- China Wok, 3686 Harden Blvd., Lakeland: On Jan. 30, the restaurant had seven violations. Three were intermediate: no written procedures for employees to follow in a vomiting or diarrheal event; a can opener soiled with food debris; and ready-to-eat, temperature-controlled food held more than 24 hours without a date mark (egg rolls and general chicken in the walk-in cooler).
The others were basic: All the gaskets on the reach-in and walk-in coolers were soiled; the dumpster lid was open; the vending machine exterior was soiled; and waste cleaning water was dumped into an outside drain on the ground.
A warning was issued. In a callback on Jan. 31, the restaurant met standards with only two violations remaining: the soiled gaskets and the undated food.
- Crafty Crab, 4266 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Jan. 14, the restaurant had six violations, including two high priority. Both of those were related to the same incident: Food (in this case a bottle of juice) was stored in ice that was used for drinks at a service station (one violation was for the stored juice, the other for a stop sale on the ice).
The restaurant received an intermediate violation because its required, state-approved employee training was expired for all employees. And there were three basic violations: an accumulation of a mold-like substance in the ice machine; an accumulation of debris on the exterior of the warewashing machine; and an in-use utensil was stored in standing water less than 135 degrees (in this case, 72 degrees).
- Taqueria El Dorado, 1155 W. Pipkin Road, Lakeland: On Jan. 31, the food truck had six violations, including one high-priority for operating with no potable running water. This was caused by an improper hose connection to the holding tank. There was one intermediate violation for the person in charge lacking food-manager certification.
The other violations were basic: an employee chewing gum while prepping food; an employee cell phone was on a cutting board; an employee with no hair restraint was prepping food; and bags of sugar and onions were stored on the floor.
A warning was issued. In a callback on Feb. 7, the food truck met standards with zero violations.
- HGI Lakeland Great American Grill, 3839 Don Emerson Drive, Lakeland: On Jan. 15, the restaurant had a callback mandated by a November inspection. Four violations remained: a potato slicer soiled with food debris (intermediate); food manager lacked proof of certification (intermediate); a light in the hood system was malfunctioning (basic); and gaskets on a reach-in cooler were soiled (basic). An administrative complaint was recommended.
- Gosh! Pan-Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar, 4742 S. Florida Ave. Unit 4, Lakeland: On Jan. 15, the restaurant had three violations. One was intermediate: no proof of required, state-approved employee training. The other two were basic: an accumulation of debris on the exterior of the warewashing machine, and a rice cooker that was soiled on the exterior. A warning was issued.
- Culver’s Lakeland, 5246 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Jan. 16, the restaurant had three violations, including a high-priority violation for a dischmachine failing to mix sanitizier. The other violations were basic: an accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine, and soiled shelves in a reach-in cooler. A warning was issued, and in a Jan. 27 callback, the restaurant met standards with zero violations.
- Subs N Such # 1, 1008 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland: On Jan. 17, the restaurant had three violations. Two were intermediate: the food manager’s certification was expired, and a wire food strainer was in the handwash sink (indicating the sink was used for purposes other than handwashing). The other was basic: soiled gaskets on a reach-in cooler door. A warning was issued.
- Athenian Breakfast & Burgers, 1215 W. Ariana St. #H6, Lakeland: On Jan. 16, the restaurant had two intermediate violations: an employee washed her hands at the mop sink, and the food manager’s certification was expired. A warning was issued.
- Tropical Smoothie Café, 4270 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland: On Jan. 30, the restaurant had two violations, both basic, and both seemingly related to the same plumbing issue: a bathroom floor covered in standing water, and a toilet spraying water from the fresh water tank. A warning was issued. On Feb. 3, the restaurant met standards with zero violations.
Keep in mind as you read
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 850-487-1395.
The terminology
What does all that terminology in state restaurant inspections mean?
Basic violations are those considered against best practices.
A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.
An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: “Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over.”
An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.
A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license and the establishment may reopen only after inspection shows that all high-priority violations that caused the suspension are corrected.