The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation ordered Rocking Crab Seafood And Bar at 391 34 St N in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, to temporarily close on October 16, 2025, after inspectors documented 20 violations during a complaint-driven inspection.
What Happened During The Inspections?
According to state records, the establishment faced four high-priority violations, five intermediate infractions, and 11 basic violations. The most notable issues centered around high-priority violations, which are those that could contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury.
State officials found rodent droppings in a closed dining room and dead roaches throughout the restaurant. Inspectors documented 24 rodent droppings in the northeast corner dining room and 10 dead roaches in various locations, including the dining room, server station, and storage areas. The violations marked repeat infractions for the establishment, according to inspection reports.
Temperature control issues placed diners at risk, state records show. Inspectors found raw shrimp, chicken, and fish cold held at 47 degrees Fahrenheit in a reach-in cooler, six degrees above the safe threshold of 41 degrees. Raw milk reached 50 degrees, and mussels measured at the same temperature. Restaurant staff placed items on ice, bringing most products to safe temperatures, though milk remained at 48 degrees.
Meanwhile, the dishmachine chlorine sanitizer tested at zero parts per million, meaning dishes were not properly sanitized. Staff primed the machine during inspection, raising levels to 50 parts per million. Employees also failed to change single-use gloves when moving between tasks such as handling food and trash cans, inspectors noted.
Rocking Crab Seafood And Bar passed a follow-up inspection on October 17, 2025, meeting state standards with four violations remaining.
The restaurant, which holds 4.3 stars based on 1,001 Google reviews, operates under a permanent food service license.
High-Priority Violations Summary:
Dishmachine sanitizer failure: Chlorine sanitizer tested at zero parts per million, failing to properly sanitize dishes and utensils. Staff corrected issue during inspection, raising levels to 50 parts per million.Rodent activity: Inspectors found 24 rodent droppings in a closed northeast dining room, indicating active rodent presence.Temperature control failure: Raw seafood and chicken held at unsafe temperatures between 47-50 degrees Fahrenheit, exceeding safe cold-holding standards by six to nine degrees.Glove usage violations: Employees failed to change single-use gloves when switching between tasks, moving between food handling and trash disposal without proper hand hygiene.
Please note that an inspection is one moment in time and not necessarily how a restaurant operates day to day.
Please Share Your Thoughts:
Would you visit Rocking Crab Seafood And Bar now that the restaurant has passed its follow-up inspection?How important are inspection ratings when choosing where to eat in Pinellas County?Should restaurants be required to display their most recent inspection results at entrances?