8 Polk restaurants failed to meet standards the week before Christmas. 5 were perfect
Eight Polk County restaurants failed to meet standards between Dec. 18 and Dec. 24, according to state inspection reports.
Of 71 total inspections throughout the county during the week, 14 received high-priority violations, and five scored perfect – that is, no violations at all. No restaurants were ordered shut down to fix problems.
Welcome to 2024, and for the first week of the new year, we’re making small changes to our restaurant inspections report. First, we’re going to keep track weekly instead of biweekly. Second, we’re going into more detail about the restaurants that failed to meet standards.
A wide variety of violations can cause an inspector to require a follow-up inspection. They can be as bad as rodent or insect problems, cleanliness issues, handling or storing food in a dangerous manner, or clerical issues – such operating on an expired license or failing to provide proof of certain state-mandated training.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation handles restaurant inspections, and it says an inspection report is “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection.” So violations found on that day are not necessarily an ongoing problem at the restaurant.
That said, let’s take a look at the restaurants that failed to meet standards for the week before Christmas (where we previously left off).
Rodents or insects
Only one restaurant in Polk received violations related to rodents or insects. On Dec. 18, Schack’s BBQ, 3000 Cypress Garden Road, Winter Haven, received four violations. It had one high-priority violation: The inspector noted three rodent droppings on the condiment shelf in dry storage. The restaurant also had a basic violation for six dead roaches underneath a dishwasher by the back door. In a follow-up inspection the following day, the restaurant cleared inspection with zero violations.
Others that didn’t meet standards
These other seven restaurants had violations, or a cumulation thereof, that were deemed serious enough to require a follow-up inspection.
Mr. Chillz 215, 1770 1st St. N., Winter Haven: On Dec. 18, the restaurant had four violations, all of which involved licensing or training. One was for operating on an expired license (high priority). Three intermediate violations were for the food manager’s certification being expired, and not having proof of training for employees. A follow-up inspection was ordered, but none was listed in state reports as of Dec. 27.
Evergreen, 1104 Spirit Lake Road, Winter Haven: On Dec. 18, the restaurant received six violations. None were high-priority, but four were labeled “repeat violation.” Among those: an intermediate violation for no test kit for sanitizer at three-compartment sink; carrots and soy sauce buckets stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler; food stored without a cover in reach-in freezers; and ceiling tiles soiled with an accumulation of debris. It received another intermediate violation for having dishes in the handwash sink. A warning was issued and a follow-up inspection required, but as of Dec. 27, no follow-up appeared in state reports.
One More Round, 404 Eaker St., Auburndale: On Dec. 19, the restaurant received two violations. One was for operating with an expired license (high priority). The other was for a gap in the threshold of a door that opened to the outside (basic).
Hyatt Place Lakeland Center, 525 W. Orange St., Lakeland: On Dec. 19, the restaurant had a call-back inspection for violations found in October. It received two violations. One was for lights in the kitchen lacking proper coatings or covers (basic.) The other was the manager or person in charged lacked proof of certification. That one requires a follow-up, which wasn’t yet noted in state reports as of Dec. 27.
Chick-Fil-A, 4625 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Dec. 19, the restaurant received two violations. One was a basic violation for pans in a dry storage area that hadn’t air-dried properly. The other was an intermediate violation for “No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.”
Nutwood, 132 Ave. B S.W., Winter Haven: On Dec. 20, the restaurant had four violations, all for structural issues. Three were basic: no mop sink and the three-compartment sink was outside; wood was in disrepair under some equipment; and floors or walls in disrepair in a food storage shed. The other was intermediate: renovations were underway without plans being submitted and approved.
Lake Wales Bowl LLC, 451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Suite 442, Lake Wales: On Dec. 22, the facility received four violations. Two were intermediate: the handwash sink being used for things other than handwashing, and no proof of required employee training. Two were basic: ceiling tiles were missing in the bowling area, and the women’s bathroom had paper towels and toilet paper on the floor. A follow-up was required, but none was logged in state reports as of Dec. 27.
Most violations
The restaurant with the most violations during the week from Dec. 18 to 24 ultimately passed its inspection.
Hungry Crab Davenport, 43554 U.S. 27, Davenport, had 11 total violations on Dec. 18, seven of them basic. Its one high-priority violation was for raw shrimp that was improperly stored above ready-to-eat cheesecake in a walk-in cooler. Of three intermediate violations, one was for a lack of a test kit for sanitizer at the three-compartment sink. The other two were for towels and soap missing from the handwash sink.
Perfect inspections
Five restaurants or mobile vendors in Polk County received perfect initial inspections. This list doesn’t include restaurants that had violations requiring a follow-up inspection, then aced that follow-up.
Defy Lakeland, a vending machine at 6220 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland
Connie Sue's Korean Bbq LLC, mobile vendor, 5801 Walt Loop Road, Lakeland
Royalty Food – Catering, 1100 U.S. 17-92 N., Haines City
Sip N Share Inc., 200 Post Ave. S.W., Unit E, Winter Haven
Lake Shipp Inn, 701 Ave Z S.W., Winter Haven
Keep in mind as you read
Remember that in some cases, violations are noted as 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: 8 Polk County food vendors failed to meet standards Dec. 18-24
