Restaurant Report: 7 Eateries Shut Down Temporarily

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at seven 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 closings, but food storage issues and flying insects were also concern at some of the shuttered establishments. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending July 19, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Tampa

Hungry Howies, 6207 E. Hillsborough Ave.

• Initial inspection date – July 13
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 17

Inspectors noted a number of violations, but pointed to the discovery of live roaches and roach excrement as high priorities. They also noted that an employee dried hands on a soiled towel. The eatery was allowed to reopen after a follow-up inspection on July 14.

Highland Oaks Café, 10150 Highland Manor Drive, Suite 110

• Initial inspection date – July 16
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 9

The inspector noted live roach activity, an employee’s failure to wash hands and roach excrement found next to the Coke machine. The eatery was allowed to reopen following a secondary inspection on July 17 during which only one basic violation was found.

Jersey Mike’s Subs, 14925 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – July 16
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 0
• Basic violations – 8

Inspectors noted a high volume of live roach activity. “15+ live between wall and grease trap, next to 3 compartment sing, soda bag in boxes and prep table 30+ live under cooler drawers middle of hot line.” A follow-up inspection conducted July 17 resulted in the restaurant being allowed to reopen.

Pica Aqui, 8330 N. Florida Ave.

• Initial inspection date – July 17
• High priority violations – 4
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 12

Inspectors noted small flying insects in the kitchen and an issue with live roaches. The eatery failed to meet standards during a follow-up inspection July 18.

Westin Harbour Island, 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – July 17
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 3

The inspector noted live roaches found in the kitchen chef office, the mop room, on the cooks’ line and in the dish machine area. The restaurant met inspection standards on a follow-up visit conducted the same day.

Beef ‘O’Brady’s, 9331 E. Adamo Drive

• Initial inspection date – July 17
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 7
• Basic violations – 23

Inspectors noted finding flying insects in the kitchen, live roach activity and the storage of raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. A follow-up inspection on July 18 resulted in the inspector saying an additional inspection was required.

Clearwater

La Chiquita Panaderia and Pasteleria, 1907 Drew St., Suite A

• Initial inspection date – July 14
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 7

Inspectors noted live roach activity, food temperature concerns and use of improper pesticide found inside the business, among other violations. The eatery failed to meet standards in follow-up inspections conducted July 15 and July 16. It met standards during a July 17 inspection.

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