State inspectors discovered dead rodents or signs of rodents at more than half of the 11 South Florida restaurants temporarily ordered closed last week. At one eatery, an employee was seen cleaning rat droppings with their bare hands, then touching a food prep counter.
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
Artie’s Sportsmen’s Lounge
2218 N. Federal Highway, Hollywood
Ordered shut: Dec. 1
Why: Nine violations (four high-priority), including:
About six live roaches inside of control devices “located under three-compartment sink in kitchen area” and “on ground next to water heater.”
About 17 dead roaches inside of control devices “under three-compartment sink and “on ground next to water heater,” as well as “on ground next to water heater” and “on electrical outlet next to water heater” in kitchen area.
Stop sale ordered for cooked scalloped potatoes due to time/temperature issues.
“Raw beef stored above cooked turkey in two-door, glass slider reach-in cooler.”
Other time/temperature issue involved cooked turkey (prepared Nov. 27 and not date-marked).
Status: Reopened Dec. 2 after a follow-up inspection found three basic violations.
Denny’s
404 S. State Road 7, Hollywood
Ordered shut: Dec. 4
Why: Eight violations (four high-priority), including:
Two dead rodents “in glue traps under shelf in chemical storage room away from the kitchen.”
Five rodent droppings “in chemicals storage room [in] front of exit door away from the kitchen.”
“Hot water turned off in kitchen resulting in employees using only cold water to [wash] their hands.”
“Container of raw salmon stored above container of cooked potatoes in [four-door] Victory reach-in freezer.”
Time/temperature issues involved shredded cheese, ham, cooked onions and cooked peppers.
Status: Reopened later that same day after a reinspection found no violations.
Emily’s Garden
327 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Dec. 3
Why: Six violations (three high-priority), including:
About 42 rodent droppings in kitchen “under the dry storage rack” and “on top of the dish machine.”
“In the outside refrigerated storage area, raw shell eggs were stored over unwashed potatoes” and “cold smoked salmon [was] stored over butter.”
Status: Reopened later that same day after a follow-up visit yielded no violations.
El Coyote Club
5748 Washington St., Hollywood
Ordered shut: Dec. 3
Why: Nine violations (four high-priority), including:
26 live roaches in kitchen areas such as “under and around small chest freezer,” “in aluminum trays on shelf above triple sink” and “in paper towel dispenser in kitchen.”
21 dead roaches in kitchen “in aluminum trays on shelf above triple sink” and “on shelf next to dry spices.”
“Employee washed hands with no soap.”
“Trays of raw shell eggs stored above container of cooked vegetables in Valpro [double-door], reach-in cooler.”
“Bag of raw chicken stored above bag of raw pork in [double-door], reach-in freezer — meats not commercially packaged.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 4 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Cajun Boil
8000 W. Broward Blvd., Suite 1329, Plantation
Ordered shut: Dec. 5
Why: Six violations (two high-priority), including:
One dead rodent “in the mop closet in a drain” that is about “50 feet from the kitchen and in the same room as the ice machine.”
About 20 rodent droppings “in the mop closet near the water heater.”
“Observed raw chicken stored over ready-to-eat bread in the low-boy cooler in the kitchen.”
“Observed handwashing sink at the front counter used to store dirty dishes.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 6 after a second inspection found no violations.
Lickie Stickie BBQ
7794 NW 44th St., Sunrise
Ordered shut: Dec. 4
Why: Nine violations (four high-priority), including:
Four live roaches in prep kitchen “in handwash sinks” and “inside a knife collection bag on top shelf,” as well as “inside main kitchen on floor, crawling into the wall.”
One dead roach in “prep sink inside kitchen.”
About 30 live flies “throughout the whole establishment (except dining area), landing on walls, on cooking pots, prep tables and boxes of single-service items.”
“Observed employee wash dirty dishes and immediately [touch] clean equipment before washing hands.”
“Raw shell eggs stored over container of sauces in walk-in cooler.”
“Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 5 after a follow-up visit found no violations.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
The Blue Anchor Pub
804 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 4
Why: 18 violations (seven high-priority), including:
About 481 rodent droppings in kitchen areas such as “under sheet pan by mixer,” “under table of microwave” and “on shelf by rear door,” as well as “by door in liquor room in kitchen”; other areas included “in walk-in cooler,” “under shelf in dry storage,” “on the floor and in boxes of napkins, plastic forks, plastic knives and ramekins” and “in outside ice machine with no ice inside.”
Raw pork and cooked beef “placed in soiled container” in walk-in cooler.
“Raw pork [stored] over unwashed mushrooms in walk-in cooler.”
“Observed raw ground beef above fish in flip-top refrigerator.”
Stop sale ordered for mahi mahi “in [reduced] oxygen pack” that was defrosted.
Time/temperature issues involved butter, raw pork, blue cheese, cut cabbage, cooked chicken wings, sour cream, milk, salsa, gravy, whipped cream and cooked beef.
All walls in walk-in cooler and walk-in beer cooler “soiled with mold-like substance.”
Status: Closed Dec. 5 after a reinspection found 12 violations (four high-priority). Reopened Dec. 8 after a third visit found five violations (one high-priority).
Gou Lakay & American Taste
229 SE Second Ave., No. 1, Delray Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 2
Why: 13 violations (eight high-priority), including:
About 109 rodent droppings in kitchen “in cardboard box for storage tomato paste,” on “cleaned plate in shelf,” “on shelf” and “in frying pan,” as well as on “shelf and floor at bathroom.”
Three live roaches in “unused reach-in cooler at kitchen.”
“Employee cleaned rat droppings with bare hands and then touched food prep counter without washing hands.”
Stop sale ordered for cooked chicken “not consumed/sold within [seven] days after opening/preparation.
“Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing … stored apron, lids, scrubs.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 4 after a follow-up inspection found three basic violations.
Sal’s Italian Ristorante
5500 S. State Road 7, No. 116, Lake Worth
Ordered shut: Dec. 3
Why: 12 violations (six high-priority), including:
About 32 live roaches “on clean dish storage rack above dish machine,” “in electrical box next to dish-washing area,” “crawling under food prep table with meat slicer and pasta” and “running on soda syrup boxes on soda rack.”
About two dead roaches “on floor at front counter soda cooler.”
Stop sale ordered for “commercially processed, reduced-oxygen packaged salmon and snapper bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use [that was] no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package.”
“Server entered kitchen from outside and, without washing hands, prepared to-go salad for customer.”
“Cook wiped hands on visibly soiled apron and cloth used to wipe equipment down, and after, without washing hands, handled clean and sanitized utensils to prepare pasta dish.”
“Dish-washer drinking while washing dishes.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 4 after a second visit found no violations.
Mil Amores Mexican Food
421 Northlake Blvd., Suite A, North Palm Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 2
Why: 20 violations (nine high-priority), including:
About 40 flies landing on “unwashed lemons, bag of onions, clean plates, sealed spices and a container with pineapple skin with vinegar on cook line.”
Raw beef stored over french fries.
Raw chicken stored over raw beef.
Stop sale ordered for cooked beef and sour cream “due to temperature abuse.”
Degreaser stored next to clean pots and pans.
“Employee washed dishes with soap and water then proceeded to [prepare] food without washing hands.”
“Throughout the kitchen, bags of onions” stored on floor.
Status: Closed Dec. 3 after a second inspection found four violations (one high-priority). Reopened later that same day after a third visit found three intermediate and basic violations. A follow-up inspection was required.
MV Take Out Restaurant
386 SE Second Ave., Delray Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 2
Why: Five violations (three high-priority), including:
About 19 rodent droppings by “AC unit in storage room” and on lids of cornmeal and bean containers in dry storage room.
Stop sale ordered for blue fish in three-compartment sink because of “food/ice received from unapproved source/no invoice provided to verify source.”
“Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing … some food evidence in handwashing sink.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 3 after a follow-up visit found one basic violation.