12 Alachua County restaurants cited for high-priority violations

Staff reports
·12 min read

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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 Feb. 5-11, 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 Feb. 5-11 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 had high priority violations?

Ballyhoo Grill

3700 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 8

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

26 total violations, with 6 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. Dish machine in ware washing area, 0 ppm. Employee primed machine, 50 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handled dirty dishes and proceeded to handle clean dishes without washing hands. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. Employee cut raw fish, changed gloves without washing hands, and proceeded to handle raw spinach. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **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. Beans dated 2/1 and grits dated 1/27. Employee stated items placed in cooler two days prior and old labels were not removed. Employee placed proper date on items. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

  • High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Fish stored in reach-in cooler across from office.

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Faucet next to hand washing sink across from walk-in freezer. Left side faucet in mop sink behind back door.

Conestogas Restaurant

14920 Main St., Alachua

Routine Inspection on Feb. 6

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

12 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handled dirty dishes and proceeded to handle clean dishes without washing hands.

  • 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 handled toasted bun on cook line.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in reach-in cooler next to pass through window on server side: butter (44F - Cold Holding); sour cream (45F - Cold Holding). Employee stated items placed in cooler two hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved items to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Dailymart

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Feb. 8

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

12 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee entered food truck, put on gloves and began portioning sauce without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken**

  • High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flies in kitchen area.

  • High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Shell eggs stored over radishes in reach-in cooler next to cook line grill. Employee placed eggs in bottom drawer. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee touched soiled apron and proceeded to prep vegetables without washing hands and changing gloves. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken**

Darrell's Diner #17

3117 SW 34th St., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 6

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: at the cold make table on the front line in the corner, pork Pattie 45, cubed ham 46, large link pork 47F. Ice bags are being added. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed: 3 bottles of spray sanitizer stored on the wait station bar, with to go clam shell carry out containers, ketchup, mustard and to go items. The sprays were moved to cleaning. ALSO, bleach jugs stored next to bulk potatoes by the walk-in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

El Portento Restaurant

Mobile food dispensing vehicle

Routine Inspection on Feb. 7

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

7 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Paper towel lining cut cilantro in reach in cooler.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. lettuce (68F - Cold Holding) on top of reach in cooler, employee stated item has been out of cooler no longer than 4 hours, she placed inside cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. rice (88F - Hot Holding) item made this morning sitting on cooks top, employee placed in steam table to reheat item to 165F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Falafel King

3252 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 5

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

5 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed: logoed plastic bags used so store frozen food, in the reach-in freezer.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: rice in the kitchen, 79F. This was placed uncovered in the reach-in cooler. ALSO, lamb in the reach-in freezer in the corner 45F. The door was closed and the lamb dropped to 43F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: gyro at the front counter, 97-109F. ALSO, gyro 83F. The gyro cooker was turned back on. The gyro in the kitchen was placed in the walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Flying Biscuit Cafe

4150 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 8

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 - 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 putting away clean dishes adjusted hat then continued putting away clean plates. Employee on cooks line kept touching pants and shirt then continued cooking.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. red velvet batter (61F - Cold Holding); egg wash (72F - Cold Holding) items sitting on counter of cooks line. Egg wash was supposed to be in ice bath but ice had melted away, employee replaced ice. Red velvet batter is a seasonal item very popular during February item constantly being in and out of cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Fresh Kitchen

700 NW 62nd St., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 7

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

11 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • 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 pants/apron changed gloves but did not wash hands in between. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

G Ville Seafood N Chicken 2 Inc

4310 SW 20th Ave., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 8

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

15 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Item in walk-in cooler: corn (46F - Cooling). Manager stated item prepared the previous evening. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Item in walk-in cooler: corn (46F - Cooling). Manager stated item prepared the previous evening. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

  • High Priority - Employee handled raw proteins and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Employee handled raw chicken, changed gloves without washing hands and handled to go containers. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken**

Temple E Hill Inc

15960 NW U.S. 441, Alachua

Routine Inspection on Feb. 6

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

6 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations

  • High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee washed coffee pot without sanitizing.

  • High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Item in cooler on breakfast buffet: waffle batter (46F - Cold Holding). Employee stated item placed in cooler three hours prior to temperature being taken. Employee voluntarily discarded item. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Waffle House #2387

915 E. University Ave., Gainesville

Routine Inspection on Feb. 5

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

1 total violation, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Heat strip failed to turn black to indicate the sanitization temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit was achieved on the dish surface and/or high temperature holding thermometer did not reach 160F. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. Ran dish machine twice thermometer tested at 144-145F. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-05: Ran dishwasher twice 153-156F. **Admin Complaint**

Zaxby's

16088 NW U.S. 441, Alachua

Routine Inspection on Feb. 5

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

9 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation

  • High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Hose side of splitter in mop sink. Manager placed vacuum breaker on hose of splitter. **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.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville area restaurant/food truck inspections: Feb. 5-11, 2024