31 restaurants in the Bradenton area earned near-perfect health inspections
The Bradenton Herald regularly reports on local restaurants that don’t pass inspection by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or otherwise raise concern due to food safety and cleanliness issues.
But over the past several years, readers have frequently asked to know which restaurants have done well during inspectors’ visits, too.
Passing inspection without flaw is no easy feat. Florida bases its inspection standards on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code, which contains many, many possible violations. These Bradenton-area restaurants did more than pass their regular state inspection — they aced it.
Here are the restaurants and other food businesses that recently got perfect marks (no violations) or near-perfect marks (only a few minor violations) in Manatee County. These inspections were conducted between Feb. 14-25, 2022.
Best restaurant inspections
Abuela’s Kitchen, 727 Seventh St. W., Palmetto
Anchor Inn, 3007 Gulf Dr., Holmes Beach
Annie’s Bait & Tackle, 4334 127th St. W., Cortez
Arby’s, 9610 S.R. 64, Bradenton
Bigguns’ Smoked BBQ (food truck)
BurgerFi, 11563 S.R. 70 E., Lakewood Ranch (No violations) (opening soon)
CB’s Pizza & Grill, 5820 Ranch Lake Blvd., Lakewood Ranch
Coquina Beach Cafe, 2650 Gulf Dr. S., Bradenton Beach
Defy Bradenton, 7385 52nd Place E., Bradenton (No violations)
Duffy’s Tavern, 5808 Marina Dr., Holmes Beach (No violations)
Greens of Manatee Golf Course, 101 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
Gueros Tacos, 835 301 Blvd. E., Bradenton (food truck)
Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch
Holy Cow Ice Cream & Other Cool Stuff, 3234 E. Bay Dr., Holmes Beach
The Groovy Grill Bus (food truck) (No violations)
K-Dog BBQ & Catering, 2110 Whitfield Park Dr., Sarasota (food truck)
Little Caesars Pizza, 8428 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota (no violations)
Mi Havana Latin Cafe & Catering, 1144 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota
Opita Burgers, 3005 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota
Pizza Hut, 1190 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto
Pizza Social, 308 Pine Ave., Anna Maria (food truck) (No violations)
Popi’s Place IV, 3911 U.S. 301, Ellenton
Rico’s Pizzeria, 5408 26 St. W., Bradenton
South Philly Cheesesteaks, 5442 Lockwood Ridge Road, Bradenton
Taco Bell, 640 10th St. E., Palmetto
Tacos la Pasadita, 10816 U.S. 41, Palmetto (at Mr. G Flea Market) (No violations)
Taqueria La Mexicana, 3011 15th St. E., Bradenton (food truck)
Taqueria Mi Rancho, 3603 15th St. E., Bradenton (No violations)
Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina, 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key
Vacci Pizza and Cucina, 4406 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton (opening soon)
Restaurants in Florida are licensed and routinely inspected by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Diners can report health and cleanliness issues at a restaurant anywhere in the state by filing a complaint with the agency.