7 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, lack of employee handwashing, unsafe food temperatures and dirty equipment were among the issues that caught the attention of inspectors.

Here is what they found:

The WingHouse Bar & Grill, 2015 60th Ave. E., Ellenton

• Wings were hot held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
• Trash bags were blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification.
• No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink in the bar area.
• There was no hot water provided at multiple handwash sinks.
• Single-use foil pans were stored on the floor. Corrective action was taken.
• The interior and shelving of a reach-in cooler was soiled.
• A case of chicken tenders was stored on the floor of a walk-in freezer. Corrective action was taken.
  
  
• An employee item was stored on a prep table. Corrective action was taken.
• Multiple cutting boards were damaged and no longer cleanable.
• The restaurant’s current license was not displayed.
• The interior of an ice machine was soiled with black, mold-like substance.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

Las Maracuchas, 3501 14th St. W., Bradenton (food truck)

• A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification.
• 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 utensils were stored unprotected from contamination. Corrective action was taken.

• The business’ license numbers were not displayed on the vehicle.

• A follow-up inspection was required.

Thai Wasabi, 5250 E, S.R. 64, Bradenton

• Cooked chicken, pork, scallops, squid and noodles were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a reach-in cooler. A stop sale was issued for the items due to temperature abuse. A person in charge discarded them.
• 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 spray bottle containing a toxic substance was unlabeled. Corrective action was taken.
• Chicken was thawing without running water. Corrective action was taken.
• Floors were soiled under cooking equipment.
• The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, 5726 Ranch Lake Blvd, Lakewood Ranch

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

Grand Buffet, 4848 14th St. W., Bradenton

• An employee washed hands with no soap in a dishwashing area. An inspector advised on proper handwashing. Corrective action was taken.

• Raw pork was stored over cooked ham and raw beef was stored over cooked hot dogs. Corrective action was taken.

• Wiping cloth sanitizing solution exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. 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.

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

• Hood filters were soiled with grease.

• An employee preparing food at a sushi bar was not wearing a hair restraint. Corrective action was taken.

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

• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Mi Havana Latin Cafe & Catering, 1144 Whitfield Ave., Sarasota

• An employee handled raw bacon and then changed gloves without washing hands. Corrective action was taken.
• An employee handled a trash can and then handled clean equipment without first washing hands. Corrective action was taken.
• A can opener blade was soiled. Corrective action was taken.
• Items were blocking access to an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• Beans that were being held for future use in a reach-in cooler were not date-marked. Corrective action was taken.
• Walls in warewashing and food prep areas were soiled.
• The interior of a microwave was soiled.
• There was an accumulation of mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
• The restaurant met inspection standards.
  
  

Caddy’s Bradenton, 801 Riverside Dr. E., Bradenton

• Seafood chowder that was being reheated had not reached 165 degrees for at least 15 seconds within two hours. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse, and the food was discarded.
• A cutting board was soiled with black, mold-like substance. Corrective action was taken. The cutting board was removed.
• A handwash sink was used as a dump sink and to store soiled dishes. 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.

• Walk-in cooler shelves were pitted with rust.

• Gaskets on multiple cooling units were soiled with mold-like substance.

• Hood filters were soiled with grease.

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

• Two employees with facial hair were not wearing beard guards while preparing food. Corrective action was taken.

• The restaurant’s current license was not displayed.

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

• 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.