The five restaurants that fell short had a wide variety of violations, not all of which would seem egregious to the common diner.
- Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, 3901 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Jan. 29, the restaurant had five violations, two of which were high priority. Both high-priority violations were for pork and garlic sauce that was held overnight above 41 degrees. A stop-sale was ordered. The restaurant had one intermediate violation for the handwash sink being out of soap. And it had two basic violations: one for a soiled drain cover in the bar area and another for a damaged wall, also in the bar area. A follow-up was required, and during a callback the next day, the restaurant passed with zero violations.
- Palace Italian Restaurant, 6120 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Jan. 31, the restaurant had just two violations, one high priority and one basic. For the high-priority violation, the inspector found the chlorine sanitizer solution in the dish machine wasn’t at the proper minimum strength. The restaurant was ordered to stop using the dish machine until it was fixed. The basic violation was for a container of shredded cheese stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler. An employee removed the container from the floor.
- Hooters Of South Lakeland, 3437 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Feb. 1, the restaurant had one high priority violation, for a dish machine that wasn’t mixing chlorine sanitizer to the proper strength. A three-compartment sink was set up as a dish-washing station until the dish machine could be fixed.
- Fish City Grill, 1485 Town Center Drive, Lakeland: On Feb. 1, the restaurant had nine violations, including two high priority and two intermediate. One high-priority violation was for raw salmon stored over cheese slices in the reach-in drawers on the cook line. The cheese was relocated to the back of the drawer. The other high-priority violation was for operating with an expired license.
- Daily Huddle Cafe Noah’s Landing, 4700 Melody Lane, Lakeland: On Feb. 1, the restaurant had just two intermediate violations. One was for ice in the handwash sink (indicating the sink was used for something other than hand washing). The other was for lacking proof of state-mandated employee training.
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.
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