Dirty dining: Inspectors find moldy equipment and other problems at Bradenton 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, several area restaurants were cited for moldy or dirty ice and drink machines.

Here is what inspectors found.

Heritage Harbour Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton

• A pesticide that was not labeled for restaurant use was present. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an accumulation of black mold-like substance in an ice machine.
• An open container of half-an-half was not properly date-marked.
• Multiple cutting boards were soiled.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• A container was stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A slicer blade guard was soiled with old food debris.
• Reach-in cooler shelves were rusted.
• The interior of a microwave was soiled.
• Walk-in cooler and reach-in cooler gaskets were soiled with slime-like buildup.
• An employee beverage was stored on a kitchen counter. Corrective action was taken.
• Coffee filters were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• Hood filters were soiled.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

The Links at Greenfield Plantation, 10325 Greenfield Blvd., Bradenton

• There was an accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
• Potato salad that was being held for future use was not date-marked.
• Access to an employee handwash sink was blocked. Corrective action was taken.
• The restaurant only had a high-heat food probe thermometer at hand and lacked one for other food products.
• Gaskets on multiple reach-in coolers were soiled with slime-like buildup, according to an inspector.
• To-go containers were stored on the floor.
• A case of hot sauce was stored on the floor.
• A walk-in cooler fan cover was soiled.
• A food employee was not wearing a hair restraint.
• There was a buildup of grease behind and under kitchen equipment.
• A cutting board on the cook line was heavily grooved and no longer cleanable.
• Coffee filters were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• Hood filters were soiled.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar, 1525 51st Ave. E., Ellenton

• An inspector observed a black mold-like substance around soda dispensing nozzles.
• A cook washed hands in a non-handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A bus tub was blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• Walls in a dishwashing area were soiled with black debris.
• A scoop handle was in contact with black beans. Corrective action was taken.
• An employee beverage was stored with clean glassware. Corrective action was taken.
• Coffee filters were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Simple Mexican Grill, 11245 U.S. 301, Parrish

• An inspector observed a black mold-like substance around a soda nozzle at the front counter.
• A bin was blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing.
• Sanitizer in a wiping cloth sanitizing bucket was not at the minimum strength. Corrective action was taken.
• A wall next to a mop sink was soiled with food debris.
• Beans and sauce were stored uncovered in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
• Tongs were stored on an oven door handle. Corrective action was taken.
• There was a slimy buildup on equipment gaskets in the kitchen and at the front counter as well as at a walk-in cooler.
• The floor was soiled in a storage area and around a back door.
• Multiple cutting boards were grooved and no longer cleanable.
• A quesadilla press was soiled with accumulated food debris, according to an inspector.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

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

• The upper bin of an ice machine was soiled substance.

• An inspector observed an accumulation of food debris on multiple plastic food storage containers.

• Opened ice cream mix that was being held for future use was not date-marked.

• An ice cream machine storage container was not cleaned after it was emptied, according to an inspector.

• Food bins were not labeled.

• A wall near a takeout window and soda machine was soiled.

• One or more employees were preparing food without a hair restraint.

• Employee personal items were stored on food storage shelves. Corrective action was taken.

• The ceiling in a dining area was in disrepair.

• 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 14, 2021 at 5:00 AM.