Florida restaurant closures surged this week as state inspectors documented serious health violations, including roach and fly activity, mold, and food safety issues. Based on public records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), three restaurants in Miami-Dade County and Broward County were ordered shut after failing inspections, with several others cited for significant problems. For a comprehensive look at recent Florida restaurant closures due to rodent and roach violations, CleanTable summarizes the latest inspection findings and shutdowns using official DBPR data.
Florida Restaurant Closures: October 2024 Shutdowns and Violations
Health inspectors visited multiple restaurants across Miami, North Miami Beach, Hollywood, and Pembroke Pines between October 14–15, 2024. The main keyword, Florida restaurant closures, appears in several of the most severe cases this week, with roach sightings and sanitation lapses leading to immediate shutdowns. For more on recent shutdowns in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, see the latest inspection reports on sewage, roach, and insect violations that led to closures.
1. Mi Fondita Cafeteria — 6059 Johnson Street, Hollywood
- Inspection Date: 10/14/2024 (Complaint-based)
- Status: Ordered shut
- Violations Found: 10
Inspectors found live roaches on the back of a hand sink in the kitchen. The manager was unable to eliminate the pests as they retreated behind the sink seal. Additional findings included:
- Dead roaches on a table behind the tortilla chip cabinet and on the floor at the bar’s far end
- Accumulation of black substance, grease, and food debris inside the oven and microwave
- Ceiling tiles in the kitchen with heavy dust buildup and possible mold-like substance (repeat violation)
The establishment was allowed to reopen after meeting cleanup and re-inspection requirements.
2. Osman Restaurant — 514 NE 167th Street, North Miami Beach
- Inspection Date: 10/14/2024
- Status: Ordered shut
- Violations Found: 14
This restaurant was ordered shut for the second time in 2024, with inspectors citing extensive fly activity:
- Approximately 35+ live flies in the dry storage area
- 8+ flies near dirty dishes at the dishwasher
- 10+ flies on the kitchen wall by the handwashing sink
- 3+ flies in the dining room
- 15+ dead flies found next to a bug zapper in dry storage
Other issues included soiled walls, non-smooth and nonabsorbent kitchen ceilings (repeat violation), objectionable odors in the dry storage area, and no soap provided at the hand wash sink. The restaurant reopened after corrective action and re-inspection.
3. Lemon Peppers — 2701 NW 54th Street, Miami (Brownsville)
- Inspection Date: 10/14/2024
- Status: Ordered shut
- Violations Found: 18
Inspectors reported roach activity in the dry storage area, specifically:
- 5 live roaches crawling on a bag of cornmeal
- 2 live roaches crawling on a bag of flour
Additional findings included:
- Food-contact surfaces with stains and mold-like substances
- Objectionable odors in the walk-in cooler
- Heavily soiled ceiling vents and tiles with dust and black substance
- Improper glove changes and handwashing practices after handling raw chicken
- Food stored on crates not easily movable for cleaning
- No proof of required employee training
After ordered cleaning and a successful follow-up inspection, Lemon Peppers was permitted to reopen.
Other Notable Inspections: Mold, Roaches, and Equipment Issues
Supermachi Grill & Bar — 7925 NW 2nd Street, Miami
- Inspection Date: 10/14/2024
- Status: Follow-up inspection required
- Violations Found: 43
While not ordered shut, this restaurant was cited for:
- Live roach observed crawling on the bar wall
- Black/green mold-like substance in the ice machine bin (repeat violation)
- Multiple soiled ceiling tiles (repeat violation)
- Cold holding equipment not maintaining safe temperatures (ambient temperature of 50°F in two coolers; no TCS food stored)
- Soiled can opener and floors throughout kitchen (repeat violations)
- Soiled air vents and walls in kitchen and storage areas
A follow-up inspection was scheduled to ensure compliance with food safety standards. For more details on recent hygiene grades and closure statistics, check the full report on Florida restaurant hygiene scores and closures.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — 11401 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines
- Inspection Date: 10/14/2024 (Complaint-based)
- Status: Follow-up inspection required
- Violations Found: 3
Inspectors documented:
- One dead roach underneath the front counter
- One dead roach in dry storage next to soda syrup boxes
- One live roach underneath the office desk (adjacent to storage and front counter)
No immediate closure was ordered, but a follow-up inspection was required.
How CleanTable Grades Florida Restaurant Closures
CleanTable uses official DBPR inspection data to assign hygiene scores on a 1–100 scale, with letter grades from A+ to D. High-priority violations, such as live roaches or improper food storage, have a greater impact on scores. Restaurants with repeated or severe issues may receive lower grades, reflecting patterns in public records. Users can review both simplified summaries and full, original inspection reports through the app.
Frequently Asked Questions: This Week’s Florida Restaurant Closures
- Why was Mi Fondita Cafeteria in Hollywood ordered shut?
Inspectors found live roaches on the hand sink in the kitchen and dead roaches in multiple locations, along with significant grease and food debris buildup. - What led to the closure of Osman Restaurant in North Miami Beach?
Osman Restaurant was shut down after inspectors observed over 35 live flies in the dry storage area, dead flies near a bug zapper, objectionable odors, and lack of soap at a handwashing sink. - What specific violations caused Lemon Peppers in Miami to be shut down?
Health inspectors reported live roaches crawling on bags of cornmeal and flour, food-contact surfaces with mold-like substances, objectionable odors, and improper employee hygiene practices. - Did Supermachi Grill & Bar face closure?
Supermachi Grill & Bar was not ordered shut but was cited for 43 violations, including a live roach at the bar, mold-like substance in the ice machine, and cold holding equipment not maintaining safe temperatures. A follow-up inspection was required. - How quickly did the closed restaurants reopen?
All establishments ordered shut were allowed to reopen after completing required cleaning and passing re-inspections. - Were there any unusual or striking violations this week?
Yes, Lemon Peppers had live roaches found directly on food ingredient bags, and Osman Restaurant had a large number of flies and dead insects within food storage and preparation areas.
Want to see the latest hygiene grades before you dine out in Florida? Search any restaurant and get clear, up-to-date inspection summaries — Download CleanTable .
