A state inspection at a Palm Beach County restaurant last week found raw sewage with a “very strong odor” overflowing from floor drains and flooding the kitchen.
Meanwhile in Broward County, a restaurant had two dozen live roaches inside the dishwasher, under a food warmer and chest freezer, and crawling on a wall.
They were the only two South Florida restaurants ordered to temporarily close during this time period.
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
Sugar Bae Restaurant & Lounge
8253 Sunset Strip, Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Aug. 7
Why: Six violations (four high-priority), including:
• 24 live roaches in kitchen “inside dishwashing machine,” “under chest freezer,” “crawling on wall next to triple sink” and “under food warmer.”
• Stop sale ordered for cheese and cooked potatoes “due to temperature abuse.”
• Time/temperature issue also involved cooked rice.
Status: Reopened Aug. 8 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Palm Beach County
Mil Amores Mexican Food
421 Northlake Blvd., Suite A, North Palm Beach
Ordered shut: Aug. 7
Why: Two violations (one high-priority), including:
• “Raw sewage on ground of establishment kitchen’s floor overflowing from the drains; very strong odor of raw sewage and water rapidly flooding the cook line. Water cannot be isolated as [it’s] rapidly flowing under cooler at cook line, three-compartment sink, dishwashing area, and cooking equipment; unable to take temperature due risking to step on raw sewage while walking.”
• “Very slow draining water in handwash sink at cook line.”
Status: Reopened Aug. 8 after a next-day visit found one basic violation.
Dining and Cooking