9 restaurants around Bradenton, Cortez, 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 issues including unclean kitchens and lack of employee food safety training.

Here is what inspectors found:

Stone River Retirement Community, 7360 55th Ave. E., Bradenton

• An employee cracked raw shell eggs and then failed to change gloves/was hands before handling a clean plate.

• Raw animal foods (pork and beef) not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature.

• Shell eggs and butter were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.

• A can opener was soiled with mold-like substance.

• A manager or person in charge lacked food manager certification.

• No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink.

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

• 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.

• Food was stored on the floor in a dry storage area, in a walk-in cooler and in a walk-in freezer.

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

• Two employees were preparing food without hair restraints. Corrective action was taken.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Thai Spice & Sushi, 8209 Natures Way #111, Lakewood Ranch

• The establishment was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

• A server handled soiled dishes and handled then clean dishes without first washing hands. Corrective action was taken.

• Shell eggs were not being stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees or less. Corrective action was taken.

• A certified food manager or person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-service items.

• Pans were blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.

• 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.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken.

• Fish was thawing in standing water. Corrective action was taken.

• The exterior of all kitchen equipment was soiled.

• Hood filters were soiled.

• All shelves under food prep tables were soiled.

• Several cases of food were stored on the floor.

• An employee was eating in a food prep area. Corrective action was taken.

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

• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Tide Tables, 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

• Grouper and milk were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Corrective action was taken.
• Raw chicken was stored over fries in a reach-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.

• A spray hose at a dish sink was lower than the flood rim of the sink. Corrective action was taken.

• 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.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken.

• The floor was soiled in corners of the kitchen area.

• The ceiling was soiled above a food prep area.

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

• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Subway, 5810 Ranch Lake Blvd., Bradenton (inside Walmart)

• There was no certified food manager for the establishment.

• A person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-service items.

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

• 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.

• Single-service items were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Siam Thai Bistro, 5763 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

• Raw animal foods (chicken and pork) were not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.
• Shrimp, scallops and calamari were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• A can opener blade was soiled.
• A chair was blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A kitchen wall was soiled.
• Reach-in cooler doors were soiled.
• Floors throughout the kitchen were soiled.
• An employee drink was stored in a restricted area. 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 Taco King, 491 Cortez Road W., Bradenton (mobile food business)

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

• Wastewater was improperly draining to the grass underneath the food truck.

• 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.

• Reach-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.

• Multiple food items were stored on the floor.

• A microwave was soiled with grease and dried food.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Domino’s Pizza, 4874 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

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

• 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.

• The floor was soiled under a three-compartment sink.

• An employee with facial hair was not wearing a beard guard while preparing food.

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

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Calú Comfort Food, 2119 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton

• There was no proof of required training for any employees.
• 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.
• Beef and pork in a reach-in cooler were not date-marked.
• Hood filters were soiled with grease.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

La Belle Fourchette, 5108 15th St. E. #209, Bradenton (inisde Oneco Farmers Market)

• During a follow-up inspection for previous violations, an inspector found unresolved issues.
• There was again no proof of required food safety training for any employees.
• Another follow-up visit was required.

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 February 13, 2023 at 3:19 PM.