New Port Richey Restaurant Cited For 34 Violations: Inspectors

PASCO COUNTY, FL – Ants in the kitchen, a dirty can opener and a dirty mop in a kitchen sink are some of the violations that Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors found recently in Pasco County restaurants.

Orchids Thai, 8647 Regency Park Blvd., New Port Richey, was cited for 34 violations on June 7, including small ants crawling on wall and prep table in kitchen between refrigerator and dishwasher; unwashed fruits/vegetables stored over shredded cabbage and cooked ducks; no probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food; ready-to-eat food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked (cooked duck, crab Rangoon, spring roll cabbage mix); and soil residue buildup on nonfood-contact surfaces, including gaskets, fryer, stove and oven, and wok cooktop.

Topher's Pizza And Grill, 1312 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey, was cited for 23 violations on June 6, including ground beef thawed in an improper manner; several tiles with vents soiled with accumulation of dust; encrusted material on can opener blade; and handwash sink not accessible for employee use due to being blocked by garbage can.

Gunn Highway Flea Market, 2317 Gunn Hwy, Odessa, was cited for 12 violations on June 1, including employee dumping dirty mop water in sink; encrusted material on can opener blade; and buildup of grease and debris on hood filters.

In the last 30 days, 49 Pasco County restaurants did not pass the first inspection while 54 restaurants aced the first visit.

The inspectors made note of three Pasco County restaurants that passed inspections without any violations: Crimson A1 Barbecue, 18321 Geraldine Road, Dade City; Joe's Hot Dogs, 6936 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey; and Milton Hetrick Beverages, 6238 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.

For more details on Pasco County restaurant inspections, click here.

Note: Most of the restaurants with violations corrected the violations and have passed subsequent inspections.

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