Dirty dining: AMI Pizza spot had a roach problem. There were nearly 100 of them

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 pizza restaurant in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island was shut down for several days after dozens of roaches were observed on site.

Other problems at Bradenton-area restaurants included wastewater leaks, unclean restrooms and employee handwashing errors.

Here is what inspectors found:

Oma’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 201 Gulf Dr. N., Bradenton Beach

• An Inspector ordered that Oma’s Pizza be temporarily closed on Aug. 24, after roach activity was observed on site.
• An inspector observed approximately 40 live roaches on shelves below a soda machine in a container area and approximately 20 live roaches on the floor around equipment in a preparation area of the kitchen. The inspector also observed 20 dead roaches in the bottom of a reach-in cooler (not in contact with food) an approximately 15 dead roaches in a cabinet near the front counter.
• An inspector observed an employee wash hands incorrectly, rubbing hands together for less than the required 10-15 seconds. The inspector advised the employee and a manager on proper handwashing procedure.
• An inspector observed an employee dry hands on a dirty apron after handwashing. The inspector advised the employee and a manager on proper handwashing procedure.
• Sliced cheese, sliced ham and salami were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• A spray bottle containing cleaning fluid was stored next to food. Corrective action was taken.
• A slicer blade, a can opener blade, a food mixer head and cutting boards throughout the kitchen were soiled.

• No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths.

• No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.

• Previously prepared lasagna that was being held for future use was not date-marked. Corrective action was taken.

• Required food safety training was expired for all employees.

• Pizza boxes were stored outside of the back door. Corrective action was taken.

• The interiors of all reach-in coolers throughout the restaurant were soiled, according to an inspector.

• A back kitchen exit was not protected with a self-closing door.

• There was soiling underneath all counters in the kitchen.

• Floors were soiled under kitchen equipment and in the front counter area.

• Packaged tomatoes and onions were stored on the floor in the kitchen. Corrective action was taken.

• An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint.

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

• A follow-up inspection was required before the restaurant could reopen.

• During a follow-up visit on Aug. 26, an inspector again observed roach activity on site.

• An inspector observed 10 live roaches in various areas of the restaurant. The inspector also observed approximately 20 dead roaches in various areas of the restaurant.

• Numerous other issues remained unresolved.

• The emergency shut down order remained in place. Another follow-up inspection was required before the restaurant could reopen.
  
  During a follow-up inspection on Aug. 27, no roaches were observed, and the restaurant was allowed to reopen. However, several other issues remained unresolved, and another follow-up inspection was required.

The River Road Stop, 131 Upper Manatee River Road, Bradenton

• Raw pork was stored over ready-to-eat sauces. Corrective action was taken.
• Wastewater from the food truck was being disposed of improperly, according to an inspector. A holding tank behind the food truck used to store graywater was leaking. The wastewater was spreading out on the ground in a roughly 20 by 15 foot area underneath and behind the unit.
• All cutting boards in the food truck were soiled and stained, according to an inspector.
• A slicer blade was soiled.
• A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification, and no other certified food manager was employed at the establishment.
• No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths.
• No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink in a preparation area. Corrective action was taken.

• Well water was in use at the establishment, but a well water testing report and/or documentation had not been approved by the appropriate agencies.

• Walls throughout the food truck were soiled.

• A back exit was not protected with a self-closing door.

• An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.

• Shelves under a grill and preparation tables were soiled.

• Hood filters were soiled.

• Cases of potatoes were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.

• Floors throughout the food truck were soiled.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

• During a follow-up visit five days later, an inspector noted several unresolved issues on site.

• Well water was still being used for warewashing and handwashing without approval. The owner stated that he did not have a means of holding fresh, non-well water on site. The owner stated that employees were using hand sanitizer after washing hands, chlorine sanitizer was used for warewashing and only fresh store-bought gallons of water were used for cooking.

• A temporary fix was in place for the leaking wastewater tank while the owner waited for a new tank to arrive. An inspector noted that water was no longer leaking onto the ground.

• Another follow-up visit was required.

Subway, 4850 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton

• The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
• A certified food manager was unable to answer basic questions about allergens, and allergen information was not posted for employees.
• Employee food safety training records were incomplete for two employees.
• Bathrooms were not being kept clean, according to an inspector. The inspector observed soiled toilets in the men’s and women’s restrooms and a waste can overflowing with garbage.
• Walls by a food prep table were soiled.
• Outer openings were not protected with self-closing doors.
• Storage shelves were soiled.
• Floors throughout the kitchen area were soiled.
• A microwave was soiled.
• Walk-in cooler shelves were soiled.
• There was soiling on and around soda-dispensing nozzles.
• An inspector observed two ceiling tiles with water damage.
• An employee drink was stored in a food preparation area.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Salad Bar, 5726 Ranch Lake Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

• Multiple cutting boards and a can opener blade were soiled.
• A food rack was blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.

• No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths.

• No paper towels were provided at three employee handwash sinks. Corrective action was taken.

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

• Coffee filters and paper cups were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.

• Ceiling tiles in the kitchen and in a rear storage area were soiled.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Applebee’s Grill + Bar, 5908 18th St. E., Ellenton

• Diced chicken and cooked pasta that were being held for future use had not been cooled from 135 degrees to 41 degrees within six hours. A stop sale was issued and the items were discarded.
• An ice bin was open and its contents were unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• Cutting boards were soiled.
• Required food safety training was expired for some employees.
• Walls throughout the kitchen were soiled, according to an inspector.
• Sandwich picks were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was dirty. Corrective action was taken.
• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.
• An employee was eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Corrective action was taken.
• An employee was drinking from an open beverage container in a food preparation or other restricted area. Corrective action was taken.
• One or more cutting boards had cut marks and were no longer cleanable.

• The ceiling, ceiling tiles and/or vents were soiled in the kitchen.

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

Golden Corral, 5525 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton

• An inspector observed foul odors coming from drains in a men’s restroom and in a back kitchen area. A restaurant operator poured bleach down the drains to dissipate the odor and stated that a service call would be placed to have the drains cleaned.
• There was a slimy/moldy substance on the interior of an ice machine, according to an inspector.
• A food rack in a walk-in cooler was soiled.
• A soiled dry wiping cloth was in use. Corrective action was taken.
• In-use utensils were stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Floors in the main kitchen and under a fryer and ovens were soiled.
• There was standing water on the floor in a dishwashing area and in a walk-in cooler.
• Multiple drain covers were missing.

• The ceiling, ceiling tiles and/or vents were soiled in a dry storage area and in the main kitchen.

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

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Salad Bar, 5912 18th St. E., Ellenton

• Eggs and ham were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees on the buffet line. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse. The items were discarded.
• An inspector observed two dented cans of refried beans. Corrective action was taken. The cans were discarded.
• No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for sanitizer buckets. A restaurant operator contacted the owner to have the kits ordered.
• Hot water of at least 100 degrees was not provided at an employee handwash sink in the men’s restroom. Corrective action was taken.
• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.
• An employee beverage was stored in a food preparation or other restricted area. Corrective action was taken.
• The ceiling was soiled throughout the kitchen, according to an inspector.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Lucky Pelican Bistro, 6239 Lake Osprey Dr., Sarasota

• Large quantities of raw oysters, raw scallops and raw and cooked shrimp were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. An employee did not know how long the items had been above safe temperatures. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse, and all of the items were discarded.
• Raw beef was stored over shredded cheese in a walk-in freezer. Corrective action was taken.
• Cutting boards were soiled.
• There was debris on the walls behind cook line equipment.
• Coffee filters were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.
• Hood filters were soiled.
• Employee drinks were stored on a preparation table. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an accumulation of debris inside a warewashing machine.
• 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 September 1, 2021 at 12:28 PM.