St. Augustine restaurant temporarily closed, 11 others get high-priority violations; 5 ace inspections
Each week, The St. Augustine Record will share the area restaurants — filed by state safety and sanitation inspectors — that aced their inspections, while mentioning those that didn't pass muster.
Florida's digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with information on which St. Augustine area restaurants pass and fail.
Recent inspection report: St. Johns County restaurant briefly shut down, 8 others get high-priority violations
From the ground up: New Lotus Noodle Bar coming to St. Augustine
The database can be searched by St. Johns County or by restaurant name. You will see which restaurants passed with no violations, those that were fined and forced to close temporarily.
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 its most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not represent the establishment's overall, long-term conditions.
St. Johns County’s best restaurant inspections
These restaurants passed their inspections from Sept. 18-24 with zero violations.
Let’s Taco Bout It food truck, 200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine 32080, Sept. 23
Street Frites, 1 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084, Sept. 23
Ayara Thai Street Café, 140 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084, Sept. 21
Smart Stay Inn of St. Augustine, 2065 State Road 16, St. Augustine 32084, Sept. 20
Magic Beach Motel, 50 Vilano Road, St. Augustine 32084, Sept. 19
St. Johns County inspections with high-priority violations
The following restaurants were issued warnings or administrative complaints due to failed inspections from Sept. 18-24:
Uptown Swinery
45 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 24
Facility reopened: Emergency Order Callback Complied
Uptown Swinery
45 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 23
Facility temporarily closed: Emergency order recommended
15 total violations, with four high-priority violations.
High Priority: Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. 1) 74 rodent droppings on top of in-use deep freezer located behind establishment in an enclosed area where the walk-in cooler is also located. 2) 23 rodent droppings on ground surrounding mop sink 3) 14 rodent droppings inside of mop sink. 4)6 rodent droppings inside cabinets of storage room behind bar. Person in charge started sweeping up rodent droppings. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority: Rodent rub marks present along walls/ceilings. 1) Rodent rub marks along ceiling in storage room behind bar.
Dos Coffee & Wine
300 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 23
Met inspection standards
One total violation, with one high-priority violation.
Dos Coffee & Wine
300 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 23
Call-back required: Extension given
One total violation, with one high-priority violation.
High Priority: From initial inspection : High Priority - Establishment operating with changed menu and/or increased seating without system approval for such change. Establishment license for 23 seats, counted 30 seats indoors, approximately 20 outdoors. Establishment is on Municipal water and sewer per person in charge. Provided seating change form during inspection. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: Operator is adding grease trap per City of St. Augustine before seating can be approved. Operator has acquired grease trap and is attempting to find a plumber to install. **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2022-09-23: City Municipality is requiring establishment to add higher capacity grease trap. Work is scheduled this month pending current Hurricane status. Establishment needs more time to get seating change approval. **Time Extended**
Sainte-George Restaurant
1 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 23
Follow-up inspection required: Administrative complaint recommended
Seven total violations, with four high-priority violations.
High Priority: Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 1) triple sink test at 0ppm. Per employee, sani solution is mixed with detergent. Instructed employee to dump sink and refill with sanitizer only. Retested at 300ppm Quats. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 1) dishes in triple sink not sanitized due to employee mixing detergent and sanitizer together. Triple dunked tested at 0ppm. Instructed employee to dump triple sink, and refill with only sanitizer. Retested sink at 300ppm Quats. Employee rewashed and sanitized dishes. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. 1) 8 poly bags of pasta (48F-50F - Cold Holding) left in reach-in cooler overnight.
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) 8 poly bags of pasta (48F-50F - Cold Holding) left in reach in cooler overnight. See stop sale. Discussed proper cooling tips. 2) front cheese cooler: milk (45F - Cold Holding). Reach in cooler door left open. Person in charge closed door and placed milk in reach in cooler. 3) crumbled blue cheese (50F - Cold Holding) employee placed ice bag. 4) herb butter sitting on shelf (68F - Cold Holding) discussed time as a public health control. Chef placed on time. Provided paperwork for time as a public health control. All foods are voluntarily disposed of, placed on time, or brought to 41F or below using ice, and refrigeration by end of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Preserved Restaurant
102 Bridge St., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 21
Follow-up inspection required: Administrative complaint recommended
Seven total violations, with three high-priority violations.
High Priority: Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. 1) License expired 6/1/2022. Operator attempted to log into DBPR account but license is attached to another account. Operator is going to call help line. **Corrective Action Taken** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) main cook flip-top cooler: butter (61F - Cold Holding); red sauce (57F - Cold Holding); corn (50F - Cold Holding); beans (58F - Cold Holding); elbow macaroni (63F - Cold Holding); oysters (45F - Cold Holding) Cooler was in a defrost cycle while employees were filling cooler for service. Person in charge had employees place all items on ice. Items were 41F or below by end of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. 1) mop sink y-splitter missing vacuum breaker on open side.
Steak N Shake #361
1760 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 21
Follow-up inspection required: Administrative complaint recommended
Eight total violations, with one high-priority violation.
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) American cheese (55F - Cold Holding); Swiss cheese (49F - Cold Holding) on cooking line. Person in charge added bags of ice on top of cheese. Items tested 41F or below by end of inspections. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
The Slammer & The Squire
2 World Golf Place, St. Augustine 32092
Sept. 20
Follow-up inspection required: Administrative complaint recommended
12 total violations, with three high-priority violations.
High Priority: Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. At time of inspection, current license expired from 06/01/2022. **Admin Complaint**
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. In the walk-in freezer, open package container of raw frozen chicken stored of raw frozen shrimp. Operator relocated the raw frozen chicken to the correct storage location. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. At time of inspection chemical grill cleaner stored over metal pans in the dry storage closet. At the server station opposite the main cook line, chemical spray bottle stored on the back of the prep table facing silverware to be rolled. Operator relocated all chemical spray bottles to the proper storage location. **Corrected On-Site**
The King & The Bear
1 King & Bear Drive, St. Augustine 32092
Sept. 20
Follow-up inspection required: Administrative complaint recommended
13 total violations, with four 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. At time of inspection chlorine dishmachine at 0ppm, sanitizer solution bucket empty. Operator set up the three-compartment sink until chemicals could be replaced. **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority: Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. At time of inspection current license expired from 06/01/2022. **Admin Complaint**
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. In the walk-in freezer, packages of raw beef stored over containers of pre portioned seafood. Operator relocated the beef to the proper storage area. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. In the prep area, chemical spray bottle stored handing on a shelf over single service drink lids. Operator relocated the chemical spray bottle. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Cantina Louie
10870 U.S. 1 North, Suite 110, Ponte Vedra 32081
Sept. 19
22 total violations, with five 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. At time of inspection employee using barehands to plate cut lettuce. Operator intervened and had employee place on gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority: Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Four flies observed in establishment, two by the used linens by the rear exterior door, one by the warewashing area by the walk-in cooler door and one in the service station. Operator was able to kill and dispose of one fly. **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority: Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. In the walk-in cooler, container of raw calamari stored over container of unwashed limes. Operator relocated the calamari to the proper storage location. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. At time of inspection no written plan for time as a public health control for chicken tenders, fries and salsa held on time all items with no time marking. Operator states all items placed out daily at 1030am and discarded at 230pm. Inspector provided time as a public health control written plan. Operator placed time marking labels on all containers. **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On the main cook line opposite the fryers, queso in the steam table (129F - Hot Holding). Operator adjusted the temperature setting for the steam table and queso reached (148F - Hot Holding) **Corrected On-Site**
St. Mary’s Seafood
705 Horton’s Trace, St. Augustine 32095
Sept. 19
19 total violations, with six 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. At time of inspection, on a shelf in the walk in cooler cooked green beans (53F - Cooling) stored overnight in shallow metal pans covered and stacked. Operator discarded the containers of cooked green beans. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flies by the main prep table on the side closest to the warewashing area.
High Priority: Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In the walk-in cooler, package of raw shrimp stored on shelf over container of ready to eat green beans. Operator relocated the green beans to the correct storage location. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority: Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. At time of inspection, on a shelf in the walk in cooler cooked green beans (53F - Cooling) stored overnight in shallow metal pans covered and stacked. At the server pass through window baked potatoes (80F - Hot Holding) cooked the day before and hot held from the day before, left out overnight. Operator discarded the potatoes and the cooked green beans. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the server pass through window baked potatoes (80F - Hot Holding) cooked the day before and hot held from the day before, left out overnight. Operator discarded the baked potatoes. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No backflow preventer at black hose connected to threaded faucet by the three-compartment sink.
The Back 40 Urban Café
40 South Dixie Highway, St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 19
10 total violations, with two high-priority violations.
High Priority: Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. 1) corn inside container with raw beef Patties. Employee took ready to eat corn out of container. **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) house made salsa (47F - Cold Holding). Improperly placed in flip-top cooler. Not submerged below cool line. Person in charge fixed container. **Corrective Action Taken**
Milltop Tavern
19 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 20
Call-back complete: Met inspection standards
Milltop Tavern
19 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084
Sept. 19
5 total violations, with three high-priority violations.
High Priority: Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. 1) raw ground beef stored in same food tray as ready to eat deli meat. Employee moved raw meat to its own container and shelf below ready to eat **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority: Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. 1) 1) grill reach in cooler: ham, pork (45F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken breast (48F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (50F - Cold Holding); sliced cheese (46F - Cold Holding); hamburger Patties (48F - Cold Holding); raw white fish, raw chicken (47F - Cold Holding) Left in cooler overnight, employee states no food was taken out for prep. See stop sale. **Warning**
High Priority: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) grill reach in cooler: ham, pork (45F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken breast (48F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (50F - Cold Holding); sliced cheese (46F - Cold Holding); hamburger Patties (48F - Cold Holding); raw white fish, raw chicken (47F - Cold Holding) ambient 45F Left in cooler overnight, employee states no food was taken out for prep. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Your Pie 75
389 Paseo Reyes Drive, Suite 205, St. Augustine 32095
Sept. 19
14 total violations, with two high-priority violations.
High Priority: Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. At time of inspection current license expired 06/01/2022. **Admin Complaint**
High Priority: Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No backflow preventer on the green hose side after the the splitter at the mop sink.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Johns County best, worst restaurant inspections: Sept. 18-24
