10 Lee County restaurants get perfect scores; 1 closed; 19 fail inspection
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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 Lee County restaurant inspections site.
Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Lee County, Florida, for the week of Jan. 1-7, 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 Lee County restaurant inspection site.
Which Lee County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?
These restaurants met all standards during their Jan. 1-7 inspections and no violations were found.
Bonefish Grill, 26381 S Tamiami Tr Ste D, Bonita Springs**
Cape Royal Golf Club, 11460 Royal Tee Circle, Cape Coral**
Captiva Island Yacht Club, 15903 Captiva Road, Captiva**
Forest Country Bear Shack, 6100 Club Blvd SW, Fort Myers
Mizuki Japanese Cuisine, 16960 Alico Mission Way Ste 102, Fort Myers**
Panera Bread #1233, 5037 S Cleveland Ave Ste 101, Fort Myers**
Ritas Italian Ice, 4666 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers**
Romeo's Pizza, 19527 Highland Oaks Dr Ste 205, Estero
Springhill Suites By Marriott Fort Myers / Estero, 10370 Corkscrew Commons Dr, Estero**
Taco Works Cape Coral, 1017 B Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral**
** Restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week
Which Lee County restaurants were temporarily closed by inspectors?
These restaurants failed their Jan. 1-7 inspections and were temporarily closed. Follow-upinspections are required.
Bonefish Grill
26381 S Tamiami Tr Ste D, Bonita Springs
Complaint Inspection on Jan. 4
Facility Temporarily Closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.
8 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area: 8 live small flying insects on wall and ceiling and entry to kitchen 3 live small flying insects on walls at mop sink More than 80 small flying insects on walls and ceiling between passbar and soda station 3 live small flying insects on the walls and on plastic covering single-use items at order-entry station next to cook line 4 small flying insects airborne flying at the cook line 2 small flying insects at customer table next to the kitchen entry **Warning**
Which Lee County restaurants had high priority violations?
Bjs Restaurant & Brewhouse 565
9960 University Plaza Dr, Fort Myers
Complaint Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
6 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler far right cook line pizza area: ; cooked pork sausage (48F - Cold Holding); cooked pork and beef meatballs (60F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken (55F - Cold Holding); ham (48F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (49F - Cold Holding) for 3 hours per operator. Repeat 12/8/2023. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Bubbakoo's Burritos
1751 NE Pine Island Rd Unit D, Cape Coral
Routine Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
5 total violations, with 2 high-priority violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. raw chicken (47F - Cold Holding) in walk-in cooler. The manager placed ice on raw chicken. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
Cantina Captiva LLC
14970 Captiva Dr, Capitiva
Routine Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
19 total violations, with 4 high-priority violations
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed three compartment sink in use, operator washing, rinsing but not sanitizing utensils. **Warning**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on 12-01-2023. **Warning**
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Prepared rice, per operator, prepared more than 24 hours prior in walk-in cooler without date make. **Warning**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Operator preparing food in large stainless steel bowl inside kitchen, containing four (4) pounds pics de gallo. Food is being prepared for Mobil food truck parked next to establishment. Kitchen area has no ceiling due to damage from hurricane Ian and food is being prepared under exposed rafters with heavy build up of dust, dirt and exposed insulation. **Warning**
De Adriatico Restaurant
9908 Gulf Coast Main St Ste C165, Fort Myers
Routine Inspection on Jan. 5
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
10 total violations, with 3 high-priority violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed and employee cooking in back kitchen handle personal cellphone, then don gloves t return to work. Spoke with manager and employee about proper handwashing techniques, employee washed hands prop before putting on gloves to return to work. **Warning**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. At bar entrance, approximately 12 live small flying insects observed under ice bin. **Warning**
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. See stop sale. In reach-in cooler Main cook line left side, observed 7 reduced-oxygen packages of sea bass thawed, still in packaging **Warning**
Denny's
1306 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral
Complaint Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
8 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. Observed cook touching shirt and pants while engaging in food preparation. Educated cook on not touching clothes or skin while engaging in food preparation. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 5 to 7 small flying insects in soda shelves area and dishwashing area. **Warning**
El Tarasco Mexican Restaurant
728 Pine Island Rd SW Ste 8-9, Cape Coral
Routine Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
13 total violations, with 5 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. Observed dishwashing machine not properly sanitizing set up 3 compartment sink. Re-Check. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw beef over produce cut tomatoes and salsa in walk-in cooler.
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken over raw beef in walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed raw steaks (48F - Cold Holding); raw shrimp (47F - Cold Holding); raw marinated chicken (51F - Cold Holding) in reach-in cooler across from cook line. The cook stated he was putting ice on all raw products. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Headpinz Ft Myers
14513 Global Parkway, Fort Myers
Routine Inspection on Jan. 5
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
13 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. Dishwasher Main Kitchen(Chlorine 0ppm). **Warning**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 40 on ceiling front service line in kitchen. 7 on ceiling dishwashing area. 20 on ceiling in dry storage mop sink area. 5 in pinboys service bar ceiling. Repeat 11/2/2023 **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Left side reach-in cooler drop in unit:; sour cream (45F - Cold Holding); shredded cheddar cheese (50F - Cold Holding); housemade coleslaw (45F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (45F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding) stored overnight per operator. Repeat 11/2/2023. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Left side reach-in cooler drop in unit:; sour cream (45F - Cold Holding); shredded cheddar cheese (50F - Cold Holding); housemade coleslaw (45F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (45F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding) stored overnight per operator. Spoke with operator about time as a public health control and provided operator with form.Repeat 11/2/2023 **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Under prep counter between walk-in coolers with clean equipment. 2 bottles sanitizer tablets and a bottle of chemicals stored on top of ware washing machine, contamination may occur. Sanitizer buckets stored under both prep tables with food for public and clean equipment. Operator moved chemicals to proper storage. Repeat 11/2/2023. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 200+ppm) on cook line. Operator disposed ofthe chemicals. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Mission BBQ Ft Myers
12984 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers
Routine Inspection on Jan. 5
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 - 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. Observed Dishwasher (Chlorine 00ppm); operator filled triple sink to sanitize: Triple Sink (Chlorine 100ppm) **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed 40 lb of salmon thawed without being removing from vacuumed package inside walk-in cooler. Label clearly indicates to remove from package before thawing.
Nick & Stellas Pizza Perfecto
15271 Mcgregor Blvd Ste 14, Fort Myers
Routine Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
15 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. Observed chlorine concentration at 0 ppm. Operator primed sanitizer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. **Warning**
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with lemons in walk in cooler. **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over cooking oil in walk in cooler. Observed packages of raw hamburger stored over cooked gyro meat and filo dough in walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed sour cream 48F cold hold less than 4 hours. Operator turned down reach in cooler. Educated operator on maintaining time/temperature control for safety foods at 41F or below. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed gravy 122F less than 4 hours. Operator reheated on stove to 165F. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Steak 'N Shake
10600 Fowler St , Fort Myers
Routine Inspection on Jan. 3
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
2 total violations, with 2 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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 00ppm); Operator set up trip sink for sanitizing. Triple Sink (Quaternary 200ppm) **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Current license expired on 12 01 23. Operator renewed license on site. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Subway
12870 Tradeway Four, Unit 112, Bonita Springs
Routine Inspection on Jan. 4
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
5 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. Solution in receptacle for cleaning knives measured 0 ppm. Manager refreshed solution. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 0ppm). Repeat from 11-2-23 **Repeat Violation**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At 9:30 am, in right side of cold table: roast beef (50F - Cold Holding); mozzarella cheese (50F - Cold Holding); sliced turkey (49F-cold holding). Manager stated she had turned off unit for cleaning one hour prior. Discussed importance of maintaining Time/Temperature Controlled for Safety Food at proper temperature at all times. Manager turned unit back on, closed lid and agreed to clean unit at close, after food is removed. Checked temperature again at 10:02 am and there was no change. Recommended manager remove food to the walk-in cooler to rapidly re-chill. Manager complied. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
Zorba's Greek Restaurant
9106 Bonita Bch Rd, Bonita Spgs
Routine Inspection on Jan. 5
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
3 total violations, with 1 high-priority violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb with hose attached at front outside dining. - From follow-up inspection 2024-01-05: Discussed need for vacuum breaker on hose bibb with the Operator. **Time Extended**
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 Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers, Cape area restaurant and food truck inspections Jan. 1-7
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