Violations including 11 rodent droppings inside an oven and 10 live flies contaminating a pizza joint’s meatballs and cheese prompted the temporary closure of seven South Florida restaurants last week. Inspections also found dozens of live and dead roaches infesting multiple kitchens.
The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for “high-priority violations,” such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please don’t contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.)
BROWARD COUNTY
The Hen and The Hog
380 N. Park Road, Hollywood
Ordered shut: Oct. 17
Why: 11 violations (four high-priority), including:
About 37 live roaches in areas such as “on ground behind two-door, glass-slider, reach-in cooler,” “on front left wheel of two-door stainless reach-in cooler,” “in control device located under two-door, glass-slider, reach-in cooler,” “on ground in prep area” and “on wood board on wall behind right-side flat top on cook line.”
About 27 dead roaches in areas such as “inside of control device located under two-door, glass-slider, reach-in cooler,” “on top of sealed closed bag over potatoes located on side of two-door, glass-slider reach-in cooler,” “on ground behind chest freezer,” “on loose wrapped tape on electrical cord above chest freezer,” “on ground in prep area” and “on hanging tape under front counter in front of cook line.”
Stop sale ordered for cooked potatoes “due to temperature abuse.”
“Hand wash sink plumbing on cook line in disrepair. Water draining directly from sink onto floor.”
Status: Closed Oct. 18 after a reinspection found seven violations (two high-priority). Reopened Oct. 20 after a third visit found four violations (one high-priority; a follow-up inspection was required.
Sal’s Italian Ristorante
2908 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood
Ordered shut: Oct. 13
Why: Eight violations (three high-priority), including:
More than 18 live roaches in kitchen “on door to cook line flip-top,” “in gasket of chest freezer on cook line,” “on wall next to ice machine,” “in front left wheel of 10-burner stove on cook line,” “on wall behind gap in tile at ware-washing area” and “inside of gap along ware-washing and cook line hood walls.”
Seven dead roaches in kitchen “in control device located on ground behind chest freezer on cook line,” “on ground behind chest freezer on cook line,” “on ground next to ice machine,” “in far left oven on cook line” and “on ground under pizza line flip-top at front line.”
Stop sale ordered for “raw salmon in commercially packaged reduced-oxygen packaging with a label indicating to be removed before thawing, fully thawed in reduced-oxygen packaging.”
“Container of liquid cement stored on shelf above cook line.”
Status: Reopened Oct. 14 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Polo Bar & Grill
5590 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Pembroke Park
Ordered shut: Oct. 14
Why: 16 violations (seven high-priority), including:
“11 rodent droppings inside oven in kitchen.”
One live roach “on wall next to triple sink in kitchen.”
“Ziplock bags of raw shrimps and raw fish stored above sauces and salad in Atosa glass reach-in cooler”; stop sale ordered.
Stop sale also ordered for sour cream, heavy cream, shredded cheese, raw conch, raw fish and bean sprouts “due to temperature abuse.”
“Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”
“There [was] no soap available in kitchen upon arrival. Employee washed hands but didn’t apply soap.”
Status: Reopened Oct. 15 after a second visit found one basic violation.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Los Catrachos II
4663 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres
Ordered shut: Oct. 13
Why: 19 violations (13 high-priority), including:
About three live flies “around ice machine [in] server area with lemons.”
Approximately seven roaches “crawling on the floor next, behind and under reach-in freezer on cook line” in kitchen area.
About four dead roaches on “the floor behind reach-in freezer … by shelves with clean utensils.”
“Employee removed towel from the floor, then placed dirty towel on her shoulder then started to prepare food without washing hands first.”
Raw beef and raw chicken stored over cooked beef.
Raw beef stored over sauces, raw burgers over cooked beef, and raw pork chops over sauces.
Stop sale ordered for cut cabbage and lettuce, cheese, crema, raw chicken, raw beef, raw ground pork, french fries and cooked beans “due to temperature abuse.”
Status: Closed Oct. 14 after a reinspection found two violations (one high-priority). Reopened later that day after a third visit found no violations.
Bagel Restaurant & More
5770 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
Ordered shut: Oct. 13
Why: 18 violations (five high-priority), including:
About 27 rodent droppings “in kitchen on floor,” “inside clean cutlery storage on prep table” and “on floor in area between dining room and kitchen.”
Two dead roaches “on floor between dining room and kitchen.”
“Employee touched visibly soiled wiping cloth and then prepared food without washing hands.”
Raw salmon stored over unwashed tomatoes.
“Server handled soiled dishes/utensils while removing from tables, took customers orders/payment and then picked up plated food/served food/prepared food/beverages without washing hands.”
Time/temperature involved pooled raw shell eggs.
“Hard-boiled eggs in cooler [with] no date mark.”
“Both toilets and hand-washing sinks removed from all restrooms inside establishment.”
Status: Reopened Oct. 21 after a second inspection found three intermediate violations. A follow-up inspection was required.
Copacabana Cuban Cuisine
1209 Main St., Suite 101, Jupiter
Ordered shut: Oct. 16
Why: Six violations (five high-priority), including:
About 22 flies “at bar flying around and landing on clean glasses” and “by soda fountain station flying around, not landing.”
About 10 live roaches “on wall by Rational oven,” “by triple sink,” “on wall by mop sink,” “on wall by Ecolab chemical dispenser,” “on wall rack across from triple sink” and “on wall by spice rack.”
Glue traps with about 11 dead roaches “on shelves above dishwasher station and by hand-wash sink on cook line.”
Time/temperature issues involved cooked rice (stop sale) and cheesecake.
Status: Closed Oct. 17 after a follow-up visit found three violations (two high-priority). Reopened Oct. 18 after a third inspection found no violations.
Square Peg Pizzeria
4957 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
Ordered shut: Oct. 14
Why: 15 violations (seven high-priority), including:
“Approximately 10 small flying insects landing [on] meatballs, mozzarella cheese, mushroom at pizza station” (stop sale).
Stop sale also ordered for “marinara sauce date marked 10/7 at walk-in cooler.”
Time/temperature issues involved meatballs, cheese, roasted peppers, grilled onions and grilled vegetables.
“Cook removed all-purpose cleaner spray bottle and then [put] gloves on and prepared sandwich without washing hands.”
“Dust, dirt buildup in cleaned plates” on kitchen shelf.
“All-purpose cleaner spray bottle stored with brownies, cleaned plates, cup on shelf at kitchen.”
“Soap dispenser at hand-wash sink not working/unable to dispense soap at pizza station.”
Status: Reopened later the same day after a second visit found five violations (one high-priority).