Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar in the Lake Wales Country Club was temporarily closed by state inspectors for the fifth time this year on Aug. 15 because of rodent activity.
The restaurant, at 2925 State Road 60 E, Lake Wales, was previously closed on Jan. 19, March 23, May 24 and June 14. In all of those cases, inspectors noted rodent droppings, as well as dead rodents and roaches, and in one instance live roaches. State inspection reports show a total of $1,500 in fines levied against the restaurant this year.
In the most recent inspection, the restaurant had only three total violations, but one was a high-priority violation for 21 rodent droppings found. An employee cleaned and sanitized the areas. The following day, the restaurant met standards in a follow-up inspection.
Grriffins was the only Polk County restaurant temporarily closed by inspectors from Aug. 7 to 20. And it was the only restaurant in Polk that received violations for rodents during that period, according to state reports.
These restaurants were given warnings or administrative complaints for violations that included insect activity.
- Applebees Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 4835 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 7, the restaurant received an administrative complaint for five violations, three of which were high priority. Among those, the inspector noted 11 live flies in in various parts of the kitchen and a live roach on shelving in the dish pit. The other was for several food items that were stored at a temperature higher than 41 degrees: Parmesan cheese, cheddar, cooked chicken, raw chicken and cooked rice. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up inspection two days later.
- Bonefish Grill, 225 W. Pipkin Road, Lakeland: On Aug. 8, the restaurant was given an administrative complaint for seven violations, two of which were high priority. The inspector noted two live flies at the bar, three live roaches and four dead roaches at various spots throughout the facility. The restaurant met standards two days later.
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 4829 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 7, the restaurant received a warning for 13 violations, including two high priority. The inspector noted one dead roach on the floor (a basic violation) and one live fly on the mop sink (high priority). The second high-priority violation was for a dented can of artichokes, for which a stop sale was issued. A follow-up inspection was required, but as of Friday, it wasn’t logged in state reports.
- Miller’s Lakeland Ale House, 5650 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 16, the restaurant received a warning for eight violations, including one high priority. An inspector noted two live flies on the cook line and eight in the dish area. The report also noted one dead roach, a basic violation. A follow-up is required, but as of Friday, no follow-up inspection was recorded in state reports.
- Grillsmith, 1569 Town Center Drive, Lakeland: On Aug. 10, the restaurant had an administrative complaint recommended after it received six violation, three high priority. Among those, the inspector noted 16 live flies. Another high-priority violation was for cooked pasta that was stored at a temperature higher than 41 degrees. The last one was for cooked rice and cauliflower that weren’t held above 135 degrees. The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 14 with no violations.
- Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar Grill, 3635 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Aug. 9, the restaurant received a warning for four violation, two of which were high priority. One of those was for five live flies in the mop sink area. Also, the inspector noted queso, cooked beef and cooked pork that was held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. Those violations were corrected before a follow-up inspection the next day. But another follow-up was required for an intermediate violation involving renovations that were made without submitting a plan for approval.
- Azteca D’ Oro, 1235 Parkway Frontage N., Lakeland: On Aug. 14, the restaurant received nine violations, two of which were high priority. Among those, one was for two live flies found in the bar area and one on a floor drain near the cook line. The other high-priority violation was for cold foods stored at temperatures above 41 degrees: sour cream, cream, raw chicken, salmon and cut lettuce. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up inspection two days later.
- BD’s Mongolian Grill, 1474 Town Center Drive, Lakeland: On Aug. 18, the restaurant received eight violations, one of which was high priority. The inspector noted 14 live flies on a wooden sneeze guard leg on the protein buffet, seven live flies on a sign at the bar and 10 on a soda gun at bar. A follow-up inspection is required, but as of Friday, no follow-up was recorded in state reports.
- Chili’s Grill & Bar, 3750 Lakeside Village Court, Lakeland: On Aug. 14, the restaurant had five violation, including two high priority. An inspector noted four live flies on a back prep table and a dish machine chlorine sanitizer that wasn’t at a proper minimum strength. The restaurant met standards in a follow-up two days later.
Remember that in some cases, violations are noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Remember, too, that broken refrigerators, chipped tiles or fast work may add up to unintended mistakes.
Regardless, if you notice abuses of state standards, report them and DBPR will send inspectors. Call 1-850-487-1395.