BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Several South Florida restaurants were ordered shut last week by state inspectors with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation after health and safety violations were uncovered.
Among the most serious issues were multiple cases of roach activity, including live and dead insects found in food preparation and storage areas at Chef Dee in Pompano Beach, Ocean’s 5 Café on Miami Beach, Chez Gaston on Collins Avenue and Fritanga Nicaraguense in Miami.
At some establishments, inspectors also found unsanitary kitchen conditions, improper employee hygiene, food held at unsafe temperatures, dishwashing equipment that was not sanitizing properly and a lack of soap at handwashing sinks.
At Riviera, inside the Hotel Maren in Fort Lauderdale, inspectors cited flying insect activity, slime buildup on drink nozzles, and unsafe storage of thawed seafood. In total, dozens of violations were documented, raising significant concerns about food safety practices and sanitary conditions at these businesses.
All the places ordered shut were allowed to re-open following an ordered clean up and then a re-inspection.
**CHEF DEE
3919 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY
POMPANO BEACH
ORDERED SHUT 8/28
19 VIOLATIONS FOUND
“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1. One live roach observed crawling under reach in cooler in kitchen. 2. Approximately three live roaches observed crawling under triple sink in kitchen. 3. Approximately four live roach crawling underneath dish machine in kitchen.”
“Dead roaches on premises. 1. Approximately 14 dead roaches observed under triple sink in kitchen. 2. Approximately 5 dead roaches observed under prep table in kitchen.”
“Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dish machine. Repeat Violation.”
“Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. Observed employee take two raw pork chops from freezer with gloved hands and then handle cleaned food utensils at flip top cooler in kitchen without hand washing.”
“Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed cook at cookline in kitchen drying gloved hands with soiled wiping towel then handling cleaned food utensils food utensils without changing gloves or washing hands.”
“Employee used tobacco, ate, or drank then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed cook at cookline in kitchen eat a piece of food from sauce pan with gloved hands, before taking pan to triple sink, and then returned to cook line and handled cleaned food utensils at cook line without handwashing.”
“Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Baked potato (85F - Hot Holding) in steam table in kitchen. Prepared less than three hours ago per operator.”
“No soap provided at hand wash sink next to fryers in kitchen. Repeat Violation.”
**FORT LAUDERDALE DINING LLC.
(D.B.A) RIVIERA
INSIDE THE HOTEL MAREN
CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON
525 S. FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH BLVD.
FORT LAUDERDALE
INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT
ORDERED SHUT 8/25
15 VIOLATIONS FOUND
“Live, small flying insects found 1) Observed approximately 10 live, small flying insects, not landing, at downstairs bar. 2) Observed approximately 2 live, small flying insects, landing, on center pos area at downstairs bar.”
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed accumulation of slime on soda gun nozzle at ocean facing side of downstairs bar. Operator cleaned and sanitized during inspection.”
“Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Observed scoop stored inside ice bin at downstairs bar, handle in contact with ice.>
“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed raw tuna, thawed, stored inside packaging indicating removal upon thawing, inside walk in cooler. Per operator, food thawed in cooler overnight.”
“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) Observed expo line// butter balls (63F - Cold Holding), in kitchen. Per operator, food not prepped or portioned today; food out of temperature for approximately 30 minutes. Operator put food on ice to quick chill. 2) Observed cream cheese (63F - Cold Holding) at expo line, in kitchen. Per operator, food not prepped or portioned today; food out of temperature for approximately 1 hour. Operator put food on ice to quick chill. 3) Observed avocado mousse (56F - Cold Holding) at cook line. Per operator, food not prepped or portioned today; food out of temperature for approximately 2 hours. Operator put food inside walk in freezer to quick chill. 4) Observed shredded cheese (56F - Cold Holding) at cook line. Per operator, food not prepped or portioned today; food out of temperature for approximately 2 hours. Operator voluntarily discarded.”
**OCEAN’S 5 CAFE
444 OCEAN DRIVE
MIAMI BEACH
ORDERED SHUT 8/28
15 VIOLATIONS FOUND
ALSO ORDERED SHUT 7/2024(ROACH ISSUE)
“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 3 live roaches crawling on the floor by the food storage area. Observed 2 live roaches crawling on the floor at dishwasher area room.”
“Dead roaches on premises. Observed 4 dead roaches on the floor by cook line area located at the hallway. Observed 3 dead roaches on the floor by food storage area with bread crumbs container at cook line. Observed 3 dead roaches on the floor by the food equipment storage area.”
“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor soiled throughout kitchen floor, behind cook line.”
“Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed wall with accumulation of grease at cook line. Repeat Violation.”
“Required employee training expired for all employees.”
**CHEZ GASTON
GRAND BEACH HOTEL
4835 COLLINS AVENUE
MIAMI BEACH
ORDERED SHUT 8/26
13 VIOLATIONS FOUND
“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed approximately 3 live roaches behind the ice machine located next to the walk in cooler at the back of the kitchen area by the exit door.”
“Employee handled dirty towel after being on the floor and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed one employee took a dirty towel from the floor and placed it on the top of the prep table and another one picked a personal item from the floor and continued working with clean containers. Employees were coached. And washed their hands.”
“Dish machine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dish machine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dish machine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed DM working with chlorine sanitizer with 0 ppm.”
“No soap provided at hand wash sink.”
**FRITANGA NICARAGUENSE
3007 NW 7TH AVE.
MIAMI
ORDERED SHUT 8/27
22 VIOLATIONS FOUND
“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 2 live roaches crawling on wall behind 3 compartment sink at kitchen. Observed 2 live roaches coming out of mop sink drain at kitchen. Observed 1 live roach crawling on the floor under reach in freezer located across 3 compartment sink.”
“Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Observed dead lizard stuck on handle of oven located next to mob sink.”
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food slicer soiled stored at shelve across reach in cooler at kitchen. Observed fryer stored on rack soiled at kitchen. Observed salt shaker soiled at kitchen.”
“Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling vents soiled at kitchen area.”
“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor with accumulation of grease throughout kitchen area.”
“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed reach in cooler door handle soiled at kitchen.”
“Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed interior and exterior of oven soiled stored next to mop sinks.”
“Required employee training expired for some employees.”
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