The state temporarily closed six South Florida restaurants last week after finding violations including 300 rodent droppings, employee hygiene issues, and a “bucket of clear liquid with [a] dead roach floating” under a kitchen prep table, among others.
The South Florida 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 violations such as improper food temperatures or 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, visit myfloridalicense.com. (But please don’t contact us: the Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.)
Broward County
Subway
4002 SW 64th Ave., Davie
Ordered shut: Sept. 3
Why: Three high-priority violations, including:
• Nine rodent droppings “under filing cabinet” and “under dry storage rack” in preparation area and “under triple sinks.”
• Stop sale ordered for premade pizza “due to temperature abuse.”
Status: Reopened later that same day after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Nick’s Pizza
137 NE Second Ave., Deerfield Beach
Ordered shut: Sept. 3
Why: 12 violations (two high-priority), including:
• About 300 rodent droppings “on floor under food and food utensils storage shelving next to soda coolers” and “on all shelves of speed rack, on boxes, metal pans and table linens.”
• “No time mark observed on cheese pizza held using time as a public health control.”
• “Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”
• “Ceiling vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust or mold-like substance in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 4 after a reinspection found four basic violations.
La Riviera Café
123 NE 20th Ave., Deerfield Beach
Ordered shut: Sept. 3
Why: 15 violations (three high-priority), including:
• Five live roaches “under triple sink in kitchen” and “under hand sink at front counter kitchen.”
• “Bucket of clear liquid with dead roach floating in it under prep table in kitchen.”
• About 48 live flies in kitchen “resting on cocoa and cold brew bags,” “on glove box and food service paper box,” “on wall and shelving above triple sink,” “on food prep table legs” and “on wall next to dish machine,” as well as “flying at front counter and in dining area.”
• “Observed employee crack raw shells (eggs) at front counter and then handle cleaned food utensils without first handwashing.”
• “Observed two employees preparing food and handling food utensils without wearing hair restraints.”
• “Gallon milk opened yesterday at 8 a.m. stored in reach-in cooler in kitchen with no date marking.”
Status: Closed Sept. 4 after a next-day visit found eight violations (two high-priority). Reopened Sept. 5 when a third inspection found four intermediate and basic violations.
Asados El Paisa Broward
4828 N. University Drive, Lauderhill
Ordered shut: Aug. 31
Why: 18 violations (four high-priority), including:
• Six live roaches “inside paper towel dispenser at cook line” and “crawling on clean plates stored inside three-compartment sink.”
• Employee touched raw pork then handled “clean plates without changing gloves” and washing hands.
• “Raw pork stored over ripe plantains in walk-in cooler.”
• “Raw pork stored over open container with salsa in walk-in cooler.”
• “Uncovered container with raw rice stored in prep area.”
• “Uncovered container with salsa and soup stored in walk in cooler.”
• “No date marked on salsas and soup stored in walk-in cooler.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 1 after a follow-up inspection found five intermediate and basic violations.
Olivo Mediterranean Cuisine
7815 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation
Ordered shut: Sept. 3
Why: 13 violations (five high-priority), including:
• 10 rodent droppings in kitchen “on prep table next to … microwave,” “in clean tray on lower shelf of preparation table” and “across from single-door freezer.”
• Time/temperature issues involved hummus, cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt and raw beef kebab.
• “Tray of raw beef stored above container of sour cream in … reach-in cooler.”
• “Hot water turned off in kitchen, resulting in employees using only cold water to wash hands.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 4 after a next-day inspection found three basic violations.
Palm Beach County
Kapow! Noodle Bar
402 Plaza Real, Boca Raton
Ordered shut: Sept. 3
Why: 16 violations (eight high-priority), including:
• About four live roaches “on floor at cook line under wire metal shelf used for storing vegetables and fried rice for service,” “on floor at cook line running” and “under two-compartment sink on floor at food preparation area.”
• About 38 dead roaches “under soda rack in kitchen,” “under dish washing machine” and “under ice machine.”
• Stop sale ordered for overstocked salted butter “due to temperature abuse.”
• Time/temperature issues also involved table fried rice, cooked rice noodles, fresh garlic in oil sauce, raw Wagyu beef, bean sprouts, cooked chicken and cooked cauliflower.
• “Chef wiped mouth with hand and after handled trays of cooked dumplings without washing hands.”
• “Establishment sells [hamachi] served raw with no parasite destruction letter.”
Status: Reopened Sept. 4 after a follow-up inspection found two intermediate and basic violations.
Dining and Cooking