Nine South Florida restaurants were temporarily closed last week after the state found violations including a chewed-through, half-eaten bag of biscuits with “visible gnaw marks” and 150 “live insects” crawling over various types of dried pasta and a lidless container of olives.
The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for “high-priority violations,” such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
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66 rodent droppings, ‘objectionable odors’ in kitchen: 6 South Florida restaurants shut
Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please don’t contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.)
BROWARD COUNTY
McSorley’s Beach Pub & Rooftop
837 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Sept. 8
Why: 15 violations (three high-priority), including:
At least seven live roaches “under chest freezer in kitchen by triple sink” and “under prep table on cook line.”
About five live flies “at triple sink — observed one land on clean plate.”
Two soda guns/holsters at main bar “soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.”
“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on all cook line equipment door handles and gaskets.”
“Cook washed hands with no soap.”
Status: Closed Sept. 9 after a follow-up inspection found four violations (two high-priority). Reopened later that day after a reinspection found two intermediate violations.
Brandon Asian Cuisine
6417 Stirling Road, Davie
Ordered shut: Sept. 8
Why: Five violations (one high-priority), including:
Three live roaches “inside of the front counter hand sink,” “on the door frame on the wall in the kitchen leading to a dry storage area between the kitchen and dining room” and “on the outside of a bin containing canned goods in the storage room between the kitchen and the dining room.”
Rice stored on floor “in a dry storage area between the kitchen and dining room.”
“The shelf and lid on the ice machine is sticky and soiled with accumulated dust.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 9 after a second inspection found two basic violations.
Rocca Trattoria Italian Restaurant
2014 E. Sample Road, Lighthouse Point
Ordered shut: Sept. 11
Why: 14 violations (three high-priority), including:
About 150 live insects in kitchen “resting and crawling on floor under hand sink opposite cook line,” “crawling on dried pasta, lasagna, elbow noodles, on container of black olives stored with no lid, and all over food prep table in front of hand sink.” (Stop sale ordered on the food items.)
“Observed container of raw fish stored on shelf above opened carton of heavy cream in two-door, reach-in cooler in kitchen.”
“Clam tags not marked with last date served.”
“Food debris, mold-like substance or slime … observed on can opener blade and on can opener stored at food prep table in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 12 after a follow-up inspection found one intermediate violation.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Palm Beach Bagel
1200 Yamato Road, No. C1, Boca Raton
Ordered shut: Sept. 8
Why: 13 violations (eight high-priority), including:
About 40 live flies “at front counter, bagel prep area … landing on wall above prep counter and on boxes of single-service containers and napkins,” “at back kitchen/cook line area … landing on wall at prep counters and dry storage shelves” and “at dining room area … landing on walls above dining tables.”
“In the walk-in cooler, shell eggs were placed above cooked potatoes.”
Time/temperature issues involved whipped butter and chicken.
“Employee [had] no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.”
“Employee moved dirty dishes to dishwasher then proceeded to handle clean dishes without washing their hands.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 9 after a reinspection found no violations. A follow-up inspection was required.
Wendy’s
701 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach
Ordered shut: Sept. 10
Why: Five violations (three high-priority), including:
About 15 rodent droppings “on floor next to boxes of single-service items at outside walk-in cooler that is no longer operating as a cold-holding unit and converted to dry storage closet.”
Stop sale ordered for bag of biscuits with “chewed-through plastic and half-eaten with visible gnaw marks at bread rack” and “saltine cracker pack [with] chewed-through plastic and half-eaten with visible gnaw marks” at back dry storage area in kitchen.
“Observed single-service items stored on floor of outside storage shed.”
Status: Closed Sept. 11 after a second visit found two violations (one high-priority). Reopened Sept. 12 after a third inspection found one basic violation.
Miyi La Cubanita Cuban Cafe
1332 NW Second Ave., Boca Raton
Ordered shut: Sept. 10
Why: 12 violations (nine high-priority), including:
About 36 rodent droppings in kitchen “on floor under prep table/storage shelves,” “on prep table” and “on shelves/inside storage containers.”
“Server handled soiled dishes while removing from [customer] table and carrying to dish area, then picked up plated food for new customers without washing hands.”
Stop sale ordered for cooked chicken and cooked rice “due to temperature abuse.”
Other time/temperature issue involved sliced cheese.
“Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then prepared ready-to-eat food without washing hands.”
“At walk-in cooler, raw bacon stored over ready-to-eat deli sandwiches.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 11 after a second inspection found no violations.
Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen
204 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
Ordered shut: Sept. 10
Why: Eight violations (three high-priority), including:
Seven live roaches in kitchen inside “unused old dirty ice cream cooler used as a storage cabinet” and “in spoons container at coffee station.”
Two dead roaches in kitchen “on the floor” and “in spoons container at coffee station.”
Time/temperature issues involved cream cheese, sausage gravy, chicken sausage, cooked chicken and pasta.
Pitcher, milk container at coffee station “soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.”
“Spoons, forks stored in dirty containers.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 11 after a second inspection found no violations.
Tom Sawyer’s Country Restaurant & Pastry Shop
1759 NW Second Ave., Boca Raton
Ordered shut: Sept. 11
Why: Eight violations (six high-priority), including:
About 33 live roaches in kitchen “inside paper towel dispenser at cook-line hand wash sink” and “crawling on wall behind prep table,” as well as “on expo window” and “on floor at expo window service area.”
“Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat cheese and bread without washing hands.”
“Employee touched face/mouth and then handled clean utensils to prepare pancakes and touched French toast while preparing without washing hands.”
“At reach-in freezer, opened bag of raw comminuted beef stored over cooked potatoes.”
“At walk-in cooler, raw shell eggs stored over pasteurized liquid eggs.”
Cut tomatoes and cut lettuce “being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 12 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings
1000 S. State Road 7, Wellington
Ordered shut: Sept. 12
Why: 16 violations (seven high-priority), including:
About 97 live flies in kitchen areas such as “on clean and sanitized dishes, paper towels, open single-service boxes of single-service, to-go items,” “under dish machine and on wall around dish machine,” “on pizza boxes,” “on bag of onions,” “in soda syrup dispenser room on bags of syrup,” “under food preparation table next to stove with dry seasonings” and “on clean metal trays and plastic food bins.”
Stop sale ordered for cooked meatballs “due to temperature abuse.”
“Throughout kitchen, floors soiled with food debris under all equipment and along walls.”
“Employee removed hat and fixed hair and, without washing hands, employee handled clean and sanitized dishes.”
“Employee handled rim of trash can to move it and after, without washing hands, employee handled cut onions and clean utensils to prepare customer salad.” (Stop sale ordered for “cut onions and two portions of mixed salad.”)
Status: Reopened Sept. 13 after a second inspection found no violations.
