Florida might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of seafood boils, but the Sunshine State has its share of beloved spots serving up Cajun-style seafood. One such favorite, Red Crab Juicy Restaurant in Lake Worth, recently found itself in hot water after a state inspection uncovered a slew of violations.
Located at 6177 Jog Rd Ste D1-D, Red Crab Juicy Restaurant is known for its mouthwatering Cajun seafood dishes, with the seafood boil being a top crowd-pleaser. The eatery has even been voted the best seafood restaurant in Lake Worth by Restaurant Guru, and it boasts an impressive 4.7-star rating on Google.
Why Was It Temporarily Shut Down?
On October 24, 2024, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducted an inspection at the restaurant, noting 23 violations. Here’s a breakdown of what inspectors found:
- Basic Violations: Dead roaches were discovered, an employee was handling food without a hair restraint, seasoning bags were stored under a moldy, dripping condenser line, and there was an exterior door with a gap that allowed exposure to the outside.
- Intermediate Violations: The handwash sink lacked paper towels, and oyster tags were not marked with the last date served.
- High-Priority Violations: These were the most concerning. Inspectors observed live ants, an employee failing to wash their hands before putting on gloves, a dish machine sanitizer that wasn’t at the proper strength, improper washing of raw fish, rodent droppings, and cold food items like raw shrimp, chicken wings, and boiled eggs being stored at unsafe temperatures.