Florida restaurant hygiene scores are in the spotlight this week after state inspections led to multiple closures in Miami-Dade County and Broward County. Based on public records from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), several South Florida establishments were temporarily shut down due to pest activity, temperature violations, and unsanitary conditions. CleanTable, an independent app, uses this DBPR data to assign each restaurant a clear hygiene score and grade, helping diners make informed choices.
Florida Restaurant Hygiene Scores: Key Closures and Violations
Recent restaurant inspections in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, and beyond revealed a range of critical issues. The following locations were ordered shut after health inspectors documented high-priority violations, including rodent and roach activity, improper food storage, and equipment failures.
Grande Pizza Subs and Wings – Plantation
Address: 8373 West Sunrise Blvd., Plantation
- Date Ordered Shut: September 10, 2024
- Violations Found: 6
- Rodent Activity: Over 115 rodent droppings found in multiple kitchen areas, including on top of oil tubs, near mixers, and behind the walk-in cooler.
- Stop Sale: Issued for food not in wholesome condition (ham slices dated past 7 days, cut tomatoes not cooled to 41°F within 4 hours).
- Other Issues: Mold-like debris on cooler gasket.
The Drunken Taco – Fort Lauderdale
Address: 201 South Atlantic Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
- Date Ordered Shut: September 11, 2024
- Violations Found: 11
- Roach Activity: Live roaches observed by walk-in freezer and cook line.
- Sanitation Issues: Mold-like substance and rust in ice machines, dish machine not sanitizing properly (chlorine at 0ppm).
- Temperature Abuse: Raw beef and fried wings held above 41°F for over 12 hours.
The Booby Trap II – Hallandale Beach
Address: 5775 Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach
- Date Ordered Shut: September 9, 2024
- Violations Found: 12
- Roach Activity: Multiple live roaches found under racks, in dry storage, and on kitchen walls.
- Repeat Violations: Soiled ceiling tiles and vents in kitchen.
- Improper Storage: Raw animal food stored above ready-to-eat foods.
Mystic Lobster Roll – Fort Lauderdale
Address: 753 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale
- Date Ordered Shut: September 9, 2024
- Violations Found: 5
- Roach Activity: Approximately 10 live roaches at in-ground grease compartment in rear kitchen.
Hatch – Fort Lauderdale
Address: 715 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
- Date Ordered Shut: September 9, 2024
- Violations Found: 16
- Insect Activity: Live flying insects in dry storage, kitchen prep, and dishwashing areas.
- Nonservice Animals: Noted in dining room.
- Improper Food Storage: Raw eggs above ready-to-eat eggs, cracked shells stored with whole eggs.
- Temperature Issues: Tomatoes, pico, and sausage held above 41°F; missing time marks on butter.
- Sanitizer Problems: Dish machine not reaching proper sanitizing temperature.
Fritanga Monimbo – Kendale Lakes Area, Miami
Address: 13710 SW 56th Street, Miami
- Date Ordered Shut: September 10, 2024
- Violations Found: 30
- Roach Activity: Multiple live and dead roaches in kitchen, prep areas, and equipment.
- Mold in Ice Machine: Black/green substance observed.
- Temperature Abuse: Cooked tongue at 56°F; other meats and hot foods below safe holding temperatures.
- Other Issues: Damaged ceilings, soiled vents, clean equipment stored on floor, and unclean floors.
Statement from Fritanga Monimbo Management: The restaurant acknowledged the shutdown, outlined steps for increased fumigation, staff retraining, and cleaning, and reopened the next day after passing re-inspection.
The Big Apple Delicatessen – North Miami
Address: 11064 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami
- Date Ordered Shut: September 9, 2024
- Violations Found: 16
- Roach Activity: Live and dead roaches found behind ice machine and under sinks.
- Sanitation Issues: Soiled triple sink, missing ceiling tiles, unclean floors under equipment.
- Certification: No certified food service manager on duty.
Other Notable Violations and Follow-Up Inspections
Several additional South Florida restaurants received follow-up inspections after significant violations were observed. These included pest activity, improper food handling, and equipment not maintaining safe temperatures.
- Akash Kendall (Kendall West): Rodent droppings near dish machine and walk-in cooler; improper thawing of fish; soiled fryer baskets; no soap at hand sink.
- Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits (North Miami): Dead roaches by soda machine and ovens; cold foods above 41°F; expired employee training.
- Jersey Mike Subs (Miami): Flies in kitchen and bathrooms; mold on soda machine nozzles; prep table at 58°F.
- Chipotle (Kendall): Multiple flying insects in dining and prep areas; ice chute soiled; dish machine not working.
- Fritanga Coliseo (SW Miami Dade): Roach activity and droppings; soiled ceilings and stove; expired manager certification.
- The Floridian (Fort Lauderdale): Larvae and flying insects on soda gun; raw foods stored above ready-to-eat items; cold holding issues.
- La Carreta (Miramar): Flies by coolers and dish area; improper cooling of beef and yuca; glove use violations.
- Kubo Asian Fusion & Bar (Coral Springs): Flies in dish area and storage; raw chicken above scallions; sanitizer bucket on floor.
- La Costa Mexican Latin Cuisine (Fort Lauderdale): Flies on avocados at bar; chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp held above 41°F for over 12 hours; dish machine not sanitizing.
How CleanTable Calculates Florida Restaurant Hygiene Scores
CleanTable assigns a hygiene score and letter grade to each restaurant based on the severity and frequency of violations found in DBPR inspection data. The scoring system deducts points for each violation type:
- High Priority: -3 points
- Intermediate: -2 points
- Basic: -1 point
Restaurants with repeated or severe issues, such as pest activity or temperature abuse, may receive lower grades. CleanTable also highlights recency bonuses for establishments that maintain clean inspections over time. Users can review both simplified summaries and full official inspection reports through the app.
FAQ: Florida Restaurant Hygiene Scores and Recent Closures
- Why was Grande Pizza Subs and Wings in Plantation shut down?
According to DBPR inspection records, over 115 rodent droppings were found in various kitchen areas. Additional violations included improper food storage temperatures and mold-like debris on equipment. - What pest activity led to The Drunken Taco’s closure in Fort Lauderdale?
Inspectors documented live roaches near the walk-in freezer and cook line, along with sanitation issues in ice machines and a dish machine not sanitizing properly. - How many violations were found at Fritanga Monimbo in Miami?
Fritanga Monimbo was cited for 30 violations, including multiple live and dead roaches, mold in the ice machine, and unsafe food temperatures. The restaurant addressed these issues and reopened after re-inspection. - What temperature violations were reported at La Costa Mexican Latin Cuisine?
Inspectors found chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp held at temperatures above 41°F for over 12 hours, resulting in a stop sale and required corrective action. - Did any restaurants have issues with dish machine sanitization?
Yes, both The Drunken Taco and La Costa Mexican Latin Cuisine were cited for dish machines not sanitizing at the required strength, leading to manual sanitization procedures until repairs were made. - How quickly did restaurants reopen after being shut down?
All locations ordered shut were allowed to reopen after completing required cleaning and passing a follow-up inspection, as documented in DBPR records.
Curious about restaurant hygiene in your area? Search any Florida restaurant and get clear hygiene grades before you dine. Download CleanTable .
