These 15 Bradenton-area restaurants earned poor scores from Florida health inspectors
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.
Here are restaurants that failed to meet requirements during recent inspections:
Bonefish Grill, 7456 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 31
High priority: A bottle of medication was stored with single-service condiment cups in a bin on top of a microwave. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: Six cans of hearts of palm were dented. Corrective action was taken. The cans were removed from service.
Milk, crab cake, swordfish and feta cheese were cold-held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Six violations, including slow-draining water under a dishmachine and soiling on and around fryers.
The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Sept. 1.
Caesar’s Breakfast Cafe, 1808 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 21
High priority: Two shell eggs in storage had cracks in the shells. A stop sale was issued due to food not being in sound condition, and the eggs were discarded.
Intermediate: A can opener was soiled. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: There was no proof of required food safety training for two employees.
Basic: Two basic violations, including glasses that were nested together while wet.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 2106 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 21
High priority: Cooked ground beef, beef steak, pork steak, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, whole cream and cut lettuce were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse and the items were discarded.
Intermediate: No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device was provided at a handwash sink in the front kitchen area. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Two basic violations, including hood filters soiled with grease.
The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Aug. 22.
La Casita Azul, 5108 15th St. E., Bradenton (Inside Oneco Farmers Market) — Inspected Aug. 22
High priority: Chicken soup had not been cooled from 135 degrees to 41 degrees within six hours. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse and the soup was discarded.
High priority: An employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to work with food. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: An employee touched a garbage pail and then failed to change gloves/wash hands. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: There was no proof of required food safety training for one employee.
Basic: An employee was wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food.
China One, 5627 14th St. W., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 28
High priority: A kitchen employee used a cellphone with gloved hands and then failed to change gloves/wash hands. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: Raw animal foods (chicken and beef) were not properly separated from one another in a holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature.
High priority: Cooked pork, raw beef steak, cooked chicken, cooked shrimp, raw shrimp and krab meat were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse, and the items were discarded.
Basic: Three basic violations, including hood filters soiled with grease.
The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Aug. 31.
Coquina Beach Cafe, 2650 Gulf Dr. S., Bradenton Beach — Inspected Aug. 25
High priority: An employee failed to wash hands during a glove change after handling raw fish. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: Non-food-grade paper towel was used as liner for a food container holding cut greens. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: Chicken, ham, hot dogs, pollack, raw shell eggs and french toast batter were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued due to temperature abuse, and the items were discarded.
High priority: Fish batter that was supposed to be monitored using time as a public health control had no time marking, and the time removed from temperature control could not be determined.
Basic: A fly sticky trap with small dead flying insects on it was hanging directly over a prep table. Corrective action was taken.
The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Aug. 28.
Domino’s Pizza, 909 First St E, Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 23
Intermediate: There was no proof of required state-approved employee training provided for any employees.
Intermediate: No proof was provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.
Basic: Four violations, including no copy of the restaurant’s latest inspection report available.
Dunkin’, 5601 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton — Inspected Sept. 1
High-priority: An employee failed to dry hands after washing and then handled a single-service cup. Corrective action was taken.
High-priority: An employee handled a broom and dustpan and then failed to wash hands before handling single service cups. Corrective action was taken.
High-priority: An employee handled their phone and then failed to wash hands before handling single-service cups. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: A certified food manager or person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-service items.
Intermediate: The establishment had no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
Intermediate: No currently certified food service manager was on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling.
Intermediate: No paper towels or mechanical hand-drying device was provided at a handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: There was no proof of required state-approved employee food safety training provided for any employees.
Intermediate: No proof was 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.
Intermediate: There was no soap provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Four violations, including soiled espresso and milk-dispensing machines and an ice scoop handle in contact with ice.
The restaurant failed to meet inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Sept. 5. Another follow-up inspection was required.
Ghost Street Kitchen, 8004 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Sept. 1
High priority: An employee failed to wash hands during a glove change. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: A spray hose at a dish sink was lower than the flood rim of the sink.
Cut leafy greens, feta cheese, chicken, dice tomatoes and spaghetti were cold-held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: A can opener blade, a mixer head, a knife sharpener and a french fry cutter were soiled.
Intermediate: There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths.
Intermediate: Two spray bottles containing toxic substances were unlabeled.
Basic: Five violations, including two food employees not wearing hair restraints and a clogged floor drain at a three-compartment sink.
MOD Pizza, 13220 S.R. 64, Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 22
Intermediate: There was no proof of required state-approved employee training provided for any employees.
Intermediate: A spray bottle containing a toxic substance was unlabeled. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: The establishment had no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
Basic: No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign was posted.
Ni Chana Ni Juana, 2420 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton (food truck) — Inspected Aug. 28
High priority: An inspector observed an employee wash hands without soap. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: An employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: A handwash sink was not accessible for employee use at all times. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Hood filters were soiled with grease and reach-in cooler gaskets were soiled with mold-like substance.
Pierre’s Eatery, 5461 Factory Shops Blvd, Ellenton (inside Ellenton Premium Outlets) — Inspected Aug. 31
High priority: Raw eggs were stored over ready-to-eat cut produce in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: A vacuum breaker was missing at a hose bibb or on a fitting/splitter added to hose bibb.
Intermediate: The establishment had no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
Intermediate: A manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification.
Intermediate: No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink.
Intermediate: No probe thermometer was at hand to measure the temperature of food products.
Intermediate: No proof was provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.
Intermediate: There were no written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to monitor potentially hazardous food.
Intermediate: Alfredo pasta and macaroni and cheese that were being held for future use were not date-marked. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Five violations, including two cutting boards that were heavily grooved and no longer cleanable.
Siam Thai Bistro, 5763 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 23
High priority: Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength. Corrective action was taken. A restaurant operator placed a service call for the machine and set up manual warewashing.
High priority: A large can of coconut milk was dented at the seam. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: A spray bottle of pesticide was stored near food.
High priority: An employee performed a task outside of the kitchen and then failed to wash hands/change gloves. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: A certified food manager or person in charge lacked knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils and/or single-service items. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: The establishment had no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
Intermediate: A can opener blade was soiled.
Intermediate: No paper towels were provided at an employee handwash sink.
Intermediate: No proof was provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Eight basic violations, including raw ground beef thawing at room temperature and an accumulation of mold-like substance in an ice machine.
The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Sept. 1.
Sushi Hana, 4274 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 31
High priority: A dishmachine was not sanitizing properly. Corrective action was taken. A restaurant operator set up manual warewashing and placed a service call for the machine.
High priority: An employee washed hands without soap. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: Raw fish was stored over soy sauce in a walk-in cooler. Corrective action was taken.
High priority: Raw animal foods (chicken and eggs) were not properly separated from each other in a holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.
Intermediate: Handwash sinks were in use for purposes other than handwashing. Corrective action was taken.
Basic: Nine violations, including uncovered food in a splash area, raw chicken thawing at room temperature, hood filters soiled with grease and an accumulation of mold-like substance in an ice machine/bin.
Yogurt Mountain, 1526 Cortez Road W., Bradenton — Inspected Aug. 22
High priority: The restaurant was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
Intermediate: There was no proof of required state-approved employee training provided for two employees.
Intermediate: No proof was provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.
Basic: An employee with no hair restraint was engaging in food preparation in the main kitchen area. Corrective action was taken.
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.
