One Manatee restaurant closed, one cited for roach activity

As Florida’s summer heats up, so does roach activity in Manatee-Sarasota restaurants.

Two restaurants in Bradenton were cited for having issues with roaches during the past week, and one was ordered closed.

▪  Lety Sabor Latino, 2211 Ninth St. W., has had multiple roach violations since May 12. On the first inspection, the inspector noticed dead roaches “at invoices stored on wall, at hand washing sink at kitchen, on spices, and on two compartment sink at kitchen.” The inspector also found live roach activity, with “10 live roaches in a box on the floor at kitchen. Operator removed box from premises.” Other high-priority violations included raw animal food stored over cooked food, pots or other cooking equipment not being sanitized and “employee handled soiled dishes or utensils and then handled clean dishes or utensils without washing hands. Observed cook wash dishes then return to cook line to handle food. No hand washing observed.” The establishment was ordered closed. The next day, inspectors again found the same high priority violations and again, live roaches: “Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed approximately 14 live roaches in kitchen at wall/ceiling crevice, on plumbing, at electrical wiring enclosure on stove, on floor, behind cooler, at point of sell, at front counter drawers, and at dinning room.” Inspectors returned on May 15 to a similar scene and found five live roaches throughout the premises. During the four days leading up to the last inspection on May 19, inspectors returned three times and still found roaches. Lety Sabor Latino was still closed as of Monday.

▪  China Max, located inside the DeSoto Square mall at 303 U.S. 301 Blvd., was cited for live roach activity during a May 16 inspection: “Roach activity present as evidenced by four live roaches found. Observed two live roaches at three compartment sink, and two roaches proximal to hand washing sink at kitchen.” The roach violation was China Max’s only high-priority violation, with two other intermediate and six basic violations found by the Florida inspector. China Max was allowed to remain open. The establishment must undergo a follow-up inspection because the “violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public,” according to the China Max inspection report page.

For more information about how the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducts restaurant inspections and how violations are categorized, visit myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/hr/inspections.html.

This story was originally published May 23, 2017 at 6:00 AM with the headline "One Manatee restaurant closed, one cited for roach activity."