RESTAURANT-INSPECTIONS

Alachua County restaurant temporarily closed after flunking two inspections

Staff reports
The Gainesville Sun

You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name.

Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every week, we provide that information for you.

For a complete list of local restaurant inspections, including violations not requiring warnings or administrative action, visit our Alachua County restaurant inspections site.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Alachua County for the week of Jan. 15-21, 2024. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.

Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a 'snapshot' of conditions present at the time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment.

For full restaurant inspection details, visit our Alachua County restaurant inspection site.

Which Alachua County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?

These restaurants met all standards during their Jan. 15-21 inspections and no violations were found.

** Restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week

Which Alachua County restaurants were temporarily closed by inspectors?

These restaurants failed their Jan. 15-21 inspections and were temporarily closed. Follow-upinspections are required.

The Copper Monkey West

14209 W. Newberry Road, Newberry

Routine Inspection on Jan. 16

Facility Temporarily Closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.

24 total violations, with 6 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Date marked combined ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days of preparing/opening the earliest ready-to-eat time/temperature for safety ingredient. See stop sale. Wrapped portion of roast pork with date mark 1/4 on top shelf of speed rack inside walk-in cooler. Manager discarded the roast pork during this inspection.
  • High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee touched personal phone, then touched and drank from drink cup with gloved hands. Employee then handled break with same gloved hands. Inspector had employee wash hands and change gloves before continuing to work with food. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Box of raw chicken stored on shelf above raw beef on speed rack inside walk-in-in cooler. Manager placed chicken on the bottom shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. One live roach inside cabinet in bar area. Five live roaches crawling on wall around and inside floor drain below reach-in cooler in corner of bar area. **Warning**
  • High Priority - Roach excrement and/or droppings present. Two roach egg sacs inside cabinets behind bar area. **Warning**
  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Six ROP packages of grouper thawed inside package. Packaging states to remove the grouper from reduced oxygen packaging prior to thawing. Employee stated that the grouper was thawed on 01/06. Stop sale issued.

The Copper Monkey West

14209 W Newberry Road, Newberry

Routine Inspection on Jan. 17

Facility Temporarily Closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.

3 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. One live roach inside cabinet in bar area. Five live roaches crawling on wall around and inside floor drain below reach-in cooler in corner of bar area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-01-17: One live roach on top of reach-in cooler in bar area near bar entrance. Seven live roaches on shelving and interior walls of wooden cabinets behind bar area. One live roach on floor in kitchen near walk-in cooler. One live roach on wall in kitchen above fryers at cookline. Two dead roaches on wall in kitchen beside and above reach-in cooler at right side of cookline. One live roach on floor in managers office inside kitchen. **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Roach excrement and/or droppings present. Two roach egg sacs inside cabinets behind bar area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-01-17: One roach egg sack on stainless steel shelf below taps in bar area. Ten roach egg sacks on shelving inside wooden cabinets behind bar. **Admin Complaint**

Which Alachua County restaurants had high priority violations?

Afternoon Restaurant

231 NW 10th Ave., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 19

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

14 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands — food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Employee grabbed toast from pass through window with bare hand, set toast down on board then placed gloves on, inspector spoke to employee about using a utensil to get toast down or wear gloves before touching toast. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 fly on wooden table in front of ice machine.
  • High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. White paper towels lining containers of green onions, chives, mint, and other varies herbs in walk in cooler.
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. butter mixture (59F - Cold Holding) item sitting on top part of cooler, operator stated item was out of cooler for no more than 2 hours, he placed item back in cooler. butter pats (57F - Cold Holding) items on front counter by area where servers grab food to deliver to tables.
  • High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer container at front coffee bar area tested over 500 ppm.

Alachua Grill

3880 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 17

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

4 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Employee cracked eggs and proceeded to handle to go containers without washing hands and changing gloves. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Bev's Better Burgers

18466 NW U.S. 441, High Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 16

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

7 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Bottle of advil pills on side part of ice machine. Employee moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Bevs Burger Cafe

18732 N. U.S. 441, High Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 16

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

14 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Employee cracked eggs changed gloves with no hand wash, inspector stopped and explained proper handwashing. He washed his hands and then changed gloves. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell egg French toast batter on shelf above cut tomatoes in reach in cooler on cooks line, employee placed batter on the bottom. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Wiping cloth bucket in prep area over 500ppm, employee added water 300ppm. **Corrected On-Site**

El Patio

52 - 60 N. Main St., High Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 18

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

22 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed 0ppm. Operator called technician and they helped operator prime line, retested machine at 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Stacked pull out drawers used for household items containing salt the containers are non food grade.
  • High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 6/1/2023. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish stored over cheese in reach in cooler. Employee moved raw fish to the bottom. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Pork marked 1/7 and shredded chicken marked 1/6. Employee on cooks line stated the item was made 5 days prior, container had an old date mark. Operator dated with date reflecting 5 days ago. **Corrected On-Site**

Latin Food Blessings

7249 NW Fourth Blvd., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 16

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

13 total violations, with 7 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. No parasite destruction proof for shrimp in ceviche. **Warning**
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken stored over portioned cooked rice in walk-in freezer. Manager moved chicken below cooked rice. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish stored over pepper ace in reach-in cooler across from cook line grill. Raw fish stored over cooked rice and portioned sauces in walk-in cooler. Manager moved all fish to bottom shelves of coolers. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in walk-in cooler: rice (45F,46F - Cold Holding); chicken (45F - Cold Holding); veal (45F - Cold Holding); pork (46F). Manager stated items were at proper temperature at opening, door to walk-in cooler open frequently. Manager opened door to adjacent walk-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from ambient temperature to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within four hours. See stop sale. Item stored in front counter cooler: rice pudding (45F,46F,45F - Cooling). Manager stated item was prepared two days prior. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Item stored in front counter cooler: rice pudding (45F,46F,45F - Cooling). Manager stated item was prepared two days prior. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer bucket on co9k line, 200+ ppm. Manager added water to sanitizer bucket, 75 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**

Local Provisions

13005 SW First Road, Newberry

Routine Inspection on Jan. 17

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

13 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Server in server station touched apron with bare hands, then scooped ice in ice machine without washing hands or wearing gloves. Manager had employee wash hands before continuing to prepare food. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pan of raw salmon and pan of raw beef stored on shelf above cooked pasta and couscous inside reach-in cooler at cookline. Employee moved raw items to the bottom shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Inside make-table at end of cookline: beef (45F-48F - Cold Holding). Both manager and cook stated the beef has been stored inside unit overnight and has not been removed from unit today. Inside make-table at cookline across from fryers: cut tomatoes (49F - Cold Holding); bruschetta (50F - Cold Holding); raw tuna (52F - Cold Holding); chicken wings (47F - Cold Holding); Brussels sprouts (54F - Cold Holding). Manager and cook both stated the items were stored inside the unit overnight and have not been removed from unit today. Manager stated the wings and Brussels sprouts were completely cooled inside the walk-in cooler before being stored inside unit. **Warning**
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside make-table at end of cookline: beef (45F-48F - Cold Holding). Both manager and cook stated the beef has been stored inside unit overnight and has not been removed from unit today. Stop sale issued. Inside make-table at cookline across from fryers: cut tomatoes (49F - Cold Holding); bruschetta (50F - Cold Holding); raw tuna (52F - Cold Holding); chicken wings (47F - Cold Holding); Brussels sprouts (54F - Cold Holding). Manager and cook both stated the items were stored inside the unit overnight and have not been removed from unit today. Manager stated the wings and Brussels sprouts were completely cooled inside the walk-in cooler before being stored inside unit. Stop sales issued. **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Aerosol can of sanitizer stored on shelf above cans of "Red Bull" in dry storage area. Aerosol can of air freshener stored on shelf above Bloody Mary mix in dry storage area. Manager removed both from shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**

Marilu Tienda Latina Taqueria

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Jan. 18

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

4 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. cheese sauce (102F - Hot Holding) item on cook top for 1 hour, employee placed on flat top to reheat back up to 165F. Retemped at 114F.**Corrective Action Taken** **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

O Sole Mio Pizzeria

14230 W. Newberry Road, Newberry

Routine Inspection on Jan. 17

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

15 total violations, with 6 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee entered the kitchen and put on gloves without washing hands. Employee then proceeded to reach into a bin with gloved hand to scoop out salad onto a plate. Inspector reviewed proper handwashing procedures with employee during this inspection.
  • High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee placed gloved hands on sides of clothes, did not wash hands or change gloves, then proceeded to touch raw pizza dough with the same gloved hands. Manager had employee stop and wash hands before continuing to work with food. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Open box containing raw beef stored above cheese and pepperoni inside reach-in freezer in prep area. Employee removed pepperoni and cheese from shelf below raw beef during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Open box containing open bags of raw chicken stored above box containing tubes of ground beef inside reach-in freezer in prep area. Employee placed raw chicken on the bottom shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On prep table in kitchen near pizza oven: fresh garlic and oil mixture (69F - Cold Holding). Manager stated the garlic has been out of refrigeration for approximately one hour and placed the garlic and oil mixture into the cooler to cool to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Backflow prevention device missing from yellow hose connection on wall behind building. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Pink Flamingo

19726 NW U.S. 441, High Springs

Routine Inspection on Jan. 16

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

14 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 2 cans of tomatoes and 1 can of peppers.
  • High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Coleslaw 1/7 Meatballs 1/6 Roast beef 1/6 **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

5695 NW 23rd St., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 18

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

11 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in warmer behind front counter: mashed potatoes (118F,121F - Hot Holding); macaroni (121F,125F - Hot Holding); rice (121F,123F - Hot Holding). Manager stated items placed in warmer 45 minutes prior to temperature being taken. Employee placed items in microwave to reheat: rice (178F,173F - Reheating); macaroni (171F,172F - Reheating); mashed potatoes (168F,180F - Reheating). **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Hose side of splitter missing vacuum breaker. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Public & General

1000 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 19

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

17 total violations, with 5 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee placed raw beef patty of flat top changed gloves and started touching clean equipment, no Handwash occurred.
  • High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee cooking on cooks line wiped hands on soiled apron and continued cooking.
  • High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Employee had one gloved hand and one not gloved he grabbed toasted bun off of flat top with bare hand and placed on plate.
  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs over cheese in reach in cooler in prep area and walk in cooler. Operator moved eggs to the bottom shelf below ready to eat foods. **Corrected On-Site**
  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding) sausage (50F - Cold Holding) cheese (45F - Cold Holding) items in small plastic containers in the top of reach in cooler on cooks line, manager added ice to items retemped sausage 43, tomato 41, cheese 40. **Corrected On-Site**

The Social at Midtown

1728 W. University Ave., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Jan. 19

Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

7 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: on the cook line(drawers) whipping cream 46, chicken 46, beef 46, beef 44, chicken 44. Items are being iced dow, below and above. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed: orange spray cleaner stored next to bulk flour in the dish pit. The cleaner was moved to a shelf below. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

What agency inspects restaurants in Florida?

Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is conducted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department of Health is responsible for investigation and control of food-borne illness outbreaks associated with all food establishments.

How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?

If you see abuses of state standards, report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors. Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online.

Get the whole story at our restaurant inspection database.

What does all that terminology in Florida restaurant inspections mean?

Basic violations are those considered against best practices.

A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.

An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: "Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over."

An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.

A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license.