8 Polk restaurants fall short of inspection standards. See the reasons why
Eight Polk County restaurants fell short of standards from March 4 to 10, according to state inspection reports.
Of 96 total inspections across the county, 84 food vendors met standards and 13 of those had perfect inspections with zero violations. Once again, there were no violations for rodents or insects at any restaurant, caterer or food truck.
Among the eight restaurants that fell short, there were 24 total violations. And of those, 13 violations were clerical in nature – expired licenses, lacking proof of food-manager certification or failing to provide proof of required employee training.
The other 11 violations ran the gamut from food-safety violations to violations of best practices or broken or soiled equipment.
As a reminder, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation says an inspection report is “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection.”
“An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment,” it says.
View for yourself: Search inspection reports for any restaurant in Polk County or Florida
Often, violations that resulted in warnings and a mandated follow-up inspection are not the kind of violations that would give the common diner pause. Each week, The Ledger details the violations for all restaurants that fell short of standards so readers can see why and make their own judgments.
Also, it’s common for restaurants to have violations that a diner would consider gross and still meet inspection standards. Those are too numerous to include in this report, but readers can look for themselves in The Ledger’s searchable database: https://data.theledger.com/restaurant-inspections/polk.
Restaurants that fell short, and why
Mike's Drive In Inc., 1055 U.S. 17 S., Bartow: On March 8, the restaurant received three basic violations. One was related to renovations: “Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements,” according to the report. One was for not having a mob sink or “curbed cleaning facility.” The last was for a leaking pipe on the outside of the restaurant.
Feb. 26 to March 3: Nine Polk County food vendors fall short of standards in latest inspections. See why here
Lakeland Country Club, 929 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland: On March 8, the restaurant had three basic and two intermediate violations. Among the intermediates, the person in charge lacked proof of certification, and the restaurant didn’t provide proof of required food safety training for employees. Among the basic violations, one was for a pink buildup on a panel inside the ice machine, one was for an employee prepping food without a hair restraint, and the last was for a knife sharpener improperly stored between a prep table and a well for the steam table. In a callback later that day, only two basic violations remained – the pink buildup in the ice machine and the employee operating without a hair net. The restaurant met standards.
Beyond All Smoke Ribs LLC, 3 N. Scenic Highway, Frostproof: On March 6, the restaurant had just two violations. One was for the person in charge lacking proof of certification (intermediate). The other was for an accumulation of residue in the reach-in cooler.
Royal Breakfast Bar, 200 Post Ave. S.W., Unit H, Winter Haven: On March 6, the restaurant had two violations. One was a high-priority violation for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. The other was an intermediate violation for the person in charge lacking proof of certification.
Hooters Of South Lakeland, 3437 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On March 5, the restaurant had a callback from a previous inspection on Feb. 1, in which it had one high-priority violation. In the Feb. 1 inspection, the inspector noted the dishmachine’s chlorine sanitizer was not at the proper strength. The restaurant was ordered to set up a manual dishwashing station until the dishmachine was fixed. In the callback on March 5, the dishmachine was not fixed. The restaurant continued using a manual washing station.
Hyatt Place Lakeland Center, 525 W. Orange St., Lakeland: On March 5, the restaurant had three violations, including one high priority and two basic. The high priority violation was for the manager lacking proof of certification. Among the basics, one was for lights in the food-prep area lacking the proper coverings. The other was for food buildup in the bottom of two reach-in coolers.
Super Duper Spot, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland: On March 5, the restaurant had one high-priority and five intermediate violations. The high-priority violation was for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Among the intermediates, one was for the person in charge lacking proof of food-manager certification. One was for lacking a chemical test kit for using sanitizer while cleaning dishes. Another was for lacking paper towels or a hand-drying device at the handwash sink. Another was for failing to provide proof of required food-safety training for employees. And the last was for failing to provide proof that employees are informed of their responsibility to report information about their health and foodborne illnesses.
Milkster Nitrogen Creamery 501, 5178 County Line Road, Lakeland: On March 5, the restaurant had two violations. One was a high-priority violation for storing eggs over cheesecakes in an upright fridge. The other, an intermediate violation, was for lacking proof of required food-safety training for employees.
Feb. 19-25: 2 Polk restaurants fall short of standards. Five are perfect
Perfection
It’s tough to get a perfect inspection with zero violations. Here’s a look at 13 Polk food vendors who did just that in their initial inspection (meaning an inspection that wasn’t mandated by violations in a previous visit).
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 23525 U.S. 27, Lake Wales.
Uncle Bucky's Southern BBQ, mobile food vendor, 3342 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland.
Noxxkitchen Inc., caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult).
Green Leaf Subs & Grill, 7140-7160 State Road 544 E., Haines City.
Zarza Restaurants, 6980 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
Pa'l Carrito, mobile food vendor, 1311 U.S. 92 W., Lot 140, Auburndale.
Topsy's A Taste Of Love, mobile food vendor, 301 Commerce Court, Unit I, Winter Haven.
L'Incontro, 35 State Road 60 W., Lake Wales.
Papas Dawgs, mobile food vendor, 8110 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland.
Taste Of Home Grill, 200 Post Ave. S.W., Winter Haven.
Station At Lake Henry, 1 Century Drive, Winter Haven.
Arabellas Ristorante, 346 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven.
Double Dragon Restaurants, 1052 U.S. 92 W., Auburndale.
Feb. 12-18: 15 Polk County food vendors fall short of standards, 2 for pests. Eight were 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 1-850-487-1395.
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 restaurants fall short of standards March 4-10. 13 were perfect