Restaurant Inspections: 31 Roaches, Rodent Burrow, Bare Hands

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

Live roaches, dirty conditions, unsafe food storage and evidence of rodents were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending May 7, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Gulfport

Boca Bay Grille, 2832 Beach Blvd. S.

• Initial inspection date – May 6
• High priority violations – 9
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 15

Dirty bathrooms, dead roaches and an “objectionable odor” in the dry storage area were just some of the concerns raised by the state inspector. A dented can of skipjack tuna, dead beetles and “chew marks” on pasta bags also raised alarm bells, the state’s report noted. Among the biggest concerns, however, was evidence indicating live rodents on the premises. The inspector found rodent droppings on stored aprons, about 30 on the floor in the dry storage area, 25 more on a floor in a chemical closet, some on the dish machine and more near ice machines. Evidence of a rodent burrow was also uncovered, the inspector noted. The eatery was allowed to reopen after meeting state standards during a follow-up visit May 6.

Tampa

B Island Kitchen, 6016 N. 40th St.

• Initial inspection date – May 2
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 14

The inspector noted such concerns as employee failure to wear a hair net, improper sanitization and a dirty cutting board. High priority concerns included the discovery of flying insects in the kitchen, roach poop under the prep table and live roaches found under the prep table, on a shelf and on the cook line floor. Improper time tracking of ready-to-eat food also raised concerns, the state’s report noted. The establishment failed to meet state standards during a May 3 return visit, but did so later that same day.

Hudson

Get Hooked, 14333 Crabtrap Court

• Initial inspection date – May 2
• High priority violations – 7
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 14

The inspector noted a variety of concerns, such as an employee touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food and an accumulation of mold on the ice machine. Thirty-one live roaches were also found on the cook line, the state report noted. In addition, live, flying insects were found in the cook line area and some food was stored at potentially hazardous temperatures. The eatery failed a second inspection on May 2, but met state standards on May 3.

Oldsmar

Chef Li, 4013 Tampa Road, No. 16

• Initial inspection date – May 3
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 9

The state inspector noted such concerns as an inaccessible employee handwashing sink, dirty conditions in the kitchen and uncovered food stored in the walk-in cooler. Dead roaches were also found on a shelf below the woks, under the prep table and in the front counter area. The inspector also found live roaches – 15 below the steam table, five near the reach-in cooler, some inside the catch trays under the woks and others on shelving near the woks. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up visit on May 4.

Lakeland

Dale’s Kitchen, 223 N. Wabash Ave.

• Initial inspection date – May 2
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 0

The inspector noted potentially hazardous food temperatures and an expired license for the food manager. Roaches were also found. The inspector noted seeing about 10 to 15 live roaches across from the cook line and about five under a sink. The eatery was allowed to reopen May 3 with the need for another follow-up noted.

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