Dirty dining: Flies at the bar. Pig fat sitting out for days. That wasn’t all inspectors found

During the most recent inspections of Manatee County, two restaurants were cited for having flying insects on site.

Other problems included dirty ice machines, food stored on the floor and food left out at room temperature.

Here is what inspectors found.

Main Street Trattoria, 8131 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch

• An inspector observed nine flying insects in the establishment, including over an ice bin at a bar area.
• Chicken, pasta, sausage and cut tomatoes were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. The foods were moved to a freezer for rapid cooling.
• Raw meat and seafood were stored over ready-to-eat feta cheese. A restaurant operator separated the foods.
• Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.
• The interior of an ice machine was soiled.
• There was an accumulation of encrusted food debris on/around a mixer head.
• Shellfish tags were missing the last date that the food had been served at the establishment and were not being kept in chronological order. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• An employee handwash sink was blocked by a garbage can. Corrective action was taken.
• Food items throughout a walk-in cooler were not properly date-marked. Corrective action was taken.
• Multiple spray bottles in a warewashing area were unlabeled. Corrective action was taken.
• Unnecessary items (spray paint and lubricant) were stored in a server area near the kitchen.
  
  
• Kitchen and warewashing areas had unsealed concrete floors.
  
  
• A kitchen employee was not wearing a proper hair restraint.
• A cutting board on the cook line was no longer cleanable.
• Take-out containers were stored unprotected from contamination.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach

• An inspector observed approximately 15 flying insects inside of a dry storage area at the exterior of the building.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• The tiki bar area could not be entirely sealed when not in operation.
• A scoop handle was touching flour. A manager removed it.
• Condensation pipe fluid was pouring out of a clogged drain at the building’s exterior. A plumber was on site working to clear the line, according to an inspector.
• Equipment and pans were stored outside.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

La Michoacana, 3565 First St. E., Bradenton

• Pico de gallo and cut lettuce were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a reach-in cooler that was not turned on. Ice was placed under the food containers for temperature recovery.
• Pickled pig fat was being held at room temperature at the front counter. It had been there for two days, according to an inspector. An employee discarded it.
  
  
• No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing.
• No probe thermometer was at hand to measure the temperature of food products.
• Proof of required training was not available for some employees.
• A reach-in cooler was in disrepair. An employee said that it had broken just recently.
• A spray bottle containing a toxic substance was not labeled.
• Single service items were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• Cans of food were stored on the floor.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

C’est La Vie!, 8527 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park

• An employee who was making food changed gloves without washing hands, according to an inspector. The restaurant operator was educated on proper procedure and corrective action was taken.
• A can of white albacore tuna was dented. A restaurant operator removed it from service.
• The interior of an ice machine was soiled. A restaurant operator cleaned it.
• An ice chute was soiled with mold-like substance/slime.
• An employee handwash sink was blocked by a garbage can. Corrective action was taken.
• A scouring pad was stored in an employee handwash sink.
• Hot water was not provided at an employee handwash sink.
• Foods stored in a walk-in cooler were not properly date-marked. Corrective action was taken.
• A cutting board on the cook line was in disrepair.
• Food bags were stored on the floor in a dry storage area. The bags were removed.
• There was an accumulation of debris inside of a warewashing machine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Riviera Dunes Dockside, 102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto

• Raw chicken was stored over raw lobster tail and raw beef was stored over raw seafood in reach-in cooler pull-out drawers. A manager reorganized the foods.
• The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine, according to an inspector.
• An employee handwash sink on the cook line was blocked by a garbage can. Corrective action was taken.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was not strong enough. Corrective action was taken.
• There was standing water in the bottom of a reach-in cooler.
• No handwash sign was provided at a handwash sink used by food employees. Corrective action was taken.
• No soap was provided at a handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
• 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.