30-plus small flying insects found in Sarasota restaurant, other inspections

Our digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with the latest information on which Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice area restaurants passed or failed.

You can use the database to search by Sarasota or Manatee County or by restaurant name. You can see which restaurants were fined and which were forced into temporary closure.

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.

Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.

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Sarasota-Manatee best restaurant inspections

The following restaurants and food trucks, listed in alphabetical order, passed their inspections April 21-27 with zero violations:

  • Buffalo Creek Golf Course, 8100 69th St. E., Palmetto

  • First Watch, 14475 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch

  • Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, 15150 70th Terrace E., Bradenton

  • Rodney's Jamaican Grill #2, Mobile food dispensing vehicle

  • StrongFlavors Catering, Mobile food dispensing vehicle

  • Taqueria Los Regios, Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Sarasota County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations:

The following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections April 21-27:

Ed Smith Stadium Clubhouse

2700 12th St., Sarasota

April 26

Follow-up needed: Warning issued.

Five total violations, with three high-priority violations:

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed a container of raw bacon stored over a container of ready-to-eat bread in the walk-in cooler. Operator removed the bacon. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in the left side reach-in cooler on the front buffet line: cooked eggs (63F - cold holding); cream cheese (63F - cold holding); cut melons (65F - cold holding); butter chips (66F - cold holding). Operator stated it had been out for more than four hours. Operator willingly disposed of the food. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41F. Observed in the left side reach-in cooler on the front buffet line: cooked eggs (63F - cold holding); cream cheese (63F - cold holding); cut melons (65F - cold holding); butter chips (66F - cold holding). Operator stated it had been out for more than four hours. Operator willingly disposed of the food. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Ka Papa Cuisine

1830 S. Osprey Ave. Suite 104, Sarasota

April 23

Follow-up needed: Warning issued.

Four total violations, with one 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 dishwashing machine chlorine at 0 ppm and sanitizer solution container empty. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the Manager. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**

La Violetta

4837 Swift Road, Sarasota

April 23

Follow-up needed: Warning issued.

Seven total violations, with two high-priority violations:

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed brown paper bags used to stored bread in the reach-in freezer.

  • High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed an employee touch soiled microwave buttons then handle clean dishware without changing gloves and washing hands.

McCurdy's Comedy Theatre

1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota

April 26

Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.

Five total violations, with two high-priority violations:

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

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bottles of bleach stored next to an ice bucket next to the ice machine. Employee removed the ice bucket. **Corrected On-Site**

Neat

8383 S. Tamiami Trail Unit 108, Sarasota

April 25

Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.

Seventeen total violations, with seven high-priority violations:

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed small flying insects. Approximately 15 at bar area, 10 by dishwashing machine area, and 10 by dry storage area. **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Observed salmon cooked under without letter of parasite destruction.

  • High Priority - Operator unable to provide documentation that aquacultured fish has been raised in a controlled environment and fed formulated feed. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef next to and over cooked pork in walk-in cooler and drawer cooler on cook line. Chef rearranged food items to prevent cross contamination. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds seven days after opening/preparation. Observed cooked onions in walk-in cooler dated 4/15/24. Chef discarded. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**

  • High Priority - Stop sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed cooked onions in walk-in cooler dated 4/15/24. Chef discarded. **Warning**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135F. Observed holding on cook line: hot holding rice 97F, mashed 106F. Cook placed in oven to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**

Manatee County restaurant inspections with high-priority violations:

The following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, were issued warnings, recommended for administrative complaints or were temporarily closed due to failed inspections April 21-27:

Tsunami Sushi

11627 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch

April 26

Follow-up needed: Warning issued.

Fourteen total violations, with four high-priority violations:

  • 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. Observed sushi cook changing tasks and touching his body and wiping his hands on his soiled clothing and not washing hands.

  • High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Observed a pest strip hanging in back kitchen.

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken held over raw shrimp and salmon in the walk-in cooler.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41F. Observed butter at 72F and garlic and oil at 74F held for over four hours. Stop sale issued. Operator discarded.

Waffle House

2400 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

April 25

Follow-up needed: Administrative complaint recommended.

Three total violations, with one high-priority violation:

  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw ground sausage over raw slab bacon. Educated person in charge on safe refrigerator storage and emailed person in charge a copy of the handout. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. Person in charge removed sausage. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Small flying insects found in Sarasota restaurant, other inspections