Roaches, old food among inspection violations at Bradenton-area restaurants

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues.

The reports are public information.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, restaurants were cited for issues including live and dead roaches on site and food that was too old to serve.

Other Bradenton and Anna Maria Island restaurants had problems with employee handwashing and unsafe food temperatures.

Here’s what inspectors found:

Aroy D Thai and Sushi, 4442 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Dec. 4

• High priority: Raw tuna was stored over unwashed produce in a sushi bar area. Corrective action was taken.
• High priority: The restaurant was operating without a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
• Intermediate: A can opener blade was soiled with mold-like substance. Corrective action was taken.
• Intermediate: Soiled dishes were stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• Intermediate: There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Corrective action was taken.
• Intermediate: A spray bottle containing a toxic substance was not labeled. Corrective action was taken.
• Basic: Nine violations, including reach-in cooler shelves soiled with mold-like substance, hood filters soiled with grease and an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine/bin.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Bamboo Island Bar, 119 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach — Inspected Dec. 5

• High priority: An inspector observed one live roach in a dry storage area.
• High priority: An inspector observed several instances of raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Raw beef was stored over salad mix, raw beef steak was stored over a fruit and cheese platter and raw shell eggs were stored over cheese. Corrective action was taken.

• Intermediate: There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Corrective action was taken.

• Intermediate: Proof of required food safety training was not available for some employees.

• Basic: An inspector observed approximately three dead roaches in a dry storage area.

• Basic: Three violations, including cooler and freezer gaskets soiled with mold-like substance.

• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Dec. 6.

Bridge Street Bistro, 111 Gulf Dr. S., Bradenton Beach — Inspected Dec. 5

• High priority: Rice that was being held for future use had not been cooled from 135 degrees to 70 degrees within two hours. The rice was discarded.
• High priority: Raw oysters stored in a walk-in cooler had no tags identifying their source. A stop sale was issued due to food not being a wholesome, sound condition and the oysters were discarded.
• High priority: Cream cheese and a batter mix containing dairy were cold held at temperatures than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.

• Intermediate: There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Corrective action was taken.

• Basic: Six violations, including hood filters soiled with grease, boxes of produce stored on the floor and an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine/bin.

• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Dec. 6.

Bridge Tender Inn, 135 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach — Inspected Dec. 5

• High priority: In a walk-in cooler, an inspector observed cooked paste and beef chili that were more than a week old, according to their date marks. A stop sale was issued due to food being in unsound condition and the items were discarded.
• High priority: An employee handled soiled dishes and then failed to change gloves/wash hands before handling clean dishes. Corrective action was taken.
• High priority: Beef chili was hot held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Intermediate: There was no proof provided that food employees were informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Corrective action was taken.
• Basic: Three violations, including fryers and hood filters soiled with grease and a food employee not wearing a hair restraint.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Denny’s, 610 44th Ave. W., Bradenton — Inspected Dec. 8

• High priority: An inspector observed an employee crack raw shell eggs and then fail to change gloves/wash hands before handling a plate of food. Corrective action was taken. A stop sale was issued due to food being in unsound condition, and it was discarded. The employee changed gloves/washed hands.
• High priority: The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
  
  
• Basic: 10 violations, including rusted walk-in cooler shelves, mold-like substance in an ice machine and a food employee with facial hair not wearing a beard guard.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Lakewood National Golf Club, 17605 Lakewood National Parkway, Lakewood Ranch — Inspected Dec. 5

• High priority: Raw seafood was stored over cooked seafood in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.

• High priority: Sliced turkey, cooked chicken, cooked pork, chicken stock, tuna salad, cooked tuna and turkey stock were more than a week old, according to their date marks. A person in charge discarded the items.

• Intermediate: Soiled dishes were stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.

• Basic: Two violations, including single-service cups stored on the floor.

• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Dec. 6.

Mr. Tequila Mexican Restaurant, 491 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Dec. 7

• High priority: Raw beef, cooked chicken and cooked pork were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a walk-in cooler. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse, and the items were discarded.
• Intermediate: No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• Basic: Three violations, including hood filters soiled with grease and standing water in a dish room and a walk-in cooler.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Dec. 8.

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 at www.myfloridalicense.com.

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 hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines — regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection.

This story was originally published December 11, 2023 at 6:00 AM.