One Polk County restaurant closed temporarily for roaches. 9 others warned, 10 perfect
One Polk County restaurant was temporarily closed to deal with roaches during the period from Jan. 22 to 28, according to state inspection reports.
Of 119 total inspections during the week, 109 met standards and 10 fell short and required a follow-up.
On Jan. 25, King's Wok at 5363 N. Socrum Loop Road in Lakeland was ordered to temporarily close after an inspector noted 19 live roaches, including 10 on paper towels at the handwash sink, six on a slicer under the food prep table, one on a wall near the three-compartment sink and two under a glass door on a reach-in cooler at the front counter.
The restaurant also had two basic violations, according to the inspection report: one for a container of sauce stored on the floor in a cooler and one for soiled gaskets in units on the cookline and counters and shelves in the kitchen.
In a callback the next day, the restaurant passed inspection with zero violations.
View for yourself: Take a look at inspection reports for any restaurant in Polk County
It was the only Polk County restaurant that received violations for rodents or insects during the week. But it wasn’t the only one to fall short of standards. Nine others received warnings or administrative complaints requiring a follow-up inspection.
Those warnings were for a wide variety of violations. Some are for clear problems with food safety or cleanliness. Some are for clerical issues related to licensing, certification or employee training. Many are for violations of “best practices,” things that common diners may or may not consider problems. We detail them here so you can decide.
Restaurants falling short in their inspections
Sushi Masa Seafood & Japanese Fusion, 5700 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Jan. 26, the restaurant received 10 violations: four were high-priority, three intermediate and three basic. Among the high-priority violations, the inspector noted an employee placing cooked shrimp on a plate with their bare hands. The inspector also noted an employee washing their hands without soap. The third high-priority violation was for raw chicken stored over sushi rolls in the flip-top reach-in cooler. The inspector said the chicken was relocated and the sushi rolls are deep fried.
Among the intermediate violations, one was for an employee washing his hands in the three-compartment sink (it’s only supposed to be done in the handwash sink). Another was for a faulty chemical test kit measuring the wrong concentration of sanitizer in the dish machine. The other was for lacking written procedures for time- or temperature-controlled food storage.
Finally, the basic violations were for a bathroom door that was left open, failing to have a written copy of procedures for bare-hand contact with food, and an in-use knife that was stored between a cooler and a prep table.
Jan. 15-21: 5 Polk County restaurants fall short of inspection standards. Four are perfect
Pizzanos Pizza And Grinderz, 126 California Blvd., Davenport: On Jan. 26, the restaurant received nine violations, one high priority, four intermediate and four basic. The high-priority violation was for a “toxic substance improperly stored,” in this case, a bottle of degreaser on a shelf above single-service items.
One intermediate violation was for a bottle of degreaser that wasn’t properly labeled. The report didn’t say whether those two violations were for the same bottle. Three other intermediate violations were related to employee training or manager certification (which was expired).
Among the basic violations, one was for using cardboard to line shelves above the prep table next to the pizza oven. One was for using duct tape to repair a part of the freezer. One was employee hats that were stored on the clean dish rack. The last was for cheese stored in a cracked pan in the walk-in cooler.
Banh Mi Factory & More, 3615 S. Florida Ave. #940, Lakeland: On Jan. 25, the restaurant received eight violations, including three basic and five intermediate.
Among the intermediates, three were related to employee training on food safety or public health. One was for the manager lacking proof of certification. One was for a white container in the handwash sink, indicating the sink wasn’t “accessible for employee use at all times.”
Among the basic violations, one was for an employee purse “stored in or above a food preparation area,” in this case on a shelf along the wall behind the cookline. One was for a case of beef stored on the floor and another was for an in-use rice spoon stored in water less than 135 degrees. The last two violations were corrected on site, according to the report.
Angela’s Pizza, 3800 US 98 N. #664, Lakeland: On Jan. 24, the restaurant had three intermediate violations and one basic. One intermediate was for using the handwash sink for something other than hand washing (trays in the sink, which were removed by an employee). The other two intermediate violations were for the manager lacking proof of certification and for the restaurant failing to provide proof of state-mandated employee training. The basic violation was for debris on the interior shield of the ice machine.
Riverside Express Seafood Market, 130 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland: On Jan. 25, the restaurant had three intermediate violations and one basic. Among the intermediate violations, the manager’s certification was expired, an ice chute in the dining room was soiled with debris and the handwash sink had a tea nozzle in it, indicating it was “used for purposes other than handwashing.” The basic violation was for an open dumpster lid.
Big Cypress Grill / Big Cypress Golf Club, 10000 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Jan. 26, the restaurant had one intermediate violation and two basic. The intermediate was for the manager lacking proof of certification. One basic was for a container of chicken base stored on the floor. The other was for soiled drains on the three-compartment sink and cookline.
Jan. 8-14: 8 Polk restaurants fall short of standards in latest inspections. See the reasons here
El Amigo Tacaso LLC, mobile food vendor at 3895 Recker Highway, Winter Haven: On Jan. 22, the food truck received two intermediate violations. The inspector noted a lack of hot water at its three-compartment sink and handwash sink.
Espo Food Service Inc., 5369 N. Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland: On Jan. 25, the restaurant had one basic and one intermediate violation. The intermediate violation was for failing to provide proof of employee food-safety training. The basic violation was for an accumulation of debris on the top of the warewashing machine.
Taqueria Vega, mobile vendor at 8210 Simpson Lane, Lakeland: On Jan. 24, the food truck had only one violation, operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. The license had expired on Feb. 1, 2023.
Perfection
It’s tough to get a perfect inspection, with so many things little that can go wrong. Here’s a look at 10 Polk County food vendors that did just that in the week from Jan. 22 to 28.
Polk Museum of Art, catering, 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland
Who's Next U R Next, mobile vendor based at 101 E. Central Ave., Winter Haven
Burger 21 Lakeland Food Truck, mobile vendor based at 1601 Town Center Drive, Lakeland
Schel's Kitchen, 200 Post Ave. S.W., Unit D, Winter Haven
Checkers Haines City, 36114 U.S. 27 N., Haines City
Lara's Gourmet Ice Cream, 32959 U.S. 27, Haines City
Andee's Dog House and Catering, mobile vendor based at 1901 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales
Las Katrachitas, mobile vendor based at 724 N. Wabash Ave., Lakeland
Blue Dog Craft Barbecue, caterer, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland (Catapult)
NYC Halal Cart, mobile vendor based at 100 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland
Jan. 1-7: In first week of year, no Polk restaurants are gigged for pests. But 8 require follow-ups
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: One Polk County restaurant closed temporarily because of roaches
