3 grill restaurants, BBQ place in Bradenton cited for major health violations

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues. The reports are public information.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, several restaurants had issues with live insects on site.

Other problems included employee handwashing issues and bare hand contact with food.

Here is what inspectors found:

Rodney’s Jamaican Grill, 814 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto

• An inspector observed one live roach in a bar area.
• An inspector observed a total of three dead roaches throughout various areas of the restaurant.
• The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Corrective action was taken.
• A food manager’s certification was expired.
• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.
• Floors were soiled under a soda dispenser and a steam table.
• An employee with facial hair was not wearing a beard guard while preparing food.
• A cutting board had cut marks and was no longer cleanable.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.

Apollonia Grill, 8235 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton

• An inspector observed six flying insects in the kitchen at a cook line area. The inspector observed one fly landing on cooked onions and one fly landing on goat cheese spread in a reach-in cooler. A stop sale was issued for the food items due to contamination, and they were discarded.

• A pesticide-emitting strip was place next to single service items. Corrective action was taken.

• A food employee changed gloves without washing hands in the process. Corrective action was taken.

• A spray hose at a dish sink was lower than the flood rim of the sink.

• A handwash sink had been removed. An inspector advised that the sink must be reinstalled in the same location where it was removed.

• Two bottles of chemical/toxic substance were not labeled.

• Two open employee beverage containers were stored in a reach-in cooler with food to be served to customers. Corrective action was taken.

• An inspector observed an employee eating in a food prep area.

• Ceiling vents were soiled with dust.

• There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice bin in the bar area.

• A follow-up inspection was required. During a follow-up visit three days later, an inspector again observed live flies on site. There were three flying insects near the cook line and five flying insects at a mop sink area.

• An employee drink was again stored in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.

• Two bottles of chemical/toxic substance were again not labeled.

• Another follow-up inspection was required.

River Club Grille, 6600 River Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

• An inspector observed approximately 15 live flying insects in a bar area. A manager stated that pest control chemicals were on back order.
• An inspector observed an employee touch a bun with a bare hand. Corrective action was taken. The bun was discarded and the employee put on gloves.
• Sliced pepperoni was stored unpackaged and unsealed at the bottom of a freezer drawer with food debris. A stop sale was issued due to food being in an unsound condition. An employee discarded the pepperoni.
• A pitcher was stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A wall near the cook line was soiled.
• Ketchup and mustard bottles were stored on the floor in a dry storage area. Corrective action was taken.
• Floors in between equipment were soiled throughout the kitchen.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit.

Mission BBQ, 4501 14th St. W., Bradenton

• An employee failed to change gloves/wash hands before beginning food preparation, according to an inspector. Corrective action was taken.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.
• A can of cream corn and a can of green beans were dented at the seam. Corrective action was taken. The cans were removed from service.
• The restaurant was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• A handwash sink was not accessible for employee use. Corrective action was taken.
• A soap dispenser at an employee handwash sink was not working properly. Corrective action was taken.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Editor’s Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a “snapshot” of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and “high-risk” establishments tend to be inspected more frequently.

When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed here.

The Bradenton Herald’s weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner — such as unsafe food temperatures, employee hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines — regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection.