4 Eateries Temporarily Shuttered by State

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at four Tampa Bay area eateries last week when conditions inside didn’t meet guidelines for health and safety.

Roach activity was one of the biggest reasons behind the forced closings, but other violations included the presence of rats, food storage at improper food storage temperatures and filthy conditions, among others.

In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending June 21, the state noted these establishments had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Tampa Tap Room, 13150 N. Dale Mabry Highway

• Inspection date: June 18
• High priority violations: 6
• Intermediate violations: 5
• Basic violations: 20

Inspectors noted such violations as “roach activity present,” “small flying insects in bar area,” “accumulation of black/green mold-like substance inside the ice bin,” among other concerns.

The restaurant “met inspection standards” on a follow up inspection conducted June 19.

Paradise Biryani Pointe, 1406 E. Fowler Ave.

• Inspection date: June 19
• High priority violations: 7
• Intermediate violations: 7
• Basic violations: 27

Inspectors noted such violations as “roach activity present,” “single-use gloves not changed as needed,” “raw animal food stored over cooked food.”

A follow-up inspection on June 20 resulted in the restaurant’s continued closing until “violations are corrected.”

Clearwater

Burger King, 23904 U.S. 19 N.

• Inspection date: June 18
• High priority violations: 5
• Basic violations: 11

Inspectors noted “live rodent activity present as evidenced by gnaw marks on bun beneath front counter,” according to the state’s inspection report. Other high priority violations included temperature control problems.

A second inspection on June 18 found that conditions inside “met inspection standards.”

Sarasota

Bitias Taqueria, 3436 17 St.

• Inspection date: June 18
• High priority violations: 2
• Intermediate violations: 3
• Basic violations: 5

Inspectors noted “roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found,” according to the report. “Observed approximately 9 live roaches at mop sink, 5 live roaches beneath bar counter near steam tables, 2 live roaches at kitchen entrance, 2 live roaches on floor of dining room.”

A follow up inspection on June 19 resulted in the eatery meeting inspection standards.

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