Dirty dining: Health inspectors shut down two Bradenton restaurants because of rodents

During the most recent inspections of Manatee County, two local restaurants were temporarily closed when signs of rodent activity were found inside.

Rodent droppings and nesting materials were observed at Giovanni’s Brooklyn Pizzeria in Bradenton, and Cortez Kitchen in Cortez had dozens of droppings on site. Both restaurants also had additional “high priority” violations, according to inspectors’ reports.

Here is what inspectors found.

Cortez Kitchen, 4528 119th St. W., Cortez

• An inspector ordered that Cortez Kitchen be temporarily shut down on Feb. 5 after signs of rodent activity were observed on site.
• An inspector observed approximately 78 rodent droppings in the vicinity of a water heater and a pan storage area by a back door. The area was approximately five feet away from a warewashing sink and roughly 25 feet from the cook line, according to the inspector.
• Haddock, grouper, raw chicken and raw burger were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees on the cook line. An employee iced down the foods. Shrimp, rice and raw tuna were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees at a sushi-making station. The foods were iced down.
  
  
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade. A restaurant operator cleaned it.
• Required training was expired for two employees.
• An inspector observed leaking pipes at a fish cutting and thawing station.
• An exterior door had a threshold at the bottom that opened to the outside.
• A reach-in freezer was not working properly, according to an inspector, and all of the food items inside were thawed. A restaurant operator moved the foods to another reach-in freezer.
• A cutting board had cut marks and was no longer cleanable.
• The vent above a fish display case was soiled.
• A follow-up inspection was required.
• The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Feb. 6 and was allowed to reopen.

Giovanni’s Brooklyn Pizzeria, 5203 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

• An inspector ordered that Giovanni’s Brooklyn Pizzeria be temporarily closed on Feb. 6 after observing signs of rodent activity on site.
• An inspector observed approximately 10 rodent droppings on the floor in a dry storage and electrical room. Droppings were also observed in boxes where single service items and utensils were stored.
• An inspector observed rodent nesting materials in two areas of a dry storage/electric panel room.
• Multiple servings of pizza and garlic and oil mixtures were held at ambient temperature. An employee whom an inspector spoke with had no knowledge of using time as a public health control process paperwork to monitor potentially hazardous foods. The garlic and oil mixtures had been sitting out for several hours. A stop sale was issued and the foods were discarded.
• Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed.
• A manager lacked proof of food manager certification.
• There was no proof of required training for any employees.
• Single service articles were improperly stored on the floor in a dry storage area.
  
  
• There was a hole in the ceiling in a dry storage/electrical room.
• Boxes of soda were stored on the floor in the kitchen.
• A follow-up inspection was required.
• The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Feb. 7 and was allowed to reopen.

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.