20 St. Johns County restaurants fail inspection

Staff reports
·20 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 St. Johns County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in St. Johns County, Florida, for the week of April 22-28, 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 St. Johns County restaurant inspection site.

Which St. Johns County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?

These restaurants met all standards during their April 22-28 inspections and no violations were found.

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

Which St. Johns County restaurants had high-priority violations?

Applebee's

225 State Route 312, St. Augustine

Food-Licensing Inspection Inspection on April 22

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

9 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. In back prep area, 1 flying insect observed. Also, in service area, observed 1 flying insect land on single service drink lids. Operator killed fly and discarded lids. **Corrective Action Taken**

Best Western Historical Inn

2010 N Ponce De Leon Blvd, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 23

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 - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two live flying insects in kitchen by hand washing station.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed yogurt dispenser (45F - Cold Holding) on buffet line. Yogurt placed inside one hour prior to inspection per person in charge. Yogurt placed in refrigerator to cool. Ambient 53F inside unit. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Bronx House Pizza

641 Crosswater Pkwy Blvd, Ste E & F, Ponte Vedra

Food-Licensing Inspection Inspection on April 25

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

7 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Displayed food not properly protected from contamination. Sneeze guard not yet installed at server area where table top cooler on pizza make is located. Person in charge states due to be installed today. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Establishment operating with changed menu and/or increased seating without system approval for such change. Establishment applied for 58 seats, has 88 seats during inspection. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Establishment operating without a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Operator must obtain a public food service license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 60 days. Submit a license application and payment to DBPR/Bureau of Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. To apply online or obtain an application for license visit http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/ Unable to license establishment during licensing inspection. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Missing vacuum breakers from both sides of splitter at mop sink.

  • High Priority - Wastewater on ground of establishment. Piping under hand wash sink in bar leaks onto floor due to pipe not being long enough to fully reach drain. **Warning**

Carrabba's Italian Grill

155 Sr 312 W, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 23

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

15 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. On cook line, employee at fry station battered raw calamari with gloved hand, removed gloves, grabbed cheese with no handwashing. Manager addressed with employee and employee washed hands. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On cook line, Mac and cheese sauce (46F - Cold Holding), operator stated cheese sauce has been portioned and left on counter for approximately 30 minutes, operator moved below Reach in cooler to cool. retemp 30 min lapse 43F - Cold Holding **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

@Corner Sushi

2443 S US Hwy 1, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 26

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

11 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Above cook line, container of medicine without English labeling, operator moved to proper storage location. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In kitchen on dry storage shelf, sea kelp and mushrooms stored in grocery bags. Also in walk in cooler/walk in freezer, vegetables stored in grocery bags.

  • High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. At sushi bar, employee washed gloved hands in hand wash sink, then handled ready to eat sushi without removing gloves and washing hands.

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing/broken at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. At mop sink outside back door, vacuum breaker "bell" is missing/broken.

Denny's

1300 N Ponce De Leon Blvd, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 24

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 - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed in double door reach in cooler: hash browns prep dated 4/22/24 0442 (64F - Cooling); hash browns prep dated 4/23/24 1038 (52F - Cooling); hash browns prep dated 4/23/24 0442 (58F - Cooling) Hash browns tightly packed into top shelf of reach in cooler with no air space left in between cartons. See stop sale.

  • 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 adjust omelet in Togo container with barehands at start of inspection. Discussed with person in charge. No visible contamination observed.

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two live flying insects near mop sink area. Observed one love flying insects at front counter near bread toasters. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in double door reach in cooler: hash browns prep dated 4/22/24 0442 (64F - Cooling); hash browns prep dated 4/23/24 1038 (52F - Cooling); hash browns prep dated 4/23/24 0442 (58F - Cooling) Hash browns tightly packed into top shelf of reach in cooler with no air space left in between cartons. See stop sale.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food required to be date marked is not date marked and time of opening/preparation cannot be determined. See stop sale. Observed milk in desert cooler on front counter missing date of opening. Person in charge cannot determine when milk was opened.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed gravy (130F - Hot Holding) in steamer well with two pans beneath it for approximately two hours per person in charge. Person in charge placed on flat top to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken**

Hyatt Place St Augustine Vilano Beach

117 Vilano Rd, St. Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 23

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 - Heat strip failed to turn black to indicate the sanitization temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit was achieved on the dish surface and/or high temperature holding thermometer did not reach 160F. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. Observed high temperature dishwasher reaching 157F **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-23: Establishment is waiting on repair parts to fix dish machine. Establishment has access to two other dish machines and triple sink. **Time Extended**

Mala Noodle and Japanese Restaurant

1385 St Johns Pkwy Ste 100 & 101, St. Johns

Routine Inspection on April 25

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

17 total violations, with 6 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Establishment receives fresh raw salmon from KGI, no parasite destruction available during inspection. Person in charge called supplier and obtained during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed bulk items in direct contact with non food grade containers.

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. In walk in cooler tray of chicken and shrimp stored over unwashed lemons and broccoli. Also, raw chicken stored over cooked shrimp. Person in charge began rearranging. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On counter in kitchen Black garlic in oil (79F - Cold Holding); Soaked Rice Noodle (73F - Cold Holding). Person in charge states has been out for 2 hours. Recommend holding on time for remaining 2 hours. In fliptop Kani, fish cake, mussels, fish cake (45-53F - Cold Holding); items stored in plastic containers above reach in cooler unit and above fill line in fliptop. Person in charge moved items to drawers below. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Corn and potatoes on cookline at 76F. Person in charge states has been out for 2 hours. Recommend holding on time for remaining 2 hours. Person in charge added to time paper work. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed cleaning solutions stored with food on dry storage rack. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**

Mayita

14 Avenida Menendez, Saint Augustine

Complaint Inspection on April 24

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, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed roasted potato in steamer well for less than 1 hr per person in charge (80F - Hot Holding). Person in charge placed potatoes in oven to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken**

Meehan's on Matanzas

20 Avenida Menendez, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 24

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 - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed two live roaches on first floor bar dishwasher. **Warning**

Mi Carnal Restaurant

2471 US Hwy 1 S, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 26

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

13 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. On dry storage shelf, one can of tomatillos is dented and pinched at seam. Stop sale issued.

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. In reach in freezer, raw pork being stored in plastic Togo bags.

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In reach in freezer, raw chicken stored in ziplock bags over ground beef, and pork on bottom. Discussed with operator proper storage levels, provided documentation on proper storage levels/separation based on minimum required cooking temperature.

  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. In Reach in cooler in kitchen, salsa marked 4/19/24 in use. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In kitchen, in Reach in cooler tomatillo salsa (46F - Cold Holding); chicken stock (46F - Cold Holding); ambient temperature of Reach in cooler is 40F Operator moved salsa and stock in to freezer. Retemped, tomatillo 38F, chicken stock 41F. Also, at front counter in mini fridge, tomatillo sauce(front counter) (46F - Cold Holding); mini fridge ambient temp 38F

Mojos Mainland

926 Santa Maria Blvd, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 25

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

13 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. In cabinets under soda machine/tea urns, 20 rodent droppings observed. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**

Poppys Italiano

104 Ashourian Way Unit 1-101/1-102, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 26

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 - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. In walk in cooler pasta, risotto, sauce and meatballs cooling overnight per person in charge at 45-52F. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-26: In walk in cooler 1 container of lemon butter sauce 56F-Cooling, 1 container of Alfredo sauce 54F-Cooling in large plastic, covered, deep containers, per employee both items where made yesterday and placed in walk in cooler without any additional preparation. **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In walk in cooler pasta, risotto, sauce and meatballs cooling overnight per person in charge at 45-52F. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-26: In walk in cooler 1 container of lemon butter sauce 56F-Cooling, 1 container of Alfredo sauce 54F-Cooling in large plastic, covered, deep containers, per employee both items where made yesterday and placed in walk in cooler without any additional preparation. **Admin Complaint**

Royal St Augustine Golf and Country Club

301 Royal St Augustine Pkwy, St. Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 26

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

18 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed 3lb can of olives with dented top seam and dented side seam.

  • High Priority - Employee dried hands on clothes/apron/soiled towel after washing. Observed employee dry hands on cloth towel after washing hands. Discussed with person in charge. Person in charge added paper towels to hand washing station.

  • High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Observed frog on floor of dry storage room near CO2 tank. Person in charge removed frog with broom. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed main flip-top cooler: ham (50F - Cold Holding); turkey (52F - Cold Holding); sliced Swiss cheese (59F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (58F - Cold Holding); slaw (53F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (50F - Cold Holding) left in flip-top cooler over night per person in charge. No temperature logs available. Person in charge unsure when coolers ambient temperature rises to 56F. See stop sale. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed main flip-top cooler: ham (50F - Cold Holding); turkey (52F - Cold Holding); sliced Swiss cheese (59F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (58F - Cold Holding); slaw (53F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (50F - Cold Holding) left in flip-top cooler over night per person in charge. No temperature logs available. Person in charge unsure when coolers ambient temperature rises to 56F. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Stoner's Pizza Joint St. Augustine

3915 A1a South Ste 105, St Augustine

Food-Licensing Inspection Inspection on April 24

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 - Establishment operating without a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Operator must obtain a public food service license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 60 days. Submit a license application and payment to DBPR/Bureau of Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. To apply online or obtain an application for license visit http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/ Establishment took over ownership with no updated plans submitted. Not able to issue license at today's licensing inspection. **Warning**

Tank's Sushi Bistro

151 Pine Lake Dr Suite A, Ponte Vedra

Complaint Inspection on April 26

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 - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. dumplings (56F - Cold Holding) in bay sitting on top of containers in top section of reach in cooler on make line, per manager bag has been there less then 1 hour, bag moved to bottom of cooler. raw fish roe (58F - Cold Holding) in display reach in cooler at sushi bar, per manager roe has been taken in and out of cooler for less then 1 hour. raw shrimp (64F - Cold Holding) portions of shrimp thawing out under cold running water in triple sink in kitchen, per manager shrimp has been thawing out for less then 1 hour, employee started to move thawed portions to walk in cooler during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-26: dumplings (49F - Cold Holding) in bag sitting in top section of reach in cooler in container on make line, per manager bag has been there less then 30 minutes, bag moved to bottom of cooler. raw fish roe (54F - Cold Holding) sitting out on counter at sushi bar area, per employee roe has been out less then 30 minutes, roe placed back in reach in cooler. **Admin Complaint** **Corrective Action Taken**

Yamato Japanese Steakhouse

601 Tingle Ct, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 22

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

22 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Operator unable to provide documentation that aquacultured fish has been raised in a controlled environment and fed formulated feed. Operator contacted supplier, received a letter stating salmon is farm raised and pellet fed.

  • High Priority - Spray hose at dish sink lower than flood rim of sink. At dish area, spray hose hangs below rim of sink.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In kitchen, Reach in cooler, by walk in cooler, chicken (45F - Cold Holding); milk (51F - Cold Holding) operator stated employees have been in and out of cooler for last hour. Retemp, 1 hour lapse (50F - Cold Holding) In walk in cooler, yum yum sauce (49F - Cold Holding), operator stated employees had large container out to portion for approximately 45 mins. Retemp, 1 hour lapse, (49F - Cold Holding). **Warning**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. In dry storage room, water softener salt stored on bottom of chemical shelf below chemicals.

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. At dish area, hose bib has no vacuum breaker. Also, at outside mop sink, missing vacuum breaker after the splitter on both ends.

Yamato Japanese Steakhouse

601 Tingle Ct, Saint Augustine

Routine Inspection on April 23

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 - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In kitchen, Reach in cooler, by walk in cooler, chicken (45F - Cold Holding); milk (51F - Cold Holding) operator stated employees have been in and out of cooler for last hour. Retemp, 1 hour lapse (50F - Cold Holding) In walk in cooler, yum yum sauce (49F - Cold Holding), operator stated employees had large container out to portion for approximately 45 mins. Retemp, 1 hour lapse, (49F - Cold Holding). **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-23: In walk in cooler, multiple temperatures above 41F - Cold Holding: yum yum sauce, beef tenderloin, ny strip, cooked pasta all at 48F - Cold Holding. **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 St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine area restaurant and food truck inspections April 22-28