10 Polk food vendors failed to meet standards and two had 13 violations each. See why
Ten Polk County food vendors fell short of standards from March 18 to 24, according to state inspection reports.
In 85 total inspections during the week, 20 vendors were perfect in their initial inspections – meaning the inspection was not mandated by previous violations.
Among the 10 vendors that fell short, there were 47 total violations, and more than half of those came at two restaurants that had 13 violations each. Of the 47 total violations, 15 were for clerical-type issues, such as operating with an expired license and failing to provide proof of employee training or manager certification.
There was just one violation for pests during the week. That came March 19 at a restaurant that met standards — Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-Banquet, 2925 State Road 60 East, at the Lake Wales Country Club. The restaurant had just three basic violations – including one for a single dead roach in a back empty shelving area.
View for yourself: Search inspections for any restaurant or other food vendor in Polk County and beyond
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, describes an inspection as “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection” and cautions readers that the report – whether clean or dirty – isn’t necessarily an indication of common or long-term conditions at the restaurant.
Often the violations that cause vendors to fall short of standards are things the common diner would consider minor and not a threat to health. For that reason, each week The Ledger details the violations incurred by these vendors so readers can decide for themselves.
Also, it’s common for restaurants that met standards to have violations that might be more problematic to common diners. Those are too numerous to list here. To search inspection reports for any eatery in Polk County and beyond, see our online database at https://data.theledger.com/restaurant-inspections/polk.
Which restaurants fell short, and why?
Egg City, 35510 U.S. 27, Haines City: On March 18, the restaurant had 13 violations, including two high priority and five intermediate. One high-priority violation was for a vacuum breaker missing at the hose bibb at the mop sink. The other was for operating with an expired license.
Among the intermediate violations, the inspector noted: There were no written procedures for a vomiting or diarrheal event; no proof of required employee training; no proof that employees are told to report information about their health and foodborne illnesses; a can opener blade and gaskets in reach-in coolers were soiled with food debris; and no written consumer advisory when raw or undercooked animal products are offered.
March 11-17: 9 Polk County restaurants fail to meet standards. 21 were perfect
Among six basic violations, the inspector noted an employee beverage sitting in a food prep area or next to clean utensils; missing floor tiles in the prep area; cracked food-storage pans; walk-in cooler or freezer shelves pitted with rust; a wet wiping cloth not stored in a sanitizing solution between uses; and an open dumpster lid outside.
China Park, 46 Maxcy Plaza Circle, Haines City: On March 18, the restaurant had 13 violations, including one high priority, two intermediate and 10 basic. The high-priority was for “raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer,” in this case, chicken on a sheet pan on top of beef on a sheet pan on top of krab sticks.
One of the intermediate violations was for a black mold-like substance on the sides of a reach-in cooler and bulk containers with food debris. The other was for surface rust on top of the doors of a reach-in freezer.
Among the 10 basic violations, the inspector noted a bathroom that wasn’t clean; a buildup of debris on equipment door handles in the kitchen; an employee prepping food without a hair restraint; grease and food debris on the floor under cookline equipment; grease and food debris between equipment on the cookline; oil stored on the floor by the stove; an accumulation of debris on reach-in cooler shelves; a vending machine with a soiled exterior; walk-in cooler or freezer shelves pitted with rust; and bulk containers of flour and rice not labeled with a common name.
Taqueria El Goldo, 2526 E. Main St., Lakeland: On March 22, the restaurant had three violations, including two labeled high priority. One was for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. The other was for raw animal food stored above ready-to-eat food – in this case raw, shelled eggs stored above washed produce. The third violation was failing to provide proof of state-approved food-safety training for employees (intermediate).
Nutwood, 132 Ave. B S.W., Winter Haven: On March 20, the restaurant had one intermediate and three basic violations. The intermediate was for making renovations without a plan being submitted and approved. Among the three basics, the inspector noted there was no mop sink or curbed cleaning facility; a concrete floor in the kitchen was unsealed; and “nonfood-contact equipment exposed to spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable,” in this case wood under the expo area was in disrepair.
Taqueria Don Gonzalo LLC, 103 U.S. 17 92 N, Haines City: On March 20, the restaurant had two violations, both labeled high priority. One was for operating with an expired license. The other was for a condiment station in the dining area “lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection.”
Spoon And Sprinkles, 2250 Posner Blvd., Davenport: In a March 19 callback from a previous inspection, the restaurant had one remaining violation – no proof of required training for employees.
La Villita Bakery, 89 N Hwy 17-92, Haines City: On March 19, the restaurant had a callback, and saw one remaining violation from the previous inspection – no proof of required employee training.
Country Angels, 122 Commonwealth Ave., Polk City: On March 18, the restaurant had five violations. Its lone high-priority violation was for operating with an expired license. Among two intermediate violations, one was for lacking proof of employee training, and the other was for debris on soda nozzles at the front counter. Finally, there were two basic violations: one for grease or food debris on gaskets in a flip-top unit, and the other for missing or broken floor tiles on the cookline.
March 4-10: 8 Polk restaurants fall short of inspection standards. See the reasons why
Eric Rosado, 1092 Main St., Davenport: On March 18, the mobile food vendor had four violations. It’s sole high-priority violation was for operating with an expired license. Among two intermediate violations, one was for boxes of kitchen silverware in the handwash sink (indicating the sink was used for purposes other than washing hands). The other was for the person in charge lacking proof of certification. Finally, it’s single basic violation was for its mobile food dispensing vehicle license number not being affixed in the correct manner.
Tacos La Zacatecana, 547 E Bridges Ave., Auburndale: On March 18, the food truck had one intermediate violation – no proof of required employee training. In a callback later that day, the same violation was noted.
Feb. 27 to March 3: Nine Polk County food vendors fall short of standards in latest inspections. See why here
Perfection
A staggering 20 Polk County food vendors achieved that all-too-elusive perfect initial inspection from March 18 to 24. The list does not include vendors who had zero violations in a callback mandated by a previous inspection.
Norby's Bar & Grill, 2425 S.R. 60 E., Lake Wales
River Ranch Cattle Company, 3200 River Ranch Blvd., River Ranch
Camp Margaritaville Auburndale, 361 Denton Ave., Auburndale
Willie’s Place, 4055 Lake Marion Creek Drive, Poinciana
Big Daddy's Barbeque 5, mobile vendor, 1490 1 St., Winter Haven
Authentic Mr. Taco USA, mobile vendor, 890 W. Main St., Bartow
Urban Air Lakeland 1, vending machine, 3800 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland
Urban Air Lakeland 2, vending machine, 3800 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland
Mediterranean Fresh Grill Inc., 6035 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
World Of Cones, 1334 W. Daughtery Road, Lakeland
Cravin' Haven, mobile vendor, 3223 Dundee Road, Winter Haven
Auburndale Speedway, 5640 State Road 542 W., Winter Haven
Manifeastations, 844 6th St. N.W., Winter Haven
Aramark At Legoland Shipwreck Restaurant, 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven
Lilis Luvianos Taqueria, mobile vendor, 19509 U.S. 27, Lake Wales
Savage Tacos FL., mobile vendor, 315 N. Commonwealth Ave., Polk City
Smokin Chanchos, mobile vendor, 3716 Morgan Combee, Lakeland
Taco Bell #15937, 1942 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales
By The Chef Pizza, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)
Mic N Dee Lil Taste Of Chicago, mobile vendor, 12160 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland
Feb. 19-25: 2 Polk restaurants fall short of standards. Five are perfect
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.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 10 Polk County food vendors failed to meet standards. 20 were perfect