9 Polk County restaurants fail to meet standards. 21 were perfect

Nine Polk County restaurants fell short of standards during the week from March 11 to 17, according to state inspection reports.

Of 80 total inspections listed throughout the county, 71 food vendors met standards, and 21 (more than a quarter of all inspections for the week) had perfect initial inspections.

For the fourth week in a row, no restaurants had violations related to rodents or insects.

Of the nine that fell short, there were 41 total violations, and 12 of those violations were clerical in nature – such as expired licenses or a lack of certification, proof of food-safety training for employees or written procedures for vomiting or diarrheal events.

View for yourself: Search inspections for any restaurant in Polk County and beyond

The other violations were for a wide variety of offenses, from broken tiles or leaking pipes, to more serious violations like storing or handling food improperly. Some of the most common violations this week were related to handwash sinks: either they weren’t accessible, lacked supplies such as soap or towels, or they were being used for purposes other than handwashing.

Even when restaurants fall short of standards, their violations might not be all that alarming to the common diner. That’s why each week, The Ledger details each violation for restaurants that failed to meet standards, to let readers decide.

And remember, just because a restaurant met standards, doesn’t mean it didn’t have violations that would make diners cringe. To view inspections for any restaurant in Polk County (and beyond), go to our searchable database at https://data.theledger.com/restaurant-inspections/polk.

Restaurants that fell short

Here’s a look at restaurants that did not meet standards during the week. In each case a follow-up inspection was mandated, but no follow-up had been recorded in state reports by Friday.

• Low And Slow Smokehouse, 1853 E. Memorial Blvd. Suite 105, Lakeland: On March 11, the restaurant had eight violations, including three labeled high priority. One was chlorine sanitizer that wasn’t at the proper strength for manual warewashing. Another was for dented or rusted cans (a stop sale was issued on those items). And the third was for a vacuum breaker missing on a hose bib. Among its intermediate violations, one was for a soiled can opener, another was for a spray bottle containing a toxic substance that wasn’t labeled, and the third was for failing to provide proof of state-approved employee training. Finally, two basic violations were for a missing ceiling tile and a reach-in freezer with exposed insulation and wiring.

March 4-10: 8 Polk restaurants fall short of inspection standards. See the reasons why

• El Antojo Colombiano, 300 E. Hinson Ave., Haines City: On March 12, 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 beef stored over ready-to-eat vegetables in dry storage. The inspector also said a cutting board had cut marks that made it uncleanable, a basic violation.

• Brew Hounds Sports Lounge, 318 Havendale Blvd., Auburndale: On March 13, the sports lounge had two violations. One was a high-priority violation for operating with an expired license. One was a basic violation for an accumulation of food debris in a microwave.

• Catering Company of Central Florida, 2090 Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven: On March 13, the catering business had nine violations. Among five intermediate violations, the inspector noted a soiled can-opener blade, no soap at the handwash sink, no hand-drying towels or mechanical device at the hand wash sink, the person in charge lacked proof of certification and the facility lacked proof of required employee training. And there were four basic violations: a mold-like substance on an interior panel of an ice machine, an employee’s jacket stored in or above a food-prep area, chicken breast being thawed in an improper way in standing water in the two-compartment sink, and water leaking from a pipe on the outside of the walk-in cooler.

• The Purple Pit Stop, 205 Broadway Blvd. SE, Polk City: On March 13, the restaurant had four violations. One was for operating with an expired license (high priority), another was for lacking proof of required employee training (intermediate). The two others were basic violations: an employee preparing food without a hairnet and a container of shortening stored on the floor of a storage area.

• UVA Bar And Lounge, 5153 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On March 15, the lounge had just one violation: the person in charge lacking proof of certification (intermediate).

• Hibachi Express, 6011 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven: On March 15, the restaurant had eight violations. Five were intermediate, among them: a handwash sink wasn’t accessible because of pans, lids and a rolling cart; no paper towels or hand-drying device at either of the two handwash sinks, no soap at the handwash sink in the dishwasher area; no written procedures for employees to follow in a vomiting or diarrheal event; and no proof of required employee food-safety training. Among three basic violations, the inspector noted cardboard was used to line food-contact shelves in a walk-in cooler; a bag of tempura batter was stored on the floor; and in-use utensils were stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees (in this case spatulas on the cook line stored in 85-degree water).

• Marriott Towneplace Suites, 3370 U.S. 98 S., Lakeland: On March 15, the restaurant had three violations. One intermediate was for having a container in the handwash sink (indicating the sink was being used for purposes other than handwashing. Another intermediate violation was for lacking proof of required employee food-safety training. Finally a basic violation was for a box of apples stored on the floor.

• Cicala's Pizzeria and Restaurant, 2977 Duff Road, Lakeland: On March 15, the restaurant had three violations, including one high priority. That was for raw intact eggs stored over salad in a walk-in cooler. There were two intermediate violations: one for a soiled can-opener blade, and another for lacking proof of required food-safety training for employees.

Feb. 27 to March 3: Nine Polk County food vendors fall short of standards in latest inspections. See why here

Perfect

Here’s a look at the 21 Polk County food vendors that received perfect initial inspections. An initial inspection is one that isn’t a follow-up mandated by previous violations. Among these vendors, seven were mobile vendors, such as food trucks. Three were caterers based at Catapult in Lakeland. Eight were restaurants at the Legoland Florida theme parks.

• Wagner Burgers, mobile vendor, 15 N. 5 St., Haines City

• Bandidas, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)

• Sotta Terra, 1000 Streamsong Drive, Streamsong

• J&M Food Vending and Catering, mobile vendor, 1800 State Road 559, Auburndale

• Got Candy & More, AKA Got Desserts, mobile vendor, 226 W. Central Ave., Bartow

• The Chicks' Coop, mobile vendor, 2908 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

• The Dugout, 34 S.W. Dr. MLK St., Fort Meade

• Taqueria La Carreta, mobile vendor, 1818 W. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland

• Doggin It, mobile vendor, 841 Lake Hurst St., Lakeland

• Taqueria Del Angel, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)

• Baked Butcher, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Suite 1, Lakeland (Catapult)

• Chipotle Mexican Grill, 49539 U.S. 27, Davenport

• Courtyard by Marriott Winter Haven, 6225 Cypress Gardens Blvd. S.E., Winter Haven

And the following restaurants at Legoland Florida, 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, received perfect inspections:

• Aramark at Legoland Ninja Kitchen, mobile vendor

• Aramark at Legoland Florida Funnel Cakes

• Aramark at Legoland Kingdom Cones

• Aramark at Legoland Burger Kitchen

• Aramark at Legoland Florida Heartlake (Sunnys Ice Cream Shop)

• Aramark at Legoland Pizza Pasta

• Aramark at Legoland Market Restaurant

• Aramark at Legoland Grannys Apple Fries

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: 9 Polk County restaurants fail to meet standards March 11 to 17