Okaloosa County restaurant inspections: 5 cited for high-priority violations

Staff reports
·5 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 Okaloosa County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Okaloosa 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 Okaloosa County restaurant inspection site.

Which Okaloosa 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 Okaloosa County restaurants did not pass the first inspection?

Aramark at Emerald Coast Conference Center

1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach

Routine Inspection on April 25

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

1 total violation

  • Intermediate - Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants: Establishment ROPs cooked food and freezes. However, they do not have a HACCP plan on file with the division. It has been submitted and received, but not approved. Also requires a variance as the food will be held for longer than 48 hours. **Warning**

Empanada Kings

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on April 24

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

1 total violation

  • Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. Owner/Operator states he has taken the teain8ng and the test but failed the test. Awaiting notification for retake. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-24: Manager attempting to schedule a class. Time extended 30 days. **Time Extended**

Holiday Inn Express

127 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach

Routine Inspection on April 22

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

1 total violation

  • Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location: Amir Patel, expired 04/17/2023. Certificate not available. Inspector verified ion ServSave website. **Warning**

Jake & Henry's

138 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach

Complaint Partial Inspection on April 24

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

2 total violations

  • Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board at prep table stained with black substance. Employees disposed of cutting board during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

  • Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 2 dead roaches under hand sink by rear kitchen door, 3 dead roaches behind reach in cooler opposite of cook line wall, 1 Dead roach on floor at register end of bar area, 5 dead roaches on floor at end of bar closest to front windows. **Warning**

Ohana Hawaiian Grill LLC

2493 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview

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

  • Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-23: Employee called his manager concerning the training for the cooks and servers. He ha not ordered the materials and wants the inspector to give them a site to go to to get the materials. Inspector cannot make a recommendation. Inspector called Supervisor and was given a 30 day extension. **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 Northwest Florida Daily News: Fort Walton Beach/Destin area restaurant/food truck inspections: April 22-28, 2024