These Bradenton-area restaurants aced their most-recent health inspections
The Bradenton Herald regularly reports on local restaurants that don’t pass inspection by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or otherwise raise concern due to food safety and cleanliness issues.
But over the last several years, readers have frequently asked to know which restaurants have done well during inspectors’ visits, too.
Passing inspection without flaw is no easy feat. Florida bases its inspection standards on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code, which contains many, many possible violations. These Bradenton-area restaurants did more than pass their regular state inspection—they aced it.
Here are the restaurants and other food businesses that recently got perfect marks (no violations) or near-perfect marks (only a few minor violations) in Manatee County. These inspections were conducted between July 1 and Aug. 27, 2021.
Best restaurant inspections
Big Cow Creamery, 5217 33rd St. E., Bradenton.
Bortell’s Lounge, 10002 Gulf Dr., Anna Maria.
Brasas, 5012 15th St. E., Bradenton (food truck). (No violations.)
Chang Kao Thai Cuisine, 6233 14th St. W., Bradenton.
Cork & Kale, 6231 Lake Osprey Dr., Lakewood Ranch (inside EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch).
Culver’s, 5750 Ranch Lake Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. (No violations.)
Dairy Queen, 5217 14th St. W., Bradenton.
D K Eats, 2207 60 Ave. E., Ellenton (food truck).
Five Guys, 8435 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton.
FOOD+BEER, 4808 14th St. W., Bradenton. (No violations.)
IHOP, 5427 14th St. W., Bradenton.
The Italian Takeout, 5370 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key (takeout and delivery).
Jersey Mike’s Subs, 6737 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
KFC, 6440 S.R. 64, Bradenton.
McDonald’s, 7300 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton.
McDonald’s, 5299 33rd St. E., Bradenton.
Ni Chana Ni Juana 2, 941-580-4702 (food truck).
Panera Bread, 11505 S.R. 70 E., Lakewood Ranch.
Rodney’s Jamaican Grill, 814 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto (food truck). (No violations.)
Taco Bell, 6025 U.S. 301, Ellenton.
Taco Bell, 6004 14th St. W., Bradenton.
Wendy’s, 6600 S.R. 64, Bradenton.
Wendy’s, 11727 S.R. 70 E., Bradenton.