State Temporarily Closes 5 Eateries

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at five Tampa Bay area eateries last week when conditions inside didn’t meet guidelines for health and safety. A sixth restaurant also went under the microscope with inspectors saying additional follow-ups are required.

Roach activity was one of the biggest reasons behind the closings, but food storage issues and rats were also concerns at some of the shuttered establishments. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending July 26, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Lutz

Bay Pizza & Dinners, 14609 Livingston Ave.

• Initial inspection date – July 21
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermedia violations – 9
• Basic violations – 52

High priority violations included employee failure to wash hands, live roach activity, temperature abuse and storage of raw animal food over ready-to-eat food. The eatery failed to meet standards on July 22, but passed during a third inspection July 23.

Clearwater

O’Keefe’s Tap Room, 1219 S. Ft. Harrison Ave.

• Initial inspection date – July 22
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 15

The inspector noted potentially hazardous food storage conditions in relation to temperature control, improper chemical storage and live roach activity, including “14 on cook line, 4 in dishwashing area.” The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow up visit that same day with only nine basic violations left.

Hungry Howies, 1884 Drew St.

• Initial inspection date – July 23
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 9

The inspector noted improper food storage and chemical storage among the high priorities. Live roaches were also found. A follow-up inspection was conducted the same day with only one intermediate and one basic violation remaining. The inspector noted the need for an additional follow-up visit.

Tampa

Yummy House Chinese Cuisine, 2202 W. Waters Ave., No. 1

• Initial inspection date – July 20
• High priority violations – 13
• Intermediate violations – 11
• Basic violations – 51

The inspector noted failure of employees to wash hands, live flying insects in the kitchen and the presence of live rodents, among other violations. The eatery failed to meet standards during a follow-up visit July 21. A second visit that day, however, resulted in standards being met.

Pinellas Park

Hao Wah Chinese Restaurant, 10454 N. 66th St.

• Initial inspection date – July 21
• High priority violations – 7
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 21

The inspector noted such high priority concerns as improper sanitizing, live roach activity and rodent activity, among other violations. The eatery was visited again on July 22. That time the inspector noted another follow-up inspection was required, but said remaining violations posed no immediate threat to public health.

Land O’ Lakes

Note: The state’s online reporting system does not specifically say the following eatery was closed, but it was included in the Emergency Closure Report for the week ending July 26.

Ginza Japanese Restaurant, 2215 Collier Parkway

• Initial inspection date – July 21
• High priority violations – 9
• Intermediate violations – 6
• Basic violations – 27

Inspectors noted live roach activity, including 15 live roaches on the cook line and five live roaches at the sushi station. Other high priority violations included food temperature storage issues, improper chemical storage and “nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction.” During a second visit July 22, the inspector noted further review is needed.

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