Dirty dining: Mold, flies, unsafe food temperatures found at area restaurants

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, restaurants were cited for problems including moldy equipment, live flies and unsafe food temperatures.

Here is what inspectors found.

Pier 22 Restaurant, 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton

• Cooked pasta, cooked chicken, jambalaya, blue cheese, butter, provolone cheese, alfredo, pesto with spinach, diced tomatoes and white gravy were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued for the items due to temperature abuse.
• Crab cakes containing raw eggs were stored over chicken stock, and raw eggs were stored over milk and sliced cheese. Corrective action was taken.
• Shellfish tags were not stored in chronological order according to the last date the food was served in establishment.
• Cutting boards, a slicer blade guard, a mixer guard and the interior of an ice machine were soiled, according to an inspector. Corrective action was taken.
• An handwash sink was used as a dump sink.
• The restaurant’s dinner menu did not contain a consumer health advisory for an item made with raw/undercooked animal food.
• An outside board and to-go menus did not include a written consumer health advisory for items containing raw/undercooked animal food. Corrective action was taken.
• An in-use pizza cutter was stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• A bag of flour was stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.
• A walk-in cooler/freezer fan cover was soiled.
• A rear door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
• A mixer stand and utensils were exposed to splash from a sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit.

Sixty East Italian Cucina & Martini Bar, 2219 60th Ave. E., Ellenton

• Pasta that was being held for future use had not been cooled from 135 degrees to 41 degrees within six hours. A stop sale was issued.
• Pizza sauce, diced tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, butter, scallops, cooked pasta, raw chicken, raw shrimp, glaze and chicken stock were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued for the items due to temperature abuse.
• Meatballs, mashed potatoes and spinach dip were hot held at temperatures less than 135 degrees. The items were placed on a stove to reheat.
• An inspector observed a cook wash hands with cold water only. Corrective action was taken.
• A pest strip was hanging near silverware trays.
• Raw chicken was stored over cheese in cook line drawers.

• There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.

• All of the cutting boards on the cook line were stained and heavily grooved.

• An inspector observed an employee fill a water container at a handwash sink.

• Items were stored in employee handwash sinks.

• No paper towels were provided at employee handwash sinks.

• Required employee training had been given by an unapproved provider.

• Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves were pitted with rust.

• A floor in a walk-in cooler and a wall in a walk-in freezer were composed of unsealed concrete.

• Foil pans on he cook line were exposed to splash from a sink. Corrective action was taken.

• Multiple cooling units on the cook line did not have ambient air temperature thermometers, according to an inspector.

• In-use tongs were stored on an equipment door handle. Corrective action was taken.

• A walk-in cooler fan cover was soiled.

• One or more employee beverage was stored on the cook line. Corrective action was taken.

• Clean pans were not stored inverted.

• There was an accumulation of debris inside of a warewashing machine.

• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit.

River Strand Golf and Country Club, 7155 Grand Estuary Trail, Bradenton

• Tuna salad and chicken salad were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken. A food employee placed the items on ice.
• There was an accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
• A cutting board was soiled.
• An inspector observed two fryers in use in a back kitchen area without a hood ventilation system installed. The inspector notified fire authorities.
• The ceiling, walls and vents were soiled in a food preparation area.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Moccasin Wallow Golf Club, 9680 Buffalo Road, Palmetto

• Sausages, hot dogs and hamburgers to be served to the public were being prepared on an outdoor grill. Corrective action was taken.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Taqueria El Guero, 835 301 Blvd. E., Bradenton (food truck)

• An inspector observed multiple flies in the food truck, and noted that the doors were open. The inspector advised keeping the doors closed or installing screen doors or air curtains.
• Cans of pesticide were stored above a warewashing sink and single use items. Corrective action was taken.
• No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink.
• A fan on a food preparation table was soiled. Corrective action was taken.
• The business 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.

The Bradenton Herald’s weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner — such as unsafe food temperatures, employee handwashing issues or moldy drink machines — regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection.

This story was originally published June 3, 2021 at 5:00 AM.