Dirty dining: Bradenton area restaurants cited for zero sanitizing, no handwashing

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 lack of employee handwashing and employees who were not wearing hair restraints. while making food.

Other problems included dishwashers that weren’t sanitizing properly and grimy surfaces.

Here is what inspectors found.

3Natives, 11577 E. S.R. 70, Lakewood Ranch

• There was no proof of required training for any employees.
• A spray bottle containing a toxic substance was not labeled.
• Cutting boards were soiled.
• A box was stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A wet wiping cloth was not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Corrective action was taken.
• An employee with no hair restraint was preparing food.
• An employee drink was stored on a food preparation table. Corrective action was taken.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, 11633 E. S.R. 70, Lakewood Ranch

• An inspector observed a cook cracking raw shell eggs and then fail to wash hands before handling ready to eat foods and clean utensils. The inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure.
• Cutting boards on the cook line were soiled.
• A plastic pitcher was stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• Gaskets on the cook line were soiled.
• There was an accumulation of debris in a warewashing machine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

WingHouse Bar & Grill, 5105 14th St. W., Bradenton

• Dishmachine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength. An inspector took a sanitizer reading of zero. A restaurant operator placed a service call for the machine and said that a manual warewashing station would be set up.
• Sanitizer used to clean equipment was not at the proper minimum strength. An inspector took a reading of zero from a sanitizer bucket. Corrective action was taken.
• A lunch menu did not include a consumer health advisory for raw/undercooked animal food items.
• Filters were missing from a hood ventilation system.
• There was a buildup of grease under a grill and fryers on the cook line.
• There was dust on ceiling tiles in a dishwashing area and throughout the kitchen, according to an inspector.
• A ceiling tile was missing in a kitchen area.
• There was a buildup of debris inside of a dishwashing machine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Denny’s, 610 44th Ave. W., Bradenton

• An inspector observed a buildup of mold-like substance on juice nozzles. Corrective action was taken. Employees cleaned the nozzles.
• A wall in a dish pit area had a mold-like buildup, according to an inspector.
• There was standing water at the bottom of a reach-in cooler.
• Gaskets on multiple reach-in coolers were soiled with food debris.
• Vents in a dish pit area were soiled with food debris, grease, dust or mold-like substance.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

SoFresh, 11569 S.R. 70 #106, Lakewood Ranch

• An inspector observed three large cans of apple sauce that were dented. A stop sale was issued.
• An employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to work with food, according to an inspector. The inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure.
• Potentially hazardous food was being thawed in standing water. An inspector advised on proper procedure.
• A walk-in cooler gasket was soiled.
• Serving spoon handles were in contact with rice and cooked plants. Corrective action was taken.
• Multiple cutting boards had cut marks and were no longer cleanable.
• 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 July 16, 2021 at 5:00 AM.