Dirty dining: This Bradenton cafe had a rodent poop problem. Inspector shut it down

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, a Bradenton cafe was shut down after an inspector observed hundreds of rodent droppings on site.

Other restaurants were cited for issues that include unsafe food temperatures and raw eggs stored over food.

Here is what inspectors found.

Cafe Amalfi, 6703 14th St. W., Bradenton

• An inspector ordered that Cafe Amalfi be temporarily closed on Oct. 5 after signs of rodent activity were observed on site.
• An inspector observed more than 200 rodent droppings on the floor and along a wall near a mop sink, soda storage area and a rear kitchen exit. More than 100 additional rodent droppings were observed on the floor along the wall of a dry storage area near the restaurant’s drive-thru window, on a cutting board and inside of a plastic container. The inspector also noted that there were “rub marks” in the dry storage area between the floor and storage shelves.
• An inspector found an open container of flour with three rodent droppings inside of it. A restaurant operator discarded the flour.
• Pizza that was left out at ambient temperature was not time-marked as a public health control. A restaurant operator recorded a time stamp for the pizza.
• There were no written procedures available for the use of time as a public health control to monitor potentially hazardous foods. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine in the dining area.
• There were gaps in the ceiling around water heater piping that left rafters exposed.
• A cutting board had cut marks and was no longer cleanable.
• During a follow-up inspection on Oct. 6, an inspector again observed rodent droppings in the establishment.
• An inspector observed approximately 30 rodent droppings on a floor base and inside a cavity of an industrial mixer. Another four rodent droppings were observed in dry storage areas.
  
  
• The restaurant remained shut down.
• Cafe Amalfi met inspection standards during another follow-up visit on Oct. 7 and was allowed to reopen.

Ni Chana Ni Juana, 2424 Manatee Ave E., Bradenton (mobile food dispensing vehicle)

• Cooked chicken was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.
• There was no hot running water at a three-compartment sink or an employee handwash sink, according to an inspector.

• A person in charge was unable to answer basic food code questions pertaining to the safe operation of the establishment.

• The business had added an outdoor smoker and cold-holding unit without plans submitted and approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
• Food was stored in an unprotected exterior refrigerator.
• Multiple cold-holding units did not have conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometers.

• The business’ mobile food dispensing vehicle license number was not properly displayed.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Banana Factory, 6916 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Raw shell eggs were stored over ready-to-eat cooked meatloaf and sliced deli meats. Corrective action was taken.
• A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification.
• There was no certified food manager for the establishment.
• There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use at a three-compartment sink.
• Soda gun holsters at two separate bar areas were soiled with accumulated slime/debris.

• There was no conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in a walk-in cooler.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Come Back Girl, 6916 14th St. W., Bradenton (mobile food dispensing vehicle)

• Sliced pastrami, sliced ham, sliced corned beef, sliced provolone cheese, shredded cheddar cheese and cut tomatoes were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. The items had been held overnight. A stop sale was issued and the items were discarded.

• A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification, and no other certified food service manager was employed at this location.

• There was no certified food manager for the establishment.

• There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use at a three-compartment sink.

• The business’ license decal was not displayed on the mobile food dispensing vehicle.

• . There was accumulated grease under a fryer and a flat top grill.

• A follow-up inspection was required. The business did not meet inspection standards during a follow-up visit several days later. Another follow-up inspection was required.

Subway, 4850 Cortez Road W. #2101, Bradenton

• Shredded cheese, provolone cheese, jalapeno cheese, cooked eggs, deli meat, steak, cooked chicken, tuna salad, cut tomatoes, cut lettuce and leafy greens were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. The items had date marks from the two days prior and had been held overnight. A stop sale was issued for all of the items.
  
  
• There was no proof of required training for an employee who was hired more than 60 days prior.
• 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 October 26, 2020 at 5:55 AM.