Last week, Florida state inspectors ordered 14 South Florida restaurants shut for serious health violations, including the discovery of live and dead roaches, rodent droppings, fly infestations, improper food storage, and mold in ice machines.
Among those temporarily closed: a Papa John’s in Miami where a dead rodent was found behind the counter; Smoothie Spot 8st, also in Miami, which had dozens of rodent droppings and unsafe food temperatures; Thai Island Restaurant in Key West, which racked up 20 violations; and a Tropical Smoothie Café in Fort Lauderdale, which was shut down after roaches were found during an initial and follow-up inspection.
All the places mentioned were allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and re-inspection…