This Polk restaurant was temporarily closed by inspectors for the 4th time this year

Andy Kuppers, The Ledger
·5 min read
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A restaurant in Lake Wales was temporarily closed by a state inspector for the fourth time this year for roach and rodent activity on the premises, less than a month after its last closure for the same reason.

Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-Banquet, in the Lake Wales Country Club at 2925 State Road 60 E., was temporarily closed on June 14 after receiving 10 violations, three of which were high priority, according to state inspection reports from June 12 to 25.

Among those high-priority violations, an inspector noted more than 140 rodent droppings throughout the restaurant and a live roach on the floor next to a broken walk-in cooler. The inspector also noted raw beef patties stored over beer in a walk-in cooler.

The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on June 16.

Grriffins received three other emergency orders to close in 2023: On Jan. 18, March 23 and May 24. In all of those cases, inspectors noted issues with live or dead rodents or roaches. The restaurant has been fined $1,500 this year, according to state reports.

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

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation says an inspection report is “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection.” It warns that an inspection isn’t necessarily an indication of day-to-day conditions at the restaurant.

Eighteen other Polk restaurants were issued warnings or administrative complaints in the two-week period, requiring follow-up inspections. Most were for minor violations or clerical-type issues, but two were for violations involving live flies or roaches.

Restaurants receiving warnings for insect activity

  • Winghouse Bar And Grill, 4515 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On June 15, the restaurant received five violations, including a high-priority violation for a single live roach found on a chemical dispenser. An employee killed the roach and sanitized the area, but a warning was issued and a follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met standards on June 19.

  • Mcdonalds Restaurant, 420 Havendale Blvd., Auburndale: On June 15, the restaurant received five violations, mostly basic. The only high-priority violation was for 14 live flies found on lobby windows, according to the state inspection report. The manager removed the flies and sanitized the area. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up the next day.

Three other restaurants were given violations for a small number of flies – no more than 3 – but the restaurants otherwise met inspection standards. One other restaurant, China Garden at 6027 Cypress Gardens Blvd. in Winter Haven received a violation for eight dead roaches on the premises, but also met inspections standards with only three basic violations.

May 29 to June 11 13 Polk restaurants log perfect inspections. 19 are warned, only 2 for insect activity

May 15-28 3 Polk restaurants temporarily closed by inspectors, one for the 3rd time this year

May 1-14 2 Polk restaurants closed temporarily after inspections in early May. 10 were perfect

Twenty restaurants log perfect initial inspections

Twenty Polk restaurants had perfect initial inspections with zero violations during the two-week period.

  • Tacos La Zacatecana, mobile food vendor based at 547 E. Bridges Ave., Auburndale.

  • Coach Eddies Backyard BBQ, mobile food vendor based at 900 Old Combee Road, Lakeland.

  • Nana's Dawg House And More LLC, mobile food vendor based at 1401 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland.

  • Fabio's Catering, mobile food vendor based at 2255 U.S. 17-92 N., Haines City.

  • Purple Panda Creamery, 502 E. Main St. (Catapult building), Lakeland.

  • The Baked Butcher, 502 E. Main St., Ste 1 (Catapult building), Lakeland.

  • Arepazo Grill, mobile food vendor based at 830 N. Massachusetts Ave. Ste A, Lakeland.

  • Manna International Street Food, mobile food vendor based at 3662 Harden Ave., Lakeland.

  • Salt & Light Kitchen, caterer at 502 E Main St. (Catapult building), Lakeland.

  • Pizza Hut, 865 State Road 559 Ste 106, Auburndale.

  • Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland.

  • Sendero Tropical, mobile food vendor based at 2701 Swindell Road, Lakeland.

  • Neighbor's Restaurant, 621 Magnolia Ave., Auburndale.

  • Chaufa Mania, mobile food vendor based at 701 E. Main St., Haines City.

  • Mcdonald's Restaurant 40576, 49561 U.S. 27 N., Davenport.

  • Mixon's Beef Jerky, mobile food vendor based at 4808 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland.

  • Vietnamese Pho and Egg Rolls, mobile food vendor based at 730 Combee Road, Lakeland.

  • Taqueria Del Angel, 502 E. Main St. (Catapult building), Lakeland.

  • Rajbhog Foods NJ, caterer, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland.

  • Taqueria Mi Preferida, 2701 Swindell Road, Lakeland.

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 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: Inspections: Polk eatery closed for 4th time in 2023. 20 are perfect