant had only three total violations, but one was a high-priority violation for 21 rodent droppings found. An employee cleaned and sanitized the areas. The following day, the restaurant met standards in a follow-up inspection.

>> INTERACTIVE: Explore all restaurant inspections in Polk County.

Grriffins was the only Polk County restaurant temporarily closed by inspectors from Aug. 7 to 20. And it was the only restaurant in Polk that received violations for rodents during that period, according to state reports.

But 47 others received warnings or administrative complaints for a wide variety of violations. Those ranged from failing to follow best practices for food safety or cleanliness, to broken or poorly functioning equipment, to more clerical items such as licensing or training issues.

Of those 47 restaurants, nine received violations related to insects.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation says that an inspection report is “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection” and it isn’t necessarily a sign of the restaurant’s normal state.

July 24 to Aug. 6 14 Polk restaurants log perfect inspections. Five warned for insect or rodent activity

Restaurants warned for insect activity

These restaurants were given warnings or administrative complaints for violations that included insect activity.

  • Applebees Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 4835 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 7, the restaurant received an administrative complaint for five violations, three of which were high priority. Among those, the inspector noted 11 live flies in in various parts of the kitchen and a live roach on shelving in the dish pit. The other was for several food items that were stored at a temperature higher than 41 degrees: Parmesan cheese, cheddar, cooked chicken, raw chicken and cooked rice. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up inspection two days later.

  • Bonefish Grill, 225 W. Pipkin Road, Lakeland: On Aug. 8, the restaurant was given an administrative complaint for seven violations, two of which were high priority. The inspector noted two live flies at the bar, three live roaches and four dead roaches at various spots throughout the facility. The restaurant met standards two days later.

  • Carrabba's Italian Grill, 4829 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 7, the restaurant received a warning for 13 violations, including two high priority. The inspector noted one dead roach on the floor (a basic violation) and one live fly on the mop sink (high priority). The second high-priority violation was for a dented can of artichokes, for which a stop sale was issued. A follow-up inspection was required, but as of Friday, it wasn’t logged in state reports.

  • Miller's Lakeland Ale House, 5650 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 16, the restaurant received a warning for eight violations, including one high priority. An inspector noted two live flies on the cook line and eight in the dish area. The report also noted one dead roach, a basic violation. A follow-up is required, but as of Friday, no follow-up inspection was recorded in state reports.

  • Grillsmith, 1569 Town Center Drive, Lakeland: On Aug. 10, the restaurant had an administrative complaint recommended after it received six violation, three high priority. Among those, the inspector noted 16 live flies. Another high-priority violation was for cooked pasta that was stored at a temperature higher than 41 degrees. The last one was for cooked rice and cauliflower that weren’t held above 135 degrees. The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 14 with no violations.

  • Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar Grill, 3635 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 9, the restaurant received a warning for four violation, two of which were high priority. One of those was for five live flies in the mop sink area. Also, the inspector noted queso, cooked beef and cooked pork that was held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. Those violations were corrected before a follow-up inspection the next day. But another follow-up was required for an intermediate violation involving renovations that were made without submitting a plan for approval.

  • Azteca D' Oro, 1235 Parkway Frontage N., Lakeland: On Aug. 14, the restaurant received nine violations, two of which were high priority. Among those, one was for two live flies found in the bar area and one on a floor drain near the cook line. The other high-priority violation was for cold foods stored at temperatures above 41 degrees: sour cream, cream, raw chicken, salmon and cut lettuce. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up inspection two days later.

  • BD's Mongolian Grill, 1474 Town Center Drive, Lakeland: On Aug. 18, the restaurant received eight violations, one of which was high priority. The inspector noted 14 live flies on a wooden sneeze guard leg on the protein buffet, seven live flies on a sign at the bar and 10 on a soda gun at bar. A follow-up inspection is required, but as of Friday, no follow-up was recorded in state reports.

  • Chili's Grill & Bar, 3750 Lakeside Village Court, Lakeland: On Aug. 14, the restaurant had five violation, including two high priority. An inspector noted four live flies on a back prep table and a dish machine chlorine sanitizer that wasn’t at a proper minimum strength. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up two days later.

July 3-23 2 Polk County restaurants closed for a day by inspectors, one for insect violations

Perfect initial inspections

These 22 Polk restaurants received perfect initial inspection – with zero violations – during the two-week period.

  • Las Katrachitas, mobile food vendor at 724 N. Wabash Ave., Lakeland

  • Jimmy Johns, 1105 3 St. SW, Winter Haven

  • Omusubee, caterer at 502 E. Main St., Lakeland

  • Paraiso, mobile food vendor at 232 S. 1 St., Lake Wales

  • Chipotle Mexican Grill 4657, 35648 U.S. 27 N., Haines City

  • Julio's Sandwich Shop LLC, 4525 S. Florida Ave. Ste. 33, Lakeland

  • Sushi Masa Seafood & Japanese Fusion, 5700 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

  • Delectable Delights, 245 W. Central Ave. Ste. 300, Winter Haven

  • Rodney's Funtime Concessions, mobile food vendor at 2530 Panfish Drive, Lake Wales

  • Jurleen's Kitchen, caterer at 502 E. Main St., Lakeland

  • Taqueria My Friend Inc., mobile food vendor at 3899 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven

  • Mi Casita Hot Dogs, mobile food vendor at 3979 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland

  • Taco My Friend #2, mobile food vendor at 3899 Recker Highway, Winter Haven

  • Cuppa Eden, 1133 First St. S., Winter Haven

  • Classic Caterers, 312 Ridge Manor Drive, Lake Wales

  • Happy Fruit Delights LLC, 300 N Charleston Ave., Fort Meade

  • Taqueria El Campesino, mobile food vendor at 302 E. Main St., Dundee

  • Willie's Inn, 221 Florida Ave., Dundee

  • Aaron's Chi-Town Food, mobile food vendor, 301 Commerce Court, Winter Haven

  • Food+Beer, 3615 S. Florida Ave. Ste. 1350, Lakeland

  • Tacos Amigo #2, mobile food vendor at 547 E. Bridgers Ave., Auburndale

  • Wingstop, 130 Kersey St., Davenport

Keep in mind as you read

Remember that in some cases, violations are noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Remember, too, that broken refrigerators, chipped tiles or fast work may add up to unintended mistakes.

Regardless, if you notice abuses of state standards, report them and DBPR will send inspectors. Call 1-850-487-1395.

The terminology

What does all that terminology in state 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 and the establishment may reopen only after inspection shows that all high-priority violations that caused the suspension are corrected.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 22 Polk restaurants log perfect inspections. One closes for 5th time