Six Sarasota area restaurants get high-priority violations, 13 ace inspections

Staff report
·7 min read

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 or caterers, listed in alphabetical order, passed their inspections Dec. 17-23 with zero violations:

  • Casama, 1272 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota

  • Domino's, 7610 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota

  • Focaccia Sandwich and Bakery, 2300 Bee Ridge Road 207, Sarasota

  • Hobson’s Choice BBQ, 6592 Superior Ave., Sarasota

  • Jet's Pizza, 8721 State Road 70 E., Bradenton

  • Maharaja Indian Food Truck, 5920 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton

  • Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, 257 N. Cattlemen Road #85, Sarasota

  • Miller’s Coffee Company, 3303 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota

  • Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 1731 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton

  • Shaz Shack, 6521 Superior Ave., Venice

  • Tatum Ridge Golf Links, 421 Tatum Road N., Sarasota

  • Tortilleria La Rancherita, 710 13th St. W., Palmetto

  • Umai, 6592 Superior Ave., Sarasota

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 Dec. 17-23:

Calusa Lakes Golf Club

1995 Calusa Lakes Blvd., Nokomis

Dec. 20

Follow-up needed: Warning issued.

Three total violations, with two high-priority violations:

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed raw ground beef (49F - cold holding); deli ham (47F - cold holding); blue cheese crumbles (47F - cold holding); raw chicken (49F - cold holding); deli roast beef (49F - cold holding); coleslaw (47F - cold holding); tuna salad (46F - cold holding); sliced cheese (53F - cold holding); deli turkey (49F - cold holding); cut lettuce (54F - cold holding) in the reach-in cooler on the cook line. The operator stated the above items have been held overnight. The operator discarded the above food products. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed raw ground beef (49F - cold holding); deli ham (47F - cold holding); blue cheese crumbles (47F - cold holding); raw chicken (49F - cold holding); deli roast beef (49F - cold holding); coleslaw (47F - cold holding); tuna salad (46F - cold holding); sliced cheese (53F - cold holding); deli turkey (49F - cold holding); cut lettuce (54F - cold holding) in the reach-in cooler on the cook line. The operator stated the above items have been held overnight. The operator discarded the above food products. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Calusa Lakes Golf Club

1995 Calusa Lakes Blvd., Nokomis

Dec. 21

Call back — complied. Zero violations.

China 1

12189 Mercado Drive, Venice

Dec. 19

Call back — administrative complaint recommended. Follow-up needed.

Eight total violations, with one high-priority violation:

  • High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-19: Observed chicken, shrimp and beef over containers of sauces, cooked chicken and prepared vegetables in walk-in cooler. **Admin Complaint**

Italiano's

4191 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice

Dec. 20

Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.

Ten total violations, with two 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. 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. Observed operator set up three compartment sink with chlorine sanitizer at 100 parts per million for dishware sanitation. Repeat 8-3-23 **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • 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 pizza by the slice not time marked. Employee stated pizza was removed from oven and placed out for sale one hour prior. Observed employee time mark pizza. Repeat 8-3-23 **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**

The Original Wolfie's and Rascal House

1420 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota

Dec. 22

Follow-up needed: Warning issued.

Ten total violations, with four high-priority violations:

  • High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Employee medicine stored on a shelf in the front counter area next to food. Manager removed the medicine. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handled dirty dishes then cleaned a meat slicer, and placed back in the kitchen to be used without washing their hands. Employee washed their hands and sanitized the meat sliced. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked beef (61F - cold holding) stored at room temperature next to the slicer in the kitchen. Employee stated the beef had been at room temperature for approximately one hour. Employee placed the beef in the reach-in cooler. Half and half (51F - cold holding) stored on ice in the front counter area. Manager stated the half and half was stored on ice for approximately two hours. Manager placed the item in the reach-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottles containing cleaning fluid stored next to liquor bottles and single service cups in the bar area. Manager removed the bottles. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Sun Garden Cafe

210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota

Dec. 21

Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.

Six 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. Observed dishwashing machine chlorine at 0ppm. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in reach-in cooler on cook line ambient 50F; cold holding egg mix 49F, egg white mix 50F, sausage 49F, cut tomatoes 49F. Manager iced food products and called for service. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the Manager. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Sun Garden Cafe

210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota

Dec. 22

Call back — complied. Met inspection standards.

Manatee County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations:

The following food trucks, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections Dec. 17-23:

Angela's Kitchen

1707 First St., Bradenton

Dec. 20

Call back — administrative complaint recommended. Follow-up needed.

Six total violations, with two high-priority violations:

  • High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-20: Employee handled a phone and cash and then put on gloves to cook without washing their hands. Instructed operator to wash their hands, **Admin Complaint** **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-20: Observed raw bacon over ready-to-eat cheese and bread in the reach-in cooler. Operator placed bacon on the bottom shelf. **Admin Complaint** **Corrected On-Site**

Hungry Street Bradenton

5308 44th St. E., Bradenton

Dec. 18

Call back — administrative complaint recommended. Follow-up needed.

One high-priority violation:

High Priority - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-18: Observed raw eggs over ready-to-eat yogurt in the standing reach-in cooler shelves. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Admin Complaint**

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Inspections: Sarasota area restaurants get high-priority violations