Inspectors temporarily close Bradenton grill with roaches, other bugs

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 recent inspections, a bar and grill in Bradenton was temporarily shut down after an inspector found roach and fly activity onsite.

RJ Gator’s of Bradenton, 6100 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected and temporarily shut down June 9

• High priority: An inspector observed approximately 28 small flying insects throughout various areas of the restaurant, including five in a food preparation area, 10 in a dishwashing area, five in a waitstaff area and three in a bar area.
• High priority: An inspector observed one live roach in a dry storage area and two live roaches in a women’s restroom.
  
  
• High priority: A case of crab was stored on the floor in a walk-in freezer. Corrective action was taken.
• High priority: Black beans, shredded lettuce and cheese sauce were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a reach-in cooler. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse.
• High priority: Cooked onions and cooked mushrooms that were supposed to be monitored using time as a public health control had no time stamps. Corrective action was taken.
• High priority: A chemical fruit fly trap was in place next to clean dishes on the cookline. Corrective action was taken.
• Intermediate: The interior of several reach-in coolers on the cook line were soiled with excess soil and food debris, an inspector wrote.
• Intermediate: A rack used to store dishes and other items had surface rust.
• Basic: An inspector observed approximately 15 dead roaches throughout the restaurant, including one on the cook line under a flat top grill table, five in areas around the bar and three in a waitstaff area in the dining room.
• Basic: An inspector noted seven other basic violations, including walls and floors soiled with grease and food debris and an employee drink on a food preparation table.
  
  
• The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit later the same day and was allowed to reopen.

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.