5 Polk Restaurants Temporarily Closed For Code Violations

LAKELAND, FL – If you’re planning to dine out in Polk County this weekend, you can enjoy your meal knowing that the restaurant you've chosen most likely has the seal of approval from the Florida Health Department.

In April, 132 Polk County restaurants passed the state’s health and safety requirements on the first inspection.

Another 52 restaurants didn’t pass the first inspection but quickly remedied the code violations inspectors found and subsequently passed a second inspection.

However, five Polk County restaurants were forced to temporarily shut their doors after inspectors found high-priority violations.

Among them was the Dive Inn Bar and Grill, 275 S. Lake Shore Way, Lake Alfred.

While the restaurant was cited for just seven violations on April 23, one was for evidence of rodent activity. Inspectors found fresh rodent droppings next to the stove and stove top. Corrective action was taken and the restaurant is back in business.

Also temporarily closed was the Tokyo Steakhouse, 2607 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland.

The restaurant was cited for 17 code violations on April 18 including three high-priority violations. Those violations included live roaches found in the kitchen sink, rodent droppings found in a storage area, by the ice machine, behind the reach-in freezer, behind the stock shelves on the cook line and behind the reach-in cooler in the sushi area. The restaurant was also cited for storing cleaning products next to corn starch.

Red Lobster at 3706 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland, received a poor report card as well.

On April 18, inspectors found only four code violations at the seafood restaurant but the presence of 40 to 50 live roaches in a dry food storage area and on the wall behind the cold beer refrigerator prompted inspectors to order the restaurant closed until the roaches were eliminated. The restaurant complied and passed inspection the next day.

Tam’s Classic Catering, 560 Ave. J S.E., Winter Haven, was taken to task by inspectors April 13 for 11 violations including storing raw meat over ready-to-eat food in the refrigerator, and live roaches behind and under the fryers in the kitchen.

Lucky’s restaurant at Orange Bowl Lanes, 4318 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland, was temporarily closed after receiving 14 violations on April 4. Once again, the bane of Florida, roaches, were the biggest problem. Live roaches were discovered in the food preparation area, under dirty towels in the dry food storage area, in the base board next to the ice machine and on the side of the pizza oven.

Although they didn’t necessitate a temporary closure, Polk County restaurants with the most code violations (minor, intermediate and high-priority violations) in April were:

32 violation: Manny’s Original Chophouse, 5125 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

23 violations: Fred’s Market Restaurant, 2120 Harden Blvd., Lakeland

16 violations: Steak N’ Shake, 6930 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven

16 violations: Spice Thai Sushi, 3895 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

15 violations: Cozy Oaks Restaurant, 1201 E. Orange St., Lakeland.

To find out more about the specific code violations, visit the Restaurant Inspection website

Image via Tokyo Steak House