5 Lee County restaurants perfect; 10 fail inspection with high-priority violations

Staff reports
·9 min read

You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name.

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 Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2023. 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 Aug. 28-Sept. 3 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?

Annie's Restaurant

814 SE 47 St, Cape Coral

Routine Inspection on Sept. 1

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

17 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed container of raw ground beef stored over container of Parmesan cheese in walk in cooler. Operator switched raw beef to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed tuna salad 48F cold hold, sliced tomatoes 50F cold hold less than 4 hours in reach in cooler on other side of cook line. Operator turned down reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Bogey's

11481 Grande Oak Blvd, Estero

Food-Licensing Inspection Inspection on Aug. 28

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

2 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed 6 cups fresh salsa (58F - Cold Holding); 4 cups pineapple relish (58F - Cold Holding); 4 pounds shredded cheese (48F - Cold Holding); 2 cups corn relish (55F - Cold Holding); 1 cp sautéed mushrooms (53F - Cold Holding); 2 sliced green peppers (50F - Cold Holding); 3 sliced red onions (58F - Cold Holding); 3 sliced raw tomatoes (58F - Cold Holding); 5 pounds sliced cheese (58F - Cold Holding); 10 pounds raw ground beef (58F - Cold Holding); 6 pounds hot dogs (50F - Cold Holding); 6 pounds bratwurst (51F - Cold Holding); 1.5 pounds cooked sausage Pattie's (53F) . Operator discarded products. all food in reach in cooler over 4 hours. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed 6 cups fresh salsa (58F - Cold Holding); 4 cups pineapple relish (58F - Cold Holding); 4 pounds shredded cheese (48F - Cold Holding); 2 cups corn relish (55F - Cold Holding); 1 cp sautéed mushrooms (53F - Cold Holding); 2 sliced green peppers (50F - Cold Holding); 3 sliced red onions (58F - Cold Holding); 3 sliced raw tomatoes (58F - Cold Holding); 5 pounds sliced cheese (58F - Cold Holding); 10 pounds raw ground beef (58F - Cold Holding); 6 pounds hot dogs (50F - Cold Holding); 6 pounds bratwurst (51F - Cold Holding); 1.5 pounds cooked sausage Pattie's (53F) Operator discarded food. all food held in reach in cooler over 4 hours. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

El Patio

4444 Cleveland Ave Ste E&F, Fort Myers

Complaint Inspection on Aug. 28

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

6 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked rice on counter of cooks line at 61F for 1 hour. Rice had previously been cold held in wic at or below 41F. Operator moved to walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** - From follow-up inspection 2023-08-28: Observed tostones at 53F - Cold holding; observed yucca at 60F - Cold Holding. Operator moved items to walk in cooler. **Time Extended**

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed spray bottle of all purpose cleaner next to steam table with ceramic soup bowls and soup hot holding. Operator moved spray bottle to chemical storage area. **Corrected On-Site** - From follow-up inspection 2023-08-28: Observed spray bottles stored facing single service items. **Time Extended**

Ginza Sushi

4429 Cleveland Ave Unit 170, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Aug. 28

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

11 total violations, with 2 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 dish machine at 0ppm chlorine. Operator refilled sanitizer and machine began sanitizing at 50ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Observed non food grade paper towel in direct contact with asparagus. Operator discarded item. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Monkey Bar & Steakhouse

1428 Lafayette St, Cape Coral

Routine Inspection on Sept. 1

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

7 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over ready to eat dressings in walk in cooler. Operator switched raw shell egg to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Sea Street Food & Bar

4300 Cleveland Ave Unit 120, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Aug. 28

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

8 total violations, with 3 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 dish machine at 0ppm. Operator began setting up 3 compartment sink for dish washing.

  • High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee garnish dish with uncooked leafy green herb, and handle sandwich bun with bare hands before serving to customer. Educated operator on proper hand washing and glove usage.

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw meat stored over unwashed case of tomatoes in walk in cooler.

Shojin Ramen Sushi

4460 Cleveland Ave Ste E, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Aug. 28

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

11 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Operator has changed company that they use for sushi fish. Operator is to discontinue sale of all raw fish until letter can be provided. **Warning**

South Cape Diner

1215 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral

Routine Inspection on Aug. 31

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

13 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed one 6 lb can of corn hash dented. Educated operator on importance of going through cans. Operator discarded can. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 12/01/22. **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 1 live roach crawling on floor under reach in cooler between cook line and dish wash area. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemical stored on shelving near food. Operator removed chemical. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

South Cape Diner

1215 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral

Routine Inspection on Sept. 1

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

1 total violation, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 12/01/22. **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-01: **Admin Complaint**

The Havana's Gusto LLC

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Aug. 28

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

5 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed pork in reach-in cooler. The operator discarded pork. Observed ham (51F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding); raw pork (47F - Cold Holding); raw fish (49F - Cold Holding); raw beef (47F - Cold Holding); in reach-in cooler. The operator is placing ice on all 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 Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers and Cape Coral area restaurant and food truck inspections