Last week, the state discovered problems including 133 rodent droppings in the kitchen and dining room area, ice cream stored uncovered in a reach-in cooler, and contaminated croissants. Seven restaurants in South Florida have been temporarily closed.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically covers restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We are selective in our weekly inspections and focus on locations ordered to close due to “high priority violations” such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
Restaurants that fail state inspections must close until they pass a follow-up. If you discover a possible violation and would like to file a complaint, please contact Florida DBPR. (But please don't contact us. The Sun Sentinel does not inspect restaurants.)
Le Bon Gou, Lake Worth Beach
1230 South Dixie Highway
Ordered to close: March 12th. Reopening on March 13th
why: There were 16 violations (8 high-priority), including 16 live flies found on items such as “salad mix in containers on the kitchen table,” bags of rice in the dry food storage room, and “boxes of peppers.” was discovered in. ”
Additionally, the report notes that the food was “contaminated by live flying insects and the operator continued to serve the food.”
In the dining room, 11 rodent droppings were found “on the floor behind the white foam bowl box between the chest freezer and beverage cooler,” “behind the beverage cooler,” and “in the HVAC closet in the hallway.” Ta. There were also mouse scratch marks on the “cabinet door and cabinet door frame in the front counter cash register area.”
Restaurants had to stop selling salad mixes, boiled eggs and boiled plantains due to temperature issues.
The state also found that employees' personal beverages were “stored with food in a glass-door cooler in the kitchen,” and personal clothing was “stored on top of a pepper box in the dry food storage room.” and observed that “clothing was stuffed into holes in the cabinets.” Front counter cashier area.
A follow-up inspection the next day found no violations and the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
The Breakfast Shack (Boynton Beach)
3469 Boynton Beach Boulevard, Suite 1
Ordered to close: March 12th. Reopening on March 13th
why: Three violations (one high priority) including “approximately 10 live cockroaches on the underside of a flip-top cooler on the kitchen prep line.”
Approximately 23 dead cockroaches were found in the kitchen. “Inside the electrical box under the breaker on the wall right next to the flip-top cooler on the cooking line” and “Inside the electrical box right next to the toaster on the front line.” The can opener was “soiled with food particles.”
A follow-up inspection found no violations, and the restaurant reopened the next day.
The Sidewalk Chef, Fort Lauderdale
6500 NW 12th Ave., Suite 101
Ordered to close: March 12th. Reopening on March 13th
why: 7 violations (3 high priority). 133 rodents in various kitchen areas such as “behind the grill”, “on the floor under and behind the prep table”, “under the double convection oven”, “under the wire rack”, “under the steam” Contains feces. table,” and “floor in dining room area.”
The report also cited “raw egg wash stored on top of ready-to-eat eggplant in the walk-in cooler,” “several cracked blackout panels in the kitchen,” and “covered eggplant in the walk-in cooler.” They also point out “no turkey slices'' and “wet wipes.'' Located on the prep counter in the kitchen area. ”
The state found one basic violation during a follow-up inspection the next day, and the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
Pepper Cafe Restaurant (Fort Lauderdale)
1560 NE 4th Avenue
Ordered to close: March 13th. Reopening on March 13th
why: There were 5 violations (2 high priority), including 3 live cockroaches “at the entrance to the cooking line” and “under the compressor area and chest freezer at the entrance to the cooking line” .
The restaurant had removed its three-compartment sink and “no other means of washing dishes were available,” the report said.
A follow-up inspection the same day found some basic moderate violations, but the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
Silver Spoon Takeout (Fort Lauderdale)
81 SW 31 Avenue
Ordered to close: March 13th. Reopening on March 14th
why: Four violations (three high-priority violations), including “approximately 10 live cockroaches on the wall of the hand washing sink in the kitchen.”
The inspection also raised red flags when “non-food grade bags” were used “in direct contact with food” and found specially prepared dough in “gratitude bags” in reach-in coolers. It was done.
A follow-up state inspection the next day found one high-priority violation and one medium-priority violation, but the takeout shop was able to reopen.
Matchbox Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise
1860 Sawgrass Mills Circle, No. 5100
Ordered to close: March 15th. Reopening on March 16th
why: There were 10 violations (four with the highest priority), including 15 live flies observed “around the kitchen area”, “around the pizza station”, “flip-top cooler cover”, and on dishes. It is included.
The blanched asparagus was “kept next to the raw crab cakes,” and the Gouda and fresh mozzarella both had to be tossed due to “temperature abuse.”
Other violations include “unlabeled bottles of sanitizer in bar area,” “hand wash sink used to hold bags of corn,” and “ice cream stored without cover in reach-in cooler.” , and “Storing employee bags on wiping cloths.'' Prep table next to freezer in production area. ”
A follow-up inspection found no violations, and the restaurant reopened the next day.
Paul's Fresh Bakery, Sunrise
1800 Sawgrass Mills Circle, No. 2500
Ordered to close: March 15th. Reopening on March 16th
why: 8 violations (4 high priority) including approximately 19 live flies found on “greased paper holding bread in display area'', “above hand wash sink'', and “hand wash next to ice machine''. Lives on paper towels in sinks, on rolls in display areas, around dry storage areas, and in bakery areas. One was seen landing on a ready-to-eat croissant.
Other violations: “Wet dish towel/towel in use under cutting board” and “Raw animal product not separated from ready-to-eat food during cooking” (raw bacon kept on top of prosciutto).
Furthermore, employees were also found eating in the kitchen.
An inspection the next day found two moderate violations, but the bakery was able to reopen.
