These 19 Polk County food vendors fell short of inspection standards. See why

Nineteen Polk County food vendors fell short of inspection standards Feb. 3-16, according to state reports.

But there were no emergency closures of restaurants during the two-week period and none of them had pest-related violations, such as rodents or roaches.

And on a positive note, 21 food vendors received that elusive perfect initial inspection (or an inspection that isn’t a follow-up mandated by previous violations.

Of the 19 that were issued warnings or administrative complaints that required a follow-up, only one had double-digit violations. Eight had just one or two violations; and in many of those, only a serious clerical-type violation – such as operating with an expired license or failing to show proof of employee training or manager certification – prevented them from meeting standards.

Not all violations that cause a restaurant to receive a warning or administrative complaint are related directly to food safety or cleanliness. That’s why The Ledger details the violations for restaurants the fell short so readers can decide what’s alarming.

And remember, you can view inspection reports for any restaurant or food vendor in Polk County at our searchable database: https://data.theledger.com/restaurant-inspections/polk.

Jan. 13 to Feb. 2: See why 1 Polk County restaurant closed and 35 others fell short. A few involved roaches

The one with double-digit violations

• Mega Mercado Restaurant, 6645 S. Florida Ave., Suite 11, Lakeland: On Feb. 14, the restaurant had 10 violations, including three high priority. Among those, a dishmachine wasn’t mixing sanitizer; the restaurant had an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license, and an employee didn’t change gloves between tasks, washing hands with gloves on.

Two violations were intermediate: no proof of required employee training; and no soap provided at a handwash sink. And five were basic: a plastic bowl with no handle was used to dispense rice; an employee with no hair restraint was prepping food; a case of eggs and container of onions were stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler; an in-use knife was stored between a reach-in cooler and small table; and a case of vented lids was stored on the floor in dry storage

A warning was issued. In a follow-up inspection on Feb. 25, only one violation remained – the employee training. Time was extended, and another follow-up required.

Restaurants with three to nine violations

• Fat Jacks, 2940 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Feb. 11, the restaurant had nine violations, including four high priority. Among those, one was for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license; the other three were related to items that weren’t properly cold-held at temperatures below 41 degrees (cooked potatoes, collard greens,  pastrami and carrots).

Two were intermediate: nozzles on the beverage station were soiled; and a knife was in the handwash sink (indicating it was used for purposes other than handwashing). And three were basic: carbon dioxide tanks weren’t adequately secured; an employee with no beard guard was prepping food; kitchen and prep area walls were soiled with accumulated grease, food debris or dust.

A warning was issued. In a callback on Feb. 12, the restaurant met standards with just one remaining violation: the soiled walls.

Dec. 16 to Jan. 12: See why these 17 Polk County food vendors fell short of inspection standards

• Cheddar’s Casual Café, 3411 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Feb. 11, the restaurant had nine violations, including one high priority. That was for food that was cold-held at greater than 41 degrees because a breaker was tripped (steaks, pork chops, hamburger patties). The food was moved to a walk-in cooler.

Two were intermediate: a can opener that was soiled with food debris; and no paper towels or hand drying device at a handwash sink in the bar area.

The other six were basic: buildup of food debris on microwave door handles; an employee with no hair restraint prepping food; pans on a shelf were not properly air dried (wet nesting); the interior of a microwave had an accumulation of debris; a light on the hood system wasn’t functioning; and a wet-wiping cloth wasn’t stored in a sanitizing solution between uses.

A warning was issued. In a callback on Feb. 12, the restaurant met standards with one remaining violation – the soiled microwave interior.

• Curry Leaves Lakeland, 3260 U.S. 98 N, Lakeland: On Feb. 11, the restaurant had seven violations, including three high priority. Those were for an in-use utensil stored in water at less than 135 degrees; curry leaves and stems stored in a trash bag in a walk-in cooler; and ready-to-eat food in the walk-in was marked with a date that exceeded seven days after opening or prep.

Three were intermediate: a can opener soiled with food debris; no proof of required employee training; no proof that employees are informed of their responsibility to report information about their health and foodborne illnesses.

One was basic: food not stored at least 6 inches off the floor in the walk-in freezer.

A warning was issued.

• China Chen Lakeland Inc., 2614 U.S. 92 E., Lakeland: On Feb. 3, the restaurant had six violations, including one high priority. That was for using a non-food-grade bag (in this case a to-go bag) to store raw chicken in a freezer.

There was one intermediate violation: its required employee training was expired. And four basic violations: Duct tape was used to repair a large tote for flour; pans of food were stored on the floor in a walk-in; the handwash sink on the cook line had a soil buildup; and a wet-wiping cloth wasn’t stored in a sanitizing solution between uses. A warning was issued.

• Subway #7066, 1509 U.S. 98 S., #8, Lakeland: On Feb. 10, the restaurant had five violations, three of which were intermediate: no proof of required employee training; a slicer that was soiled with food debris; and a paper towel dispenser at a handwash sink that wasn’t working. The other two were basic: a soiled floor underneath shelving and behind equipment; and cracked and missing tiles in the mop sink area. An administrative complaint was recommended.

• Winners Circle Sportsbar and Grill, 4215 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Feb. 11, the restaurant had five violations: no proof of required employee training (intermediate); an ice bin had a rusted surface (basic); exterior of fryers were soiled with grease or food debris (basic); an open dumpster lid (basic); and floors under coolers in the bar area were soiled (basic). A warning was issued.

• Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-Banquet, 2925 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales: On Feb. 10, the restaurant had four violations, including one high priority. That was for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

There was one intermediate violation: the food manager’s certification was expired. And two basic: ceiling tiles or vents were soiled in the kitchen office, and gaskets on a freezer door were in disrepair. A warning was issued.

• Steak N Shake, 819 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland: On Feb. 10, the restaurant had four violations, including one high priority. That was for raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat cut vegetables.

The other three were intermediate: ice cream nozzles soiled with food debris; a spoon in a handwash sink (indicating it was used for purposes other than handwashing); and the manager lacking proof of certification. A warning was issued.

• Five Finger Lickz, 817 N Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland: On Feb. 13, the restaurant had four violations, including one high priority. That was for raw eggs stored above portion sauces in a reach-in cooler. The others were: person in charge lacking food-manager certification (intermediate); drips from condensation or splash falling inside a container of liquid food (basic); and no handwashing sign at an employee handwash sink. A warning was issued.

• Taqueria La Raza, 600 N. Wabash Ave., Lakeland: On Feb. 7, the food truck had three violations. One was high priority: The inspector noted beef was cold-held at greater than 41 degrees (in this case, 58 degrees).

And there were two intermediate violations: no running water at the three-compartment sink, and no proof of required employee training. A warning was issued.

Dec. 2-15: 13 Polk County restaurants fail to meet standards, including one with an old problem: rodents

Restaurants with one or two violations

• Divicious Deli & Coffee Shop LLC, 128 E. Main St., Lakeland: On Feb. 3, the restaurant had two violations: its required employee training was expired (intermediate) and a package of muffins prepared on site lacked proper labeling (basic). A warning was issued.

• Market Café, 20 N. Market St., Lake Wales: On Feb. 3, the restaurant had two violations: operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license (intermediate) and an accumulation of debris on the inside of a microwave. An administrative complaint was recommended.

• Domino’s Pizza #3174, 316 Havendale Blvd., Auburndale: On Feb. 5, the eatery had two intermediate violations, both related to the same problem: a handwash sink near the pizza station was inaccessible because water had been shut off for a leak. A warning was issued. In a callback on Feb. 12, the restaurant met standards with zero violations.

• Graze Craze Lakeland, 4525 S. Florida Ave. Suite 30, Lakeland: On Feb. 11, the restaurant had two violations: operating with an expired license (high priority), and no proof of required employee training. A warning was issued.

• Silou Restaurant, 409 Martin Luther King Blvd. N.E., Winter Haven: On Feb. 5, the restaurant had a callback from a November inspection in which four violations were found. In the callback, two intermediate violations remained: no proof of manager certification, and no proof of required employee training. An administrative complaint was recommended.

• Best Western Mulberry Hotel, 2525 State Road 60 E., Mulberry: On Feb. 5, the restaurant had a single, intermediate violation: The person in charge lacked proof of food-manager certification. A warning was issued.

• Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 4660 N. Socrum Loop, Lakeland: On Feb. 7, the restaurant had a single, intermediate violation: no proof of required employee training. A warning was issued.

• Gotta Have Soulfood BBQ, 4055 Lake Marion Creek Drive, Poinciana: On Feb. 10, the restaurant had a callback from a December inspection in which four violations were found. In the callback, only one violation remained: the manager lacked proof of certification. An administrative complaint was recommended.

Nov. 18 to Dec. 1: These two Polk County restaurants had double-digit violations. See what inspectors found

Perfection

It’s tough getting that perfect initial inspection, with zero violations. But these 21 Polk County food vendors did that during the two-week period from Feb. 3 to 16. The list does not include restaurants that achieved zero violations in a callback mandated by a previous inspection.

• Lake Shipp Inn, 701 Ave. Z S.W., Winter Haven
• Subway #11439, 125 N Wabash Ave., Lakeland
• Rositas Son LLC, mobile vendor, 1205 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland
• Marlenes Take Out, 813 W. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland
• Lake Henry Estates, 684 Dyson Road, Haines City
• Out N About Bar and Music Lounge, 28390 U.S. 27, Dundee
• Eagles Nest, Lake Ashton II, 4000 Mulligan Lane, Winter Haven
• Wingstop, 130 Kersey St., Davenport
• Swamp Boys BBQ, mobile vendor, 1060 Alpha Ave, Bartow
• Angel’s Heavenly Empanadas, mobile vendor, 330 Old Bartow Eagle Lake Road, Bartow
• Las Tropi Papas, mobile vendor, 504 U.S. 17, Haines City
• Tip’s Soulfood, mobile vendor, 1100 U.S. 17-92 N., Haines City
• True Blue Winery, 604 Pink Apartment Road, Davenport
• Texas Roadhouse, Seq Osceola Polk Line Road & Rafina Blvd, Davenport
• Taqueria Silao, mobile vendor, 31799 U.S. 27, Haines City
• Rafas Tacos, mobile vendor, 100 E. Central Ave., Winter Haven
• Tacos El Chiguino, 1323 State Road 60, Lake Wales
• Balmoral Resort, vending machine, 124 Kenny Blvd., Haines City
• El Riconcito De Guadalupe, mobile vendor, 1850 U.S. 17, Lake Alfred
• Las Empanadicras, caterer, 1100 U.S. 17-92 N., Lake Wales
• Cafe Condesa, mobile vendor, 701 E. Hinson Ave., Haines City

Search yourself: View inspection reports for any food vendor in Polk County with our searchable database

Keep in mind as you read

Remember that in some cases, violations are noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Remember, too, that broken refrigerators, chipped tiles or fast work may add up to unintended mistakes.

Regardless, if you notice abuses of state standards, report them and DBPR will send inspectors. Call 850-487-1395.

The terminology

What does all that terminology in state 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  and the establishment may reopen only after inspection shows that all high-priority violations that caused the suspension are corrected.