7 Lee County restaurants get perfect scores; 27 fail inspection

Staff reports
·17 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 Sept. 18-24, 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 Sept. 18-24 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?

3 Pepper Burrito Company

6900 Daniels Pkwy Unit 15, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 21

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

8 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Under front service line steam wells and cooking equipment, 20 live small flying insects observed. By soda box and dry storage middle kitchen, 10 small flying insects observed. By back door and can/dry storage rack, 15 observed. Pest control arrived at time of inspection. **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In walk-in cooler, cooked rice (48F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes salsa (45F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken (46F - Cold Holding); cooked beef (45F - Cold Holding) stored overnight per operator. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In walk-in cooler, cooked rice (48F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes salsa (45F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken (46F - Cold Holding); cooked beef (45F - Cold Holding) stored overnight per operator. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. On dry storage rack next to soda boxes mid kitchen, 3 bottles chemicals stored with hot sauce, over deli paper. Operator moved chemicals to proper storage.

Bmc Chefs

24110 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on Sept. 18

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 - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Three way splitter added missing one vacuum breaker. - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-18: **Time Extended**

Chao Cajun F93

4125 Cleveland Ave #1120, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 20

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 - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in Walk in cooler: ambient air (45F - Cold Holding); raw chicken (44F - Cold Holding); green beans (45F - Cold Holding); cut squash (46F - Cold Holding); bourbon sauce (44F - Cold Holding). Operator states that cooler has been left open for an extended period of time due to morning prep. **Warning**

China One

1874 N Tamiami Trl, North Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 21

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

10 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license expired on 12/01/2022. Operator called translator John to explain they are trying to do a change of ownership. Translator stated they tried to apply to FDAC and have not heard back since February. I explained they need to submit change of ownership through DBPR and the myfloridalicense.com website. Provided translator current DBPR license and file number for references. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw chicken and raw beef stored over unwashed cabbage in walk-in cooler. Operator moved vegetables to separate location during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

Cooper's Hawk

13671 Olympic Ct, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 20

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

4 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Far left top part reach in cooler cook line: housemade buttermilk ranch (50F - Cold Holding); housemade horseradish with cream (48F - cold holding ); chopped tomatoes salsa (49F - Cold Holding); buttermilk cilantro (50F - Cold Holding); cheddar cheese (53F - Cold Holding) Middle top part reach-in cooler cook line: wasabi butter (53F - Cold Holding); sliced assorted cheese (51F - Cold Holding); cooked onions (51F - Cold Holding); cooked onion sauce (48F - Cold Holding); blue cheese crumbles (51F - Cold Holding); housemade buttermilk ranch (53F - Cold Holding); butter and herbs (52F - Cold Holding) Far right bottom part reach-in cooler cook line: raw egg whites (59F - Cold Holding); raw shrimp (59F - Cold Holding); housemade tomato sauce (54F - Cold Holding); cooked pasta (52F - Cold Holding); cooked potatoes (54F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (52F - Cold Holding); buttermilk cream sauce (50F - Cold Holding); soft cheese (53F - Cold Holding); butter (50F - Cold Holding); butter and herbs (53F - Cold Holding); cooked onions (57F - Cold Holding); raw panchetta (58F - Cold Holding) Per operator all food store six or more hours. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Far left top part reach in cooler cook line: housemade buttermilk ranch (50F - Cold Holding); housemade horseradish with cream (48F - cold holding); chopped tomatoes salsa (49F - Cold Holding); buttermilk cilantro (50F - Cold Holding); cheddar cheese (53F - Cold Holding) Middle top part reach-in cooler cook line: wasabi butter (53F - Cold Holding); sliced assorted cheese (51F - Cold Holding); cooked onions (51F - Cold Holding); cooked onion sauce (48F - Cold Holding); blue cheese crumbles (51F - Cold Holding); housemade buttermilk ranch (53F - Cold Holding); butter and herbs (52F - Cold Holding) Far right bottom part reach-in cooler cook line: raw egg whites (59F - Cold Holding); raw shrimp (59F - Cold Holding); housemade tomato sauce (54F - Cold Holding); cooked pasta (52F - Cold Holding); cooked potatoes (54F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (52F - Cold Holding); buttermilk cream sauce (50F - Cold Holding); soft cheese (53F - Cold Holding); butter (50F - Cold Holding); butter and herbs (53F - Cold Holding); cooked onions (57F - Cold Holding); raw panchetta (58F - Cold Holding) Per operator all food store six or more hours. **Warning**

Crown Colony Golf & Country Club

8851 Crown Colony Blvd, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 18

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

10 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 chlorine concentration at 10 ppm at bar. Educated operator on proper concentration. Operator primed sanitizer. Rechecked concentration at 50 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed quaternary ammonium concentration at 400+ppm. **Warning**

Fowler Street Grill

3570 Fowler St, Fort Myers

Complaint Inspection on Sept. 19

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

16 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 replaced chemical bucket. Observed dish machine at 50ppm. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken breasts stored over raw shrimp in reach in cooler on cookline closest to ovens. **Warning**

Guaca-Mole

4125 Cleveland Ave Ste 1150, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 18

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 - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license as expired as of 12-01-2022. **Admin Complaint**

Kyoto

4391 Colonial Blvd Ste 102, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 21

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 - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed non food grade bag in direct contact with cut onions. Operator removed bag. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Lexington C C-The Club Room

16257 Willowcrest Way, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 19

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

18 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Food with mold-like growth on hamburger patties. See stop sale. Operator discarded patties. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

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

Maria's Restaurant

27080 Old Us 41 Rd, Bonita Springs

Complaint Inspection on Sept. 21

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

12 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. Employee cooking under tent in front parking lot changed gloves and tasks, no handwash. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Cook line drop in cooler raw chicken over ready-to-eat ketchup. Walk-in cooler ready-to-eat cilantro touching raw beef, raw beef over ready-to-eat beef and sauces, raw beef over packaged beverages. Operator began rearr walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In cook line drop in cooler cut tomatoes (48F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (48F - Cold Holding) for 2 hours per operator. Repeat 6/13/2023. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On cook line steam well cooked pork (119F - Hot Holding); cooked chicken (121F - Hot Holding); cooked beef (125F - Hot Holding) for two hours per operator. Operator turned up the unit. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

The Melting Pot

13251 Mcgregor Blvd, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 21

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

4 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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 10ppm). Operator set up three compartment sink for sanitizing **Warning**

  • High Priority - Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee touched face and began working with food without hand washing. Educated employee and observed proper hand washing and glove use. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Monarcas Authentic Mexican Cuisine Bar & Grill

4125 Cleveland Ave Ste 1485b, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 21

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 - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 15 live small flying insects on shelf in ware washing area. **Warning**

Nomiki's Plakka

12901 Mcgregor Blvd #3, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 21

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 - 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 employee loading dishes into the dish machine with bare hands and then without hand washing, unloaded the clean and sanitized dishes from the machine. Educated operator and observed proper hand washing. Discussed with operator proper hand washing. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. gyro cone (45 F - Cold Holding); butter (48 F - Cold Holding); Greek lasagna (46 F - Cold Holding) inside walk in cooler located at back of restaurant

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees gyro cone (45 F - Cold Holding); butter (48 F - Cold Holding); Greek lasagna (46 F - Cold Holding) inside walk in cooler located at back of restaurant

  • 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. Gyro cone, time improperly tracked on form vs. time placed on spit. Operator marked time on white board. **Corrected On-Site**

Potts Sports Cafe

6900 Daniels Pkwy # 26, Ft Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 20

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

10 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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm)after running and priming three times. Operator set up manual sanitation in triple sink, chlorine 100ppm. Also Triple Sink Bar (Quaternary 100ppm), spoke with operator about using test strips to verify sanitizer strength, operator spoke with staff. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. In back of kitchen, 15 above and below dishwasher. 10 on dry storage rack over slicer. 5 on Bibb in box stoa area. **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk-in cooler observed raw beef and raw ground beef in same container. Operator separated foods. **Corrected On-Site**

Red Lobster #0079

3801 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 18

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 in walk in cooler : Ambient air (43F - Cold Holding); shrimp (46F - Cold Holding); raw scallops (45F - Cold Holding); lobster meat (46F - Cold Holding). Operator states that they received a produce delivery today and that the door had been open for a significant period of time. Operator instructed employees to keep door shut. **Warning**

Savour First Choice Catering

16520 S Tamiami Trl Unit 136, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 22

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

9 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 chlorine concentration at 0 ppm. Operator primed sanitizer. Rechecked concentration at 100 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Observed raw shell eggs sitting out at room temperature per operator. Operator placed eggs in reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

St Charles Yacht Club

15900 St Charles Harbour Blvd, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 20

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

11 total violations, with 3 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 employee pick up glove from floor not washing hands and changing gloves. Educated employee. Employee washed hands and put on new gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with kiwi. Operator removed bag. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over ready to eat sauces in reach in cooler at end of cook line. Operator placed raw eggs on bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Taqueria Bella Vista

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Sept. 19

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 - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Observed employee touch dirty handle with bare hands then touch clean equipment without washing hands. Discussed proper hand washing practices with operator. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed cooked chicken prepared yesterday no date mark.

Yogurt Mountain #3387

4125 Cleveland Ave Space 1200, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on Sept. 20

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 - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license as expired as of 12-01-2022. **Admin Complaint**

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 area restaurant, food truck inspections Sept. 18-24.