Dirty dining: ‘Sewage-like’ smell will force this Bradenton restaurant to close for a while

During the most recent inspections of Manatee County, several local restaurants had issues with safely storing raw meat.

The Bradenton location of a popular steakhouse chain was cited for having an unpleasant odor throughout the entire establishment.

Here’s what inspectors found.

Longhorn Steakhouse, 4502 14th St. W., Bradenton

• An inspector detected a sewage-like smell throughout the entire restaurant. A manager told the inspector that a grease trap pipe under the building was broken and would require significant foundation demolition and construction to repair. Restaurant management was awaiting a date to schedule the repair and close the restaurant for the period of time that the repair would take place, according to an inspector.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Bradenton Country Club, 4646 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton

• An inspector observed three dead roaches at a three-compartment sink in the back corner of the kitchen. A chef discarded the roaches and sanitized the area. The chef stated that an exterminator had been on site earlier that week, and pest control was on site.
• There was standing water on the floor under and around a dishwashing machine.
• In-use utensils were stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees. They were removed from service.
  
  
• Water was leaking from a filtration system into a five-gallon bucket in the kitchen area.
  
  
• The interior and gaskets of a reach-in cooler were soiled. An employee cleaned the area.
• Employee training documents did not include all of the required information.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Alvarez Mexican Restaurant, 1431 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto

• Raw beef was stored over ready-to-eat pie and horchata in a reach-in cooler.
• The restaurant was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• The only handwash sink in a back room was not functioning, according to an inspector.
• A three-compartment sink had no hot running water.
• Tamales, ground beef, shredded chicken and other foods that had been prepared on site were not properly date-marked.
• A wet wiping cloth was not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
• Walk-in cooler and freezer shelves were pitted with rust.
• Gaskets on a reach-in freezer and a reach-in cooler had a slimy/mold-like buildup.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Rippers Roadstand, 5967 Factory Shops Blvd., Ellenton

• Raw chicken was stored over onion rings in a reach-in freezer. The foods were reorganized.
• A grill scrub brush was stored in a handwash sink.
• Hot water was not provided at an employee handwash sink.
• Queso was hot held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. An employee turned up the heat at the crock pot.
• 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.

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 5:00 AM.