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A restaurant operator handled dead roaches then handled clean kitchen utensils at one of five South Florida restaurants temporarily ordered shut last week by state inspectors. Other violations included rodent droppings in a deep-fryer drawer and cockroaches crawling on soy sauce bottles.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for “high-priority violations,” such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please don’t contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.
Ordered shut: Oct. 13; reopened Oct. 14
Why: Seven violations (four high-priority), including 14 live cockroaches “inside of (pest) control device on shelf under flat top on cook line in kitchen,” “behind hook holding to-go bags at coffee station,” “inside of gasket of not-in-use drawers” in kitchen, “inside a pan of food left inside not-in-use drawers” and “on ground under hand wash sink at front expo line in kitchen.”
The report also noted at least 25 dead roaches “behind ice machine behind cook line in kitchen area,” “on prep table next to slicer,” “in employee restroom located in back corner in kitchen area,” “inside of three control devices on shelving” and “inside of drawers under flat top unit on cook line.” Also spotted: “an accumulation of roach droppings behind hook holding to-go bags at coffee station.”
A reinspection on Oct. 14 yielded zero violations, and the state cleared the restaurant to reopen.
Ordered shut: Oct. 11; reopened Oct. 12
Why: 15 violations (four high-priority), including 64 rat droppings found around the front counter, in spots such as “on metal table shelves,” on a “pipe next to hand wash sink” and “in deep fryer drawer.”
They were also seen throughout the kitchen area “behind dough mixer,” “under oven” and “on floor next to food preparation sink.”
The report red-flagged improperly separated foods, including “raw chicken stored on top of pork” and “raw chicken stored over cooked rice noodles,” as well as issues such as a “black/green mold-like substance” inside the ice machine, “hood filters soiled” with “food debris, grease, dust or mold-like substance” and “boxes of cooking oil stored on floor.”
One employee’s personal beverage container was “stored next to clean service item” in the dishwashing area, and an employee’s cellphone and car keys were “stored under counter next to ingredients and utensils across from stove.”
The restaurant was allowed to reopen the next day after the state found two basic violations.
Ordered shut: Oct. 9; reopened Oct. 10
Why: Nine violations (three high-priority), including 14 cockroaches “crawling in box covering printer next to and above food preparation utensils in rear prep area,” “crawling on soy sauce bottles above prep table” “crawling on plastic wrap on prep table” and “on top of walk-in cooler.”
The state found two dead roaches inside the same printer box as the live roaches. There were also about eight flies “around hand wash sink at front counter,” “landing on soda boxes in rear prep area,” “landing on shelf holding clean utensils,” and “landing on cutting board stored on clean utensil storage shelf in rear prep area.”
The grill was cleared to reopen after a next-day inspection found zero new problems.
Ordered shut: Oct. 9; reopened Oct. 10
Why: 15 violations (four high-priority), including 50 flies landing “on a few unopened bags of starch” in a dry storage area and “on shelving above dish machine, housing clean pots.”
The state also red-flagged improperly separated foods, including “raw duck and raw pork stored in same container” and “raw pork stored over ice cream” in the front counter chest freezer. Additionally, a hand wash sink was “not accessible for employee use at all times,” with the “back prep room hand sink blocked with large buckets.”
A single intermediate violation found during a second inspection the next day did not stop the restaurant from reopening.
Ordered shut: Oct. 9 and Oct. 10; reopened Oct. 10
Why: 12 violations (six high-priority), including 18 live cockroaches “on wall in mop sink,” “under rice cooker prep table,” “under grill station” “behind fry station fryers,” “under wok station” and “inside electrical outlets above prep table.”
There were also about 22 dead cockroaches “in roach trap next to hot water heater” and “under the front counter.” The report said: “Operator handled dead roaches and then handled clean kitchen utensils.”
Finally, the restaurant was order to stop selling and trash its cooked noodles “due to temperature abuse.”
Toys & Games The presence of a live roach “on wall above prep table in the kitchen” plus another basic violation forced the restaurant closed a second time on Oct. 10. The eatery was cleared to reopen later that day after its third inspection yielded no new issues.