Dirty dining: Flying insects, bad smells and more issues at Bradenton area restaurants

Restaurants in Manatee County have reopened for dine-in service, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants has resumed routine inspections for public health and cleanliness issues.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, two restaurants on Anna Maria Island were cited for live flies, and one of them also had foul odors on-site.

Issues at other Bradenton-area restaurants included employee handwashing errors and employee training problems.

Here is what inspectors found.

Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus, 3246 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach

• An inspector observed approximately eight flying insects at the end of the cook line and four flying insects at a handwash sink in the kitchen.
• An inspector noted objectionable odors in a women’s restroom and in the restaurant’s lobby.
• A reach-in cooler and a reach-in freezer were soiled.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit.

Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

• An inspector observed four flying insects at the entrance to a wait station and another five flying insects at a mop sink roughly 10 feet from the cook line.
• Items were stored inside of an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.
• In-use tongs were stored on an equipment door handle. Corrective action was taken.
• A ventilation hood was soiled.
• Bags of ice were stored on the floor of a walk-in freezer.
• The floor of a walk-in freezer was soiled.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Baskin-Robbins/Dunkin’, 3302 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach

• An employee who had just used the restroom did not wash hands upon returning to the employee area and before putting on gloves to start work, according to an inspector. The inspector educated the employee on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.
• Cooked eggs that were supposed to be monitored using time has a public health control had no time-marking. An employee recorded a time-marking for the food.
• An open container of milk was not date-marked.
• There was no proof of required training for any employees.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

BubbaQue’s BBQ, 6581 S.R. 70 E., Bradenton

• A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification.

• There was no currently certified food service manager 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.

• There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing.
• Multiple items were blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

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 September 10, 2020 at 5:09 AM.