George's Grill, Sheraton Island Cafe Cited By Health Inspectors

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – Rodent droppings, sauce with hair inside and a soiled vending machine are some of the violations that Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors found last week in Pinellas County restaurants.

Sheraton Island Cafe, 1160 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater Beach, was cited for four violations on March 1, including raw frozen turkey burgers stored over French fries. Inspectors also stopped the sale of chilled food held at potentially hazardous warm temperatures, including Feta, cooked chicken, shredded cheese and smoked salmon; these foods were thrown out.

Bar Louie Clearwater, 27001 Us Hwy 19 N #1065, Clearwater, was cited for 16 violations, including floor tiles cracked, broken or in disrepair on the cook line; water leaking from pipe of dish machine at bar; flies found in bar area; amd sauce with a piece of hair inside found in cooler opposite grill - sauce discarded.

Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill. 2950 Gulf To Bay Blvd, Clearwater, was cited for 18 violations on March 1, including dry rodent droppings found at corner area behind bar (removed by employee); three dead roaches found on floor inside walk in cooler; walk-in cooler not maintained in good repair; old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils; and interior of microwave soiled with encrusted food debris.

George's Grill, 1838 49 St S, St. Petersburg, was cited for eight violations on Feb. 28, including vending machine exterior soiled; buildup of grease on shelf under stove burners; and operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

In the last 21 days, 175 Pinellas County restaurants did not pass the first inspection while 255 restaurants aced the first visit. Inspectors made note of six Pinellas County restaurants that recently passed inspections without any violations: Outback Steakhouse, 7885 113th St., Seminole; Caracara, 730 Broadway St. #4, Dunedin; Ribhi Seafood, 2531 58 St N, St. Petersburg; Mari Jean Hotel, 2349 Central Ave, Saint Petersburg; Fiesta Bowls, 6657 49 St N, Pinellas Park; and Umami Endless Sushi & Bar, 3942 Tyrone Blvd N Ste D, St. Petersburg.

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

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