10 restaurants around Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch get poor health inspections

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 problems including no handwashing, unsafe food temperatures and greasy equipment.

Here is what inspectors found:

Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie, 8445 Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch

• An inspector observed approximately 15 small flying insects in a bar area. A restaurant operator stated that a pest treatment was recently conducted, and another was scheduled.

• Raw beef was stored over buns. Corrective action was taken.

• The restaurant’s menu did not identify that a salad dressing contained raw animal food (unpasteurized egg).

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

• No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was stored on the floor.

• Clean plates were not stored inverted to prevent contamination. Corrective action was taken.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Outback Steakhouse, 4402 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

• Cut tomatoes, cut lettuce, chicken and boiled eggs were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse, and the items were discarded.
• The floor was unclean underneath equipment in food prep areas.
• There was standing water on the floor near an ice machine.
• An employee cell phone was stored on a prep table. Corrective action was taken.
• There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit two days later.

China City Express, 810 First St. W., Bradenton

• Raw beef was stored over cooked noodles and garlic in oil. Corrective action was taken.

• Chicken and chicken soup were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a walk-in cooler. A stop sale was issued for both items due to temperature abuse.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.

• Hood vents were soiled with grease and mold-like substance.

• A food storage rack was soiled.

• Multiple food items were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.

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

Sam’s Seafood & Grill, 3108 First St., Bradenton

• Raw shrimp was stored over salad dressing. Corrective action was taken.
• An employee put on a beard guard and hair restraint with gloved hands and then failed to change gloves/wash hands. An inspector advised on proper glove use and handwashing. Corrective action was taken.

• Seasoned water used to dip seafood before it was coated for deep frying was not kept at cold holding temperature.

• Chicken, shrimp and fish that were being held for future use were not date-marked. Corrective action was taken.

• A food employee was not wearing a beard guard or hair restraint. Corrective action was taken.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Tom’s Bad Ass Bar and Grill, 312 12th St. W., Bradenton

• An employee dried hands on a soiled towel after handwashing. An inspector advised the employee and a manager on proper handwashing procedure.
• There was no certified food manager for the establishment.
• There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees.

• 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. Corrective action was taken.

• All cutting boards in the kitchen were soiled.
• Spray bottles containing cleaning fluid were unlabeled. Corrective action was taken.
• A wall in the main kitchen area was soiled.
• Single service items were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.
• The interiors of multiple reach-in coolers were soiled.
• Shelves under preparation tables were soiled.
• There was soiling around soda machine nozzles.
• There was an accumulation of debris inside of a convection oven.

• An ice scoop was stored in a soiled holder. Corrective action was taken.

• All floors in the kitchen and walk-in cooler were soiled.

• There was standing water on the floor next to a utility sink in the kitchen.

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

• There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Thai Palace, 4756 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

• Raw animal foods (chicken and pork) were not properly separated from one another in a freezer based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.
• Bean sprouts were cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• A food manager’s certification was expired.
• There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken.
• No employee handwashing sign was posted at a sink in the men’s restroom.
• Two sets of in-use tongs were stored on a stove door handle. Corrective action was taken.
• Floors under equipment were soiled throughout the kitchen.
• An employee handbag was stored near food. Corrective action was taken.
• The restaurant’s current license was not displayed.
• There was an accumulation of limescale inside of a dishmachine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.
  
  

Pierre’s Eatery, 5463 Factory Shops Blvd., Ellenton

• A food manager’s certification was expired.
• There was no proof of required food safety training for the employee on duty.

• There were no written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to monitor potentially hazardous food.

• There was no probe thermometer at hand to measure the temperature of food products.

• No handwashing sign was posted at an employee handwash sink.

• The restaurant’s current license was not displayed. Corrective action was taken.

• There was a buildup of black mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Thai Cafe, 4511 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

• Pesticide that was not labeled for use in a food establishment was present in the restaurant.
• Raw chicken was stored over rice paper. Corrective action was taken.

• Grease cleaner was stored on a shelf over clean dishes next to a handwashing sink. Corrective action was taken.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.

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

• Tofu and chicken that were being held for future use were not date-marked. Corrective action was taken.

• Pipes underneath a three-compartment sink were soiled.

• The interior of a microwave was soiled. Corrective action was taken.

• A bag of rice and cases of bottled water were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.

• Employee food was stored with food to be served to customers.

• The restaurant’s current license was not displayed.

• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Mitaka Japanese Ramen House, 6749 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

• Raw animal foods (octopus and chicken) were not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in a freezer.

• Boiled eggs were cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.

• An employee washed hands in a non-handwash sink. An inspector advised the employee and a manager on proper handwashing procedure.

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

• Chicken that was being held for future use was not date-marked.

• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.

• In-use tongs were stored on a stove door handle. Corrective action was taken.

• Raw chicken in a plastic container and a container of soy sauce were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.

• There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in an ice machine.

• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, 101 Riverfront Blvd. #120, Bradenton

• Dishmachine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken.
• An employee handled raw beef and then failed to wash hands during a glove change. An inspector advised the employee and a manager on proper handwashing procedure.

• Raw shell eggs were stored on top of a container of sauerkraut in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.

• Shellfish tags were not marked with the last date the food was served.

• A can opener blade was soiled. Corrective action was taken.

• No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.

• Water was not hot enough at an employee handwash sink in the men’s restroom.

• An employee phone was stored on a food prep table. Corrective action was taken.

• 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 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.