12 restaurants around Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish 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 around Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Anna Maria Island were cited for issues including unsafe food temperatures and improper storage of raw meat.
Here is what inspectors found:
Poblanos Mexican Grill & Bar, 5779 53rd Ave. E. #9724, Bradenton
- Black beans that were being held for future use had not been cooled from 135 degrees to 70 degrees within two hours. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse and the food was discarded.
- Raw animal foods (chicken and beef) not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature.
An employee put on a hair restraint and then failed to change gloves/wash hands. An inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.
Beef stuffed peppers were cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse and the food was discarded.
Food that was being reheated for hot holding had not reached 165 degrees for 15 seconds within two hours. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse and the food was discarded.
No paper towels were provided at 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.
Hood filters were soiled with grease.
Gaskets on multiple cooling units were soiled with mold-like substance.
An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint. Corrective action was taken.
A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.
Mr. Tequila Mexican Restaurant, 491 Cortez Road, Bradenton
Raw shrimp was stored over unwashed produce in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
An employee was working with the soiled end of a dish machine and then failed to change gloves/wash hands before working with the clean end. An inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.
An employee emptied multiple garbage pails with gloves on and then failed to change gloves/wash hands before grabbing foil to cover food in a walk-in freezer. An inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.
Raw ceviche was cold-held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse. Corrective action was taken.
Rice was hot held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. 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.
Multiple food items were stored uncovered in freezers. Corrective action was taken.
Hood filters were soiled with grease.
Floors were soiled under all equipment in the main kitchen area and in a walk-in cooler.
There was standing water on the floor in a dish room and in a walk-in cooler.
The restaurant met inspection standards.
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 6023 14th St. W., Bradenton
Raw animal foods (beef and pork chops) were not properly separated from each other in a holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.
Pancake batter and butter pats were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
Hood filters were soiled with grease.
A ceiling vent above a fountain beverage station was soiled.
The restaurant met inspection standards.
Jersey Mike’s Subs, 5820 Ranch Lake Blvd. #106B, Bradenton
- There was no certified food manager for the establishment.
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.
A slicer in the kitchen was soiled.
The interior of a reach-in cooler was soiled.
Bottled soda was stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.
An employee with facial hair was not wearing a beard guard while preparing food. Corrective action was taken.
Employee phones and keys were stored on a food prep table. Corrective action was taken.
A follow-up inspection was required.
Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Dr. N., Bradenton Beach
- Raw shell eggs were stored over marinara sauce. Corrective action was taken.
- Salmon, crab cakes, milk and marinara were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
- Sausage and Canadian bacon were hot held at temperatures less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
- Sanitizer tablets were stored on a shelf next to food. Corrective action was taken.
- A mixer was soiled.
- A soda gun holster was soiled.
- Kitchen renovations were underway without a plan submitted to and approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
- No proof was 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.
- Soup in a reach-in cooler was not date-marked.
- There was soiling around soda nozzles on a soda machine.
- The floor of a walk-in cooler was soiled.
- There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine and/or bin.
- A follow-up inspection was required. During a follow-up the next day, several issues remained unresolved. Another follow-up inspection was required.
Nora Restaurant, 5673 15th St. E., Bradenton
- Coconut soup that was being held for future use had not been cooled from 135 degrees to 70 degrees within two hours. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse. The soup was discarded.
- Raw chicken was stored over washed produce in a reach-in cooler. A stop sale was issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. An inspector advised a person in charge on how to prevent cross contamination. The produce was discarded.
No proof was 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.
Beef taco meat in a walk-in cooler was not date-marked. Corrective action was taken.
Hood filters were soiled with grease.
A follow-up inspection was required.
Migi Sushi Asian Cafe, 4420 S.R. 64, Bradenton
- An employee washed hands without soap. Corrective action was taken.
- Raw shrimp was stored over vegetables in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
- Raw chicken was stored over cooked rice noodles in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
- An employee failed to change gloves/wash hands after putting on a hair restraint. Corrective action was taken.
- A cutting board on the cook line was soiled.
- Soiled dishes were stored in an employee handwashing sink.
- No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
No proof was 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.
There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine and bin.
Floors were soiled under kitchen equipment and in dry storage areas.
Single service items were not stored inverted to prevent contamination.
Single service items were stored on the floor.
Reach-in and walk-in cooler shelves were soiled.
Racks in various food storage units were soiled.
Hood filters were soiled with grease.
An exterior door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
Multiple food items were stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler.
A follow-up inspection was required.
The Club at River Wilderness, 2250 Wilderness Blvd. W., Parrish
- A case of raw bacon was stored over ready-to-eat food items. Corrective action was taken.
- A can of red beans was dented. Corrective action was taken. The can was removed from service.
- A stand mixer was soiled with a buildup of food debris.
- No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wet wiping cloths.
- No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
- There was no proof of required food safety training for any employees.
No proof was 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.
A soda gun holster was soiled with a pink, slimy buildup.
No handwashing signs were posted in men’s and women’s restrooms.
In-use tongs were stored on an oven door handle between uses.
Bag-in-box soda and potato chips were stored on the floor.
There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
A follow-up inspection was required.
Rice Bowl Asian House, 7305 52nd Place E., Bradenton
Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. Corrective action was taken.
Raw shell eggs were stored over soy sauce containers in a walk-in cooler.
Cooked poultry was not reaching a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
No proof was 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.
Cooked chicken and cooked noodles in a walk-in cooler were not date-marked.
There was a toxic substance/chemical on premise that was not required for the operation of establishment.
An in-use utensil was stored in standing water at less than 135 degrees.
A follow-inspection was required.
Takeria Alexander, 618 23rd St. E., Bradenton
- Beef, chicken and pork was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued for the items due too temperature abuse.
- An employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Corrective action was taken.
- The restaurant was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
No proof was 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 fryer and grill.
An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint. Corrective action was taken.
A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit.
Danny’s Pizzeria, 7220 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
Raw animal foods (steak and pasta) were not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.
Fish was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees.
No proof was 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.
Required food safety training was expired for some employees.
There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
There was standing water in the bottom of a reach-in cooler.
No handwashing sink was provided at a sink used by food employees.
Floors were soiled underneath and in between pieces of equipment throughout the kitchen.
The restaurant met inspection standards.
Acapulco Restaurant, 1833 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton
An employee dried hands on a soiled towel after washing. An inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.
Raw chicken was stored over cooked onions in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
Salsa was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
A tortilla-making machine was soiled.
No proof was 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.
Walk-in cooler shelves were soiled.
Containers of beef were stored on the floor in a walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer. A bag of flour and fryer oil were stored on the floor in a dry storage area. Corrective action was taken.
Fish had been thawed but not removed from reduced oxygen packaging. 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.