Dirty dining: The meat listed on the menu is not what diners got at this Bradenton restaurant

During the most recent inspections of Manatee County, several restaurants had issues with employee handwashing and the proper storage of raw meat and eggs.

A Bradenton sushi restaurant was cited for advertising crab on the menu but actually serving imitation crab.

Here is what inspectors found.

Ocean Star, 4444 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton

• A menu at the sushi restaurant advertised crab, but the restaurant was serving imitation crab. An inspector notified the restaurant operator that the term “krab” or “imitation crab” should be used instead.
• An employee handwash sink was blocked by a utility cart.
• Proof of required training was not available for one employee.
• There was a residue buildup on the lip of an ice machine.
• Containers of food were stored on the floor in a walk-in cooler/freezer.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Lucky Frog Restaurant, 4625 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton

• Raw meat was stored over vegetables in a reach-in freezer.
• Dishmachine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken.
• An in-use utensil was stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees. The utensil was removed from service.
• There was dust on vents and tiles in the kitchen area.
• A jug of oil was stored on the kitchen floor. It was shelved.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Peach’s Restaurant, 6057 26th St. W., Bradenton

• Dishmachine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength.
• An inspector observed an employee bus a table of dirty dishes and then scoop ice and make beverages without first washing hands.
• Proof of required training was not available for one employee.
• There was food frozen onto a walk-in freezer floor, according to an inspector.
• The floor around an ice machine at the front counter had a mold-like substance around it.
• There was a soil residue on the lip of an ice machine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

La Norma Restaurant, 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive #104, Longboat Key

• Raw shell eggs were stored over cheese in a walk-in cooler. The eggs were relocated.
• Dishmachine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade. An employee cleaned it.
• No currently certified food manager was no duty while four or more employees were engaged in food preparation/handling. A certified food manager reported to work during the inspection.
• Walk-in cooler shelves were encrusted with food debris.
• A bag of flour was stored on the floor of a dry storage area. An employee shelved it.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

China Wok II, 4945 S.R. 64, Bradenton

• Chicken wings and breaded chicken were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. The foods were moved to a reach-in cooler for temperature recovery.
• Raw shrimp was stored over ready-to-eat pork and raw chicken was stored over ready-to-eat egg roll in a reach-in freezer.

• Animals foods with different minimum cooking temperatures were stored together. Raw chicken was stored over raw beef, raw chicken was stored over raw shrimp and raw beef was stored over raw fish.

• A handwash sink was not accessible for employee use.

• Hot water was not provided at a handwash sink in the women’s restroom.

• No currently certified food manager was on duty while four or more employees were engaged in food preparation and/or handling.

• There was no proof of required training for any employees.

• Egg roll, ribs, noodles, chicken wings and steamed chicken in a walk-in cooler were not properly date-marked.

• Wet wiping cloths were not stored in sanitizing solution in between uses.

• Walk-in cooler shelves were encrusted with food debris.

• Non-food-grade bags were in direct contact with food in a reach-in cooler, in a reach-in freezer and in a walk-in cooler.

• Food was stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler.

• An employee with no hair restraint was engaged in food preparation.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

D’s Breakfast and Burgers, 423 10th Ave. W., Palmetto

• Pancake batter and butter packets that were supposed to be monitored using time as a public health control had no time marking. Corrective action was taken.
• Raw beef was stored over ready-to-eat mozzarella sticks. Corrective action was taken.
• Animals foods with different minimum cooking temperatures (raw chicken and raw beef) were stored together. Corrective action was taken.
• A spray bottle containing a toxic substance was not labeled.
• Flour and sugar were stored on the floor near a reach-in freezer, and a container of food was stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler. All of the items were shelved.
• An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
• An employee with no hair restraint was engaged in food preparation.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

New Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, 5518 Cortez Rd. W., Cortez

• Raw shell eggs were stored over beverages and cut onions in a walk-in cooler.
• Frozen foods in a reach-in freezer were not properly date-marked.
• Multiple food items that were prepared on site and stored in a walk-in cooler were not properly date-marked.
• Walk- in cooler shelves were soiled with food debris.
• Food was stored uncovered in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
• An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
• A jug of oil was stored on the kitchen floor. It was shelved.
• In-use tongs were stored in contact with raw chicken, according to an inspector. The tongs were removed from service.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Chili’s Grill & Bar, 6125 Exchange Way, Bradenton

• An employee who was preparing food changed gloves without washing hands. An inspector educated the restaurant operator on proper handwashing procedure.
• Cooked pasta, cooked plant and pork were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued for the foods due to temperature abuse.
• A reach-in cooler was in disrepair and not maintaining adequately cold temperatures, according to an inspector.
• The floor of a walk-in freezer was soiled.
• Gaskets were soiled on reach-in coolers throughout the bar and kitchen.
• The ceiling and vents throughout the kitchen were soiled.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Honey Tree Cafe, 8315 Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota

• Butter and milk were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. The items were moved to a walk-in cooler.

• An employee who was preparing food changed gloves without washing hands. An inspector educated the restaurant operator on proper handwashing procedure.

• The business was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

• There was an accumulation of encrusted food debris on and/or around a mixer head.

• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.

• Food bins in the rear of the kitchen were not labeled. Corrective action was taken.

• Multiple spray bottles containing toxic substances were not labeled.

• Wet wiping cloths were not stored in sanitizing solution in between uses. Corrective action was taken.

• Walk-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.

• Walk-in cooler gaskets were soiled.

• An ice scoop handle was in contact with ice. The scoop was removed.

• An employee without a proper hair restraint was engaged in food preparation.

• A cutting board had cut marks and was no longer cleanable.

• Onions were stored on the kitchen floor. 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.

This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 8:22 AM.