21 Lee County restaurants, 3 food trucks perfect; 15 fail inspection

Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press
·13 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 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.

Which Lee 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 Lee County restaurants had high priority violations?

Beef O' Brady's Restaurant

3114 Lee Blvd Unit #5, Lehigh Acres

Routine Inspection on April 25

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

25 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over canned/bottled drinks. Observed raw eggs in beer cooler over cans and bottles. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw beef over raw shrimp and fish in reach-in cooler at cooks line. Employee arranged items for proper storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed raw chicken 49F, cooked chicken wings 52F, and shrimp 50F in reach-in cooler at fry station. Employee stated items had been stored in Walk-in cooler at 41F or below and removed and placed in reach-in cooler 3 hours prior. Employee returned items to Walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Admin Complaint**

Fat Katz Slider Bar

19800 Village Center Drive, Unit 200 B, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on April 26

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

9 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw ground beef over raw shell eggs in walk-in cooler, operator moved eggs above for proper food storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Tall silver reach-in cooler cook line:; housemade ranch dressing containing buttermilk (48F - Cold Holding); housemade blue cheese dressing (49F - Cold Holding); sour cream (46F - Cold Holding); cooked banana pie containing dairy (45F - Cold Holding) stored overnight per operator. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Tall silver reach-in cooler cook line:; housemade ranch dressing containing buttermilk (48F - Cold Holding); housemade blue cheese dressing (49F - Cold Holding); sour cream (46F - Cold Holding); cooked banana pie containing dairy (45F - Cold Holding) stored overnight per operator. **Warning**

Hooked Island Grill Cc

4721 SE 10th Place, Cape Coral

Complaint Inspection on April 25

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

16 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. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Observed 2 live flies landing on cutting board in back food prep area. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed container of raw chicken stored over container of raw beef. Operator switched containers. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Cooked chicken 47F cold hold less than 4 hours. Operator turned down reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Jingdu Japanese Buffet

13300 S. Cleveland Ave., No. 53, Fort Myers

Complaint Inspection on April 22

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

19 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. On dry storage shelf in kitchen, 4 cans of pineapple chunks, 1 can Hoisin sauce, 1 can oyster sauce, 1 can coconut milk, 1 can sliced peaches, one can tomato ketchup all with severely dented rims **Warning**

  • 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 out empty sanitizer container to achieve: Dishwasher (Chlorine 100ppm) **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In walk in cooler prepared chicken, per operator was made yesterday at 2:00 PM prepared chicken (57 F - Cold Holding) **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In walk in cooler prepared chicken, per operator was made yesterday at 2:00 PM prepared chicken (57 F - Cold Holding) Stop Sale issued. On cooks,line shrimp (47 F - Cold Holding); chicken (47 F - Cold Holding); beef (45 F - Cold Holding), per operator food had been placed less than one hour prior to operator placed bags of ice on food to rapidly cool. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. At mop sink. **Warning**

Mucky Duck (The)

11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

Routine Inspection on April 25

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 - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw bacon wrapped shrimp stored above fresh cut ready to eat dill sauce, parsley and chopped green onions. Operator moved food to proper storage. Repeat violation from last inspection on 10-28-2023 **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No vacuum breaker at hose bibb located across from walk in freezer

  • High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine exceeds 200ppm); operator diluted to achieve: Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 100ppm) **Corrected On-Site**

Origami Korean-Japanese Restaurant

8911 Daniels Parkway, Suite 5, Fort Myers

Complaint Inspection on April 22

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

17 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed the chlorine sanitizer for the three compartment sink behind the bar at 0ppm. The operator added sanitizer to 100ppm.

  • High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed a bottle of Advil stored on a shelf with clean dishware in the kitchen. The operator properly stored the medicine. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked rice (94F - Hot Holding) in the kitchen for approximately 2 hours. The operator heated the cooked rice (170F - Hot Holding). **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed canisters of butane stored near clean dishware in the kitchen. The operator properly stored the chemical. **Corrected On-Site**

Patinella's Chicken Grill

6810 Plantation Shoppes Drive, Unit 11, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on April 23

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 - Gyro meat initially cooked longer than 60 minutes was cooled prior to being fully cooked. See stop sale. Observed a leftover cooked gyro cone in the reach in freezer. The operator discarded the gyro cone. **Corrected On-Site**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed blue cheese crumbles (52F - Cold Holding); potato salad (54F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (55F - Cold Holding) in the cold holding unit nearest the cash register. The operator stated the items have been held for more than 4 hours. The operator discarded the above foods. Observed a leftover cooked gyro cone in the reach in freezer. The operator discarded the gyro cone.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed blue cheese crumbles (52F - Cold Holding); potato salad (54F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (55F - Cold Holding) in the cold holding unit nearest the cash register. The operator stated the items have been held for more than 4 hours. The operator discarded the above foods. Observed cut tomatoes (47F - Cold Holding); tzatziki sauce (45F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (48F - Cold Holding) in the cold holding unit at the beginning of the service counter. The operator stated the items have been held for approximately 1 hours. The operator moved the foods to a reach in cooler. The operator was emailed a Time for Public Health Control form. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Popeyes 7200

3111 NE Pine Island Road, Cape Coral

Complaint Inspection on April 25

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

5 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed chicken under heat lamp on top shelf at 123F. The operator discarded chicken under heat lamp on top shelf. **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. Observed chicken under heat lamp on top shelf at 123F. The operator discarded chicken. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Tacos 'El Tio'

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on April 23

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 - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed sanitation bucket solution at 200ppm in three compartment sink. Operator added more water. No reads 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

Taqueria Bella Vista

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Complaint Inspection on April 23

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 - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Nonfood-grade hose conveying potable water. - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-23: Black commercial hose observed connected to potable water tank. **Admin Complaint**

Tropical Creole Restaurant

3440 Fowler St., Unit C, Fort Myers

Routine Inspection on April 23

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 - In-use utensil stored in unclean water at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed utensils in dirty water at front counter area.

Zest at Valencia Bonita

16621 Valencia Bonita Blvd., Bonita Springs

Routine Inspection on April 24

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 - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. After three cycles, dishwasher machine final rinse cycle only reached a maximum of 126F. Dishwasher (Temperature 126F). Rinse gauge indicated final rinse cycle was 60F and wash gauge indicated 125-130F. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-24: Dishwasher has several signs "do not use" machine is undergoing extensive repair. Operator is using triple sink for washing and sanitizing. Quaternary 200ppm triple sink. **Time Extended**

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 April 22-28