Sewage flowing in a Wendy’s, no water flowing in a cafe. Restaurant inspection fails
No to sewage, yes to running water is the message from this week’s Sick and Shut Down List of South Florida restaurants failing inspections.
For the second consecutive week the list is short, but dense with violations.
What follows comes from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation restaurant inspections. If you wish to file a complaint against a restaurant, do not email us, but click here. We don’t control who gets inspected or how strictly. We report without passion or prejudice, but with a side dish of humor.
In alphabetical order:
2601 Tower Cafe, 2601 S. Bayshore Dr., Miami: One violation led to many other violations Thursday in this restaurant in Biscayne Bank Tower.
“No running water during the time of inspection.”
The manager told the inspector that a broken pipe turned the tower into a dry building. The restaurant surged ahead, however, which resulted in a few other problems (which, hopefully, did not include the transmission of hepatitis A).
“...one kitchen staff was touching dirty plates and then back to prepping foods without washing his hands before putting the gloves on.”
“The staff used hand antiseptic instead of hand washing.”
“No soap provided at handwash sink.” No water, either.
But, did that matter when “handwash sink not accessible for employee use due to being blocked by a food shelf?”
Did you know this was a violation for a restaurant? “Whole fruit displayed for self-service not wrapped and no utensils provided...apples at the front counter are not wrapped.”
Presumably, the tower and the Tower Cafe got running water back Friday as the restaurant passed re-inspection.
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Wendy’s, 18181 NW 27th Ave., Miami Gardens: Another closure that pretty much flowed from one violation.
And we do mean “flowed.”
“Observed sewage water flowing onto the kitchen and prep areas of the Establishment. Sewage/wastewater was not able to be contained. Establishment is open to the public.”
“...standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly by the drive thru ice bin, and the ice machine areas.”
That’s all kinds of ew even before we get to a general lack of cleanliness that would have your mama shaking her head and Big Mama grunting, “No excuse for that.”
“Accumulation of food debris/grease on food-contact surface (the bun oven).” “...interior of all reach-in coolers soiled with accumulation of food residue.” “Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust.” “Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated grease, dust, or mold-like substance.”
And, of course, “accumulation of black/green mold-like substance inside the ice bin” by the drive-thru.
Food debris, dust or dirt — filth — covered “the exterior of all of the bun ovens, coffee maker station, on top of the French fries station, inside the deep fryer compartment doors, and all cup holders.”
Somebody apparently picked up some Drano because Wendy’s passed a same-day re-inspection.
