PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — State health inspectors temporarily closed four restaurants in Palm Beach County after documenting high-priority food safety violations, including rodent droppings, improper handling of raw fish, sanitation failures, and the use of untreated water during an active Boil Water Notice.
- Address: 4251 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton
- Closure Date: Feb. 19
According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, inspectors found 18 violations, including 25 rodent droppings discovered in a dry storage area beneath a kitchen rack. The restaurant was cited for offering raw or undercooked swai fish without proper treatment for parasitic destruction, a major food safety requirement. Additional violations included operating with no hot water, grease-soiled walls, and dirty cardboard used as shelf lining near the cookline.
A follow-up visit on Feb. 20 showed conditions had improved to 10 remaining violations, allowing the restaurant to reopen.
- Address: 4607 N. Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach
- Closure Date: Feb. 19
According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, five high-priority violations led to its shutdown, including an employee who touched their face, nose, piercing, and hair, then handled utensils and food without washing their hands. Inspectors also found the store ignored an active Boil Water Notice, using untreated water to prepare drink ice and brew coffee and tea — an immediate health hazard resulting in a stop-sale order. Additional temperature control violations were also noted.
The restaurant reopened on Feb. 20 after a follow-up inspection recorded zero violations.
- Address: 1200 Yamato Road, Unit C1, Boca Raton
- Closure Date: Feb. 19
Inspectors reported conditions severe enough to warrant an immediate shutdown. The restaurant was one of several cited during the same enforcement period, which commonly includes issues such as food temperature violations, pest presence, or unsanitary work areas. According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the restaurant reopened later that same day after a third visit found no violations.
- Address: 4663 Lake Worth Road, Greenacres
- Closure Date: Feb. 17
The restaurant was cited for 18 violations, including live and dead roaches in multiple kitchen areas, a flying insect contaminating dry storage items, an employee handling raw eggs then touching a clean plate without washing hands, tortillas stored against a rag, raw steak improperly stored over sauces, and several stop sale orders for foods such as cooked pork, beans, coleslaw, cheese, and milk due to temperature abuse, along with a dented can of tomato sauce, according to health officials. The restaurant reopened Feb. 18 after a follow-up found zero violations…