Dirty Dining: Inspectors find problems at Sandbar, Sonics, other restaurants in Bradenton

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, a handful of restaurants were cited for employee handwashing issues as well as moldy equipment and surfaces.

And several Bradenton and Anna Maria Island area restaurants had live flies on site.

Here is what inspectors found.

The Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria

• An inspector observed approximately five flying insects in a food preparation area and on food contact surfaces in a rear kitchen.
• Pina colada mix was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse.
• There was an accumulation of encrusted food debris on/around a mixer head.

• Shellfish tags were not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment. An inspector advised on proper procedure.

• Shellfish tags were not marked with the last date that the food was served. An inspector advised on proper shellfish procedure.

• Multiple cutting boards were soiled.

• A handwash sink was used for purposes other than handwashing.

• A slicer blade guard was soiled with old food debris.

• There was soil residue in food storage containers.

• Walk-in cooler shelves were soiled with encrusted food debris.

• There was unsealed concrete flooring in a kitchen area.

• Crackers were stored uncovered. Corrective action was taken.

• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.

• The interior of a convection oven was soiled with an accumulation of debris.

• Floor drains and/or drain covers were heavily soiled in a dishwashing area.

• There was standing water in a dishwashing area, according to an inspector.

• A walk-in cooler fan cover was soiled.

• Hood filters were soiled.

• A kitchen air curtain was soiled.

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

Hideko Sushi And Thai, 737 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto

• Shell eggs were held at a room temperature greater than 45 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• A food manager’s certification was expired.
• No currently certified food manager was on duty while more than four employees were engaged in food preparation/handling.
• Proof of required training was not available for some employees.
• There were no written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold potentially hazardous food.

• Menus did not identify raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer health advisory.

• An in-use utensil was stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees.

• Employee food was stored with customer food.

• The ceiling was soiled in the kitchen.

• Hood filters were soiled.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Taqueria Mi Reina, 1880 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton (food truck)

• Chorizo, pork and steak were hot held at temperatures less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.
• The food truck was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for wiping cloths.
• The food truck’s cooking equipment was producing grease-laden vapors, and no hood suppression system was installed. An inspector notified fire authorities.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Scarpino’s Family Restaurant, 6152 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Warewashing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.
• The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• Multiple cutting boards were soiled.
• Proof of required training was not available for some employees.
• Multiple food items in a walk-in cooler were not date-marked.
• A slicer blade guard was soiled with old food debris.
• Walk-in cooler shelves were soiled with encrusted food debris.
• There was unsealed concrete floor throughout the kitchen area.
• Reach-in cooler gaskets were soiled.
• An open employee beverage was stored with food to be served to customers. Corrective action was taken.
• The interior of a microwave was soiled with encrusted food debris.
• Food items were stored on the floor in a walk-in cooler and a walk-in freezer.
• Ceiling vents in the kitchen were soiled.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

El Warike, 4226 26th St. W., Bradenton

• An inspector observed approximately six flying insects in the kitchen area.
• Cooked chicken was cold held a temperature greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse.
• A chemical container was stored next to beer to be served to customers. Corrective action was taken.
• The menu did not identify which items contained raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer health advisory.
  
  
• There was no proof of required training for any employees.
• All of the ready-to-eat food in a reach-in cooler was not properly date-marked, according to an inspector.
• The floor in the front area of a kitchen was unsealed concrete.
• In-use tongs were stored on an oven door handle. Corrective action was taken.
• Coffee filters were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• A follow-up inspection was required.
• During a follow-up visit the next day, an inspector observed multiple issues that still needed to be corrected. Another follow-up inspection was required.

Carmen’s Italian Cafe, 515 27th St. E. #9-10, Bradenton

• The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• There were two small areas of black mold-like buildup in the interior of an ice machine, according to an inspector.
• Multiple cutting boards were stained and pitted.
• No test kits were at hand to measure the strength of either type of sanitizer in use for warewashing.
• There was no proof of required training for any employees.
• A soda gun holster was soiled with slime/debris.
• Gaskets on multiple reach-in coolers were soiled.
• Hood filters were soiled.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Los Primos, 12334 U.S. 301, Parrish

• An inspector observed an employee handle soiled dishes and utensils and then handle clean dishes and utensils without first washing hands. Corrective action was taken.

• Non-food-grade containers were used to store cooked rice.

• Pots and pans were blocking access to an employee handwash sink.

• There was no proof of required training available for any employees.

• A wet wiping cloth was not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Corrective action was taken.

• There was no copy of the business’ latest inspection report available.

• An employee phone was stored next to food. Corrective action was taken.

• Employee food was stored with food to be served to customers in a reach-in cooler.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Pho Street, 4304 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Raw beef was stored over ready-to-eat wontons.
• Shrimp was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Wontons and egg rolls were hot held at temperatures less than 135 degrees. An inspector advised reheating the items to the proper temperature within two hours.
• Chicken was thawing in standing water.
• An in-use knife was stored in between cracks in pieces of equipment. Corrective action was taken.
• There was accumulated grease under the cook line, according to an inspector.
• An ice scoop handle was in contact with rice.
• The floor of a walk-in cooler was soiled.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

The Spot Tacos and More, 2303 First St., Bradenton

• An inspector observed several flies in the kitchen area. The inspector noted there was a gap at the threshold of a back door where the flies may have been getting in.
• Sour cream and shredded cheese were cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Soap and paper towels were not provided at an employee handwash sink. A manager stated that the sink was not in use.
• Multiple wet wiping cloths were not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
• Tomatoes, onions and limes were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.
• An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
• Employee food was stored on a reach-in cooler.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Sonic Drive-In, 6008 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. An inspector advised on proper procedure.
• Corn dogs, cooked chicken and shredded cheese were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• An inspector observed a black mold-like substance on the interior edges of an ice machine.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade, and the can opener’s holder was also soiled.
• Squeeze bottles were heavily soiled with residue.
• A walk-in cooler and/or freezer fan cover was soiled.
• The ceiling of a walk-in cooler was soiled with dust.
• An inspector observed mold-like buildup and dust on vents in a dry storage area and multiple kitchen areas.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Sonic Drive-In, 8803 U.S. 301, Parrish

• A sanitizer bucket was stored next to candy and a shake machine. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
• Walk-in cooler gaskets had a mold-like buildup, according to an inspector.
• The restaurant’s current license was not displayed.
• The kitchen ceiling was soiled above a shake machine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Rico’s Pizzeria & Pasta House, 5218 S.R. 64, Bradenton

• An employee failed to wash hands during a glove change between tasks, according to an inspector. The inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure.
• There was an accumulation of encrusted food debris on/around a mixer head.
• Multiple cutting boards were soiled.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• A strainer was stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• The restaurant did not have the proper test kit for measuring the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing.
• No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink.
• No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• Multiple food items in a walk-in cooler were not date-marked.
• A slicer blade was soiled with old food debris.
• Walk-in cooler shelves were soiled with encrusted food debris.
• There was no handwashing sign posted at an employee handwash sink.
• A walk-in cooler floor was soiled.
• A walk-in cooler fan cover was soiled.
• An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint.
• A ceiling vent was soiled.
• 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.

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 7, 2021 at 5:34 AM.