Restaurant Inspections: Moldy Soda Nozzles, Roaches, Grease

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at four restaurants in the Tampa Bay area last week when conditions inside didn’t meet standards.

Roaches, moldy freezers and soda machines, and dirty conditions were among the biggest reasons behind the closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Nov. 30, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shuttered until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Alex’s BBQ, 5362 W. Village Drive

• Inspection date – Nov. 24
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 18

The inspector noted a number of issues, including a mold-like substance “on/around soda dispensing nozzles,” food residue inside the freezer and no paper towels. Live roaches were also a concern. Two were found next to a freezer, about 20 under the prep table and about 30 on an AC filter near a refrigerator. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up visit on Nov. 25.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company, 1600 E. 8th Ave.

• Inspection date – Nov. 23
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 14

Problems at this popular brewery continued into last week following prior shutdowns. This time the inspector noted employee failure to wash hands, live roaches and live flying insects as concerns. The establishment failed to meet state standards during a follow-up visit on Nov. 23, but did during a Nov. 24 inspection. No high priority violations were noted during the Nov. 24 visit.

Temple Terrace

Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant, 9255 N. 56th St.

• Inspection date – Nov. 23
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 15

The inspector noted such concerns as a “black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine,” improper food storage and soil residue build up on the tortilla bins. Roaches, both alive and dead, also raised red flags. The state report noted live roaches found in a closet and on shelving. About 40 were also found “under and inside of reach in freezer.” The eatery met state standards during a Nov. 24 follow-up inspection.

Largo

China Wok, 7749 Ulmerton Road

• Inspection date – Nov. 25
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 10

The inspector noted such concerns as employee failure to wear a hair net, grease accumulation and improper food storage. High priority concerns included the presence of live roaches. An estimated 15 critters were found crawling under the freezer in the kitchen, the state report said. The restaurant met state standards during a Nov. 26 follow-up inspection.

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