14 Lee County restaurants get perfect scores; 20 fail inspection

Staff reports
·12 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 Lee County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Lee County, Florida, for the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2024. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.

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 Lee County restaurant inspection site.

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

These restaurants met all standards during their Jan. 29-Feb. 4 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which Lee County restaurants had high priority violations?

Arepa Express Swfl

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Jan. 29

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

6 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed operator changed task from cashier to prep and put gloves without washing her hand. Discussed about proper hand washing procedures. Operator washed her hand, after put gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Mobile food dispensing vehicle's potable water hose not constructed of food-grade material. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed In silver reach-in cooler by prep area;; roasted pork (47F - Cold Holding); mozzarella (49F - Cold Holding); cheddar (48F - Cold Holding); raw beef (48F - Cold Holding) for 4 hours per operator. Cooling unit was turned off, operator turned back on. Operator immediately submerged all potentially hazardous foods in ice bath for rapid cooling, within 10 minutes all foods reached a temperature of 41F or below. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker outside of food truck connected to hose. **Warning**

Burntwood Tavern

13499 S Cleveland Ave #241, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Jan. 31

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

16 total violations, with 6 high-priority violations

  • 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. Observed bartender grabbed dog plate pick up ice with cocktail shaker and fill up dog plate with ice and water, retuned to his duty without hand washing. Discussed operator proper hand washing, sanitizing equipment. Bartender washed his hands and sanitized cocktail shaker. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed triple sink at bar sanitation compartment has 0ppm quaternary. Operator stated replacing water with proper amount of quaternary. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed in walk-in cooler raw ground beef over calamari and raw egg. Operator removed to proper storage. Repeat 9/13/23**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed reach-in cooler at cook-line by kitchen entrance, raw chicken (50F - Cold Holding); raw pork (48F - Cold Holding); diced tomatoes (46F - Cold Holding); beef (44F - Cold Holding). Per operator items have been set 3 hours before time of Inspection. Operator removed some items to walk in cooler, and rest was covered with ice bags for quick cooling. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemicals stored over waffles maker. Operator stated waffle maker is damaged and waiting for service. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Mop sink in kitchen has no vacuum breaker.

Corona Cantina

11902 Bonita Beach Rd Ste B3a-5a, Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on Feb. 2

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

2 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 12/01/23. **Admin Complaint**

El Basque

25245 Chamber Of Commerce Dr Bay 7, Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 30

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

7 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Operator updated license online. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Roasted peppers 45F cold hold, raw scallops 45F cold hold less than 4 hours. Operator turned down reach in cooler and closed lid. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Fig's Grille

25987 S Tamiami Trl #109, Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 29

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

2 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • 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. Operator set up three compartment sink for manual ware washing. Triple Sink (Chlorine 100ppm) **Warning**

Flavor on Wheels

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Jan. 29

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

3 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

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

Lake House Restaurant

3401 Bay Commons Dr, Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on Feb. 2

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

6 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • 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 chlorine concentration at 0 ppm. Operator changed and primed sanitizer. Operator called technician. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

La Quintica Don Taco

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Jan. 30

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

8 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

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

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef over ready to eat rice in stand up reach-in cooler. The manager moved raw beef to bottom shelf in stand up reach-in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Lazy Flamingo Iii Inc

16501 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia

Routine Inspection on Feb. 2

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

8 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw grouper and raw triple tail over ready to eat ribs in reach-in cooler across from cook line.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed raw chicken (48F - Cold Holding); raw steak (47F - Cold Holding); raw grouper (51F - Cold Holding) in reach-in cooler across from cook line. The chef placed ice on all raw products. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Masons Famous Lobster Rolls

2122 First St, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Jan. 30

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

8 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license as expired as of 12-01-2023. **Warning**

Slurping Dragon

5631 Six Mile Commerical Ct #8-9, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Jan. 31

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

14 total violations, with 5 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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 00ppm); Operator changed sanitizer container Dishwasher (Chlorine 100ppm) **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee used cell phone and drank beverage and returned to work without washing hands. Discussed with operator the need for and observed proper hand washing. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Raw shelled gags stored on cook make table eggs (ambient) (51 F - Cold Holding). Operator stated eggs had been removed from refrigeration less than one hour prior. Operator returned eggs to refrigeration to cool. Also provided operator with Time As Public Health Control Form. . Repeat from 01-20-023 As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the operator. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On cooks line beef (53 F - Cold Holding); chicken (51 F - Cold Holding); pork (52 F - Cold Holding). Per operator food had just been removed from refrigeration. Provided operator with and discussed Time As Public Health Control. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray cans stored on shelf with food. Operator moved all chemicals **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Stan's Super Subs and Deli

26880 Old Us 41 Unit 3, Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 29

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

8 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license expired 12/01/23. Educated operator on updating license. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed spray chemical stored on top of reach in cooler near slicer. Operator removed chemical. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Tequila's Mexican Bar and Grille

13731 S Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Feb. 1

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

12 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. High temp dishwasher machine Dishwasher (Temperature 146.7) after three attempts at the surface of the place. Operator set up three compartment sink for sanitizing. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Cleaning chemicals stored on top of dish machine. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

The Eagle's Nest Restaurant

10880 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia

Routine Inspection on Feb. 2

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

4 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw hamburgers over ready to eat hush puppies and French Fries. The operator moved raw hamburgers on bottom shelf under the ready to eat hush puppies and French Fries. **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 Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers, Cape restaurant, food truck inspections Jan. 29-Feb. 4