WILTON MANORS, Fla. — Two South Florida restaurants are proving that great food and clean kitchens can go hand in hand.

Sushi Erika in North Bay Village and Ethos Greek Bistro in Wilton Manors both earned Local 10’s Clean Plate Award after receiving zero violations on their most recent unannounced state food safety inspections.

When Local 10’s Jeff Weinsier walked into Sushi Erika, chef and owner Erika Kushi had no idea why he was there.

“Yea, everything went well. Is everything OK?” she asked.

“Everything is perfect,” Weinsier told her.

“Yea. Isn’t it? You’re scaring me,” Kushi said with a laugh.

That’s when Weinsier handed her the Clean Plate Award and told her, “Don’t worry, this is no Dirty Dining!”

“Ahh, that’s pretty cool,” Kushi said. “It went well from what I am aware of.”

Sushi Erika, located at 1700 Kennedy Causeway in North Bay Village, has earned perfect inspections not once but twice.

“Very few places get zero violations,” Weinsier said. “Not only did you have them last time, but you had zero before.”

Kushi says keeping the restaurant spotless is a team effort.

“I think cleanliness is very important not only for our customers but our employees,” she said. “Food safety is important. We all have our certificates here for food safety management as well.

“We all work as a team,” she added. “Having a clean restaurant is our top priority. We are a very small restaurant, even our bathroom. We take pride in having clean bathrooms, even our kitchen, clean tables.”

Kushi’s passion for sushi and cleanliness comes from her family.

“I take after my parents,” she said. “They had a restaurant down the street. They retired a few years ago. Japanese Market was right down the street.”

Before returning to the kitchen, Kushi held up her award and smiled.

“I feel honored,” she said. “This isn’t only for me, it’s for my staff here as well. I’m very proud. Thank you so much.”

At 2055 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, Ethos Greek Bistro is earning a reputation that’s as clean as its kitchen.

General Manager Leidy Lozano was all smiles when Weinsier walked in with the Clean Plate Award.

“You recently had an inspection?” Weinsier asked.

“Yes,” Lozano replied.

“You know what you got?”

“Yes — perfect score,” she said.

“Zero violations,” Weinsier said, handing her the award.

“Thank you so much. That is amazing,” Lozano replied.

Ethos has earned zero violations twice since 2024, a record Lozano attributes to consistency and teamwork.

“We need to train, we train and keep an eye out at all moments,” she said. “If you see something that is not done right, make sure it is corrected immediately. That is the best way to do it and everyone.”

The word Ethos means “character,” and the restaurant stays true to its name. The menu focuses on the fresh, light, and healthy flavors of the Mediterranean diet — food inspired by the island of Crete.

“This is amazing,” Lozano said, holding her award. “I’m going to put it so everyone knows that we are doing the right thing and that it is a safe place to come to eat.”

Restaurants with perfect inspections don’t come around often.

“We’d like to do more Clean Plate segments,” Weinsier said. “But places with zero violations don’t pop up often. So thank you to those who do and put our health and safety on the menu.”

Inspectors with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation also found zero violations at these establishments over the last three weeks, earning them a perfect score on their routine visits.

Thank you to them!

BROWARD COUNTY

ATHENA MUST HAVE GREEK (MOBILE) 10/2

V’S CAKES CHEESECAKES (MOBILE) 10/2

PIZZA HUT 18469 PINES BLVD. PEMBROKE PINES 10/2

TACO VIAJERO (MOBILE) 10/1

ROLLIN EATS (MOBILE) 9/30

DAMN MAMA CATERING (MOBILE) 9/30

SUNRISE BAR AND GRILL 3801 N. UNIVERSITY DR. SUNRISE 9/30

KIDDO GOURMET (CATERING) 9/30

MACAMOCHI 115 NW 6TH ST. FORT LAUDERDALE 9/26

LA MILANATION CATERING 9/25

THE RINK ON THE BEACH 4601 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY POMPANO BEACH 9/25

POMODORO 2908 E. COMMERCIAL BLVD. FORT LAUDERDALE 9/25

SMASH SPOT (MOBILE) 9/25

ROUND1 BOWLING & ARCADE 12055 PINES BLVD. PEMBROKE PINES 9/25

TAQUERIA LATINA (MOBILE) 9/24

THE HOLY GRILL (MOBILE) 9/24

WYNDHAM DEERFIELD RESORT 2096 NE 2ND ST. DEERFIELD BEACH 9/24

PATIO BAR & GRILLE 2096 NE 2ND ST. DEERFIELD BEACH 9/24

QUVO TACOS & CRAFT BEER 4354 N. HIGHWAY FORT LAUDERDALE 9/23

SONESTA SUITES FORT LAUDERDALE/PLANTATION 410 N. PINE ISLAND ROAD PLANTATION 9/23

PORTHOLE 501 E. SAMPLE ROAD POMPANO BEACH 9/23

BURGER KING 5000 S. STATE ROAD 7 FORT LAUDERDALE 9/23

O AND J’s KITCHEN (MOBILE) 9/23

CARENI FOOD (CATERING) 9/22

GUMBO TWIST KITCHEN (CATERING) 9/22

OHMYPOP LLC (CATERING) 9/22

ADIOS GOLF CLUB 7740 NE 39TH AVE. COCONUT CREEK 9/22

MIAMI DADE COUNTY

LAZ LUNCH TRUCK (MOBILE) 10/3

CREATIVE CULINARY SOLUTIONS (CATERING) 10/3

MARBLE & LEAF STEAKHOUSE (CATERING) 10/3

SMOOTHIE SQUAD (MOBILE) 10/2

MOS STREET FOOD (MOBILE) 10/2

EL SERRUCHO (MOBILE) 9/30

TACOS MEXICO LINDO (MOBILE) 9/30

ROSE TOP FOOD STORE (MOBILE) 9/30

NOW THAT’S A WRAP (MOBILE) 9/30

VICE CITY BEAN (CATERING) 9/30

BILTMORE 1200 ANASTASIA AVE. CORAL GABLES 9/30

MCDONALDS 16701 NW 67TH AVE HIALEAH 9/30

BIGTATOSEXPRESS GRILL (MOBILE) 9/30

HALF MOON EMPANADAS 3100 SW 62ND AVE MIAMI 9/26

305 SEAFOOD & WINGS PLUS (MOBILE) 9/26

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