A routine state food-safety inspection at DiCrespo Steakhouse in southwest Miami-Dade turned into a stomach-turning read, with inspectors reporting live roaches crawling out of a raw potato bag, a flan with a mold-like patch and a grab bag of basic sanitation and temperature failures. Several foods were slapped with stop-sale orders, and the inspection logged multiple high-priority violations that regulators say can lead to foodborne illness.
According to the Miami Herald, the visit turned up 37 total violations, including 12 labeled high priority. Inspectors counted 17 live roaches and found dozens of dead ones scattered around coolers and sinks. They also reported several ready-to-eat or cold items being held above safe temperatures or missing required date marks.
What inspectors documented
The inspection report details what it describes as a very live situation: “Roaches crawling out of a raw potato bag,” plus 17 live roaches observed in total. Dead roaches were found as well, including eight inside a reach-in cooler and more in handwash sinks, on the cookline and even on a sanitizer bucket.
Inspectors also noted that raw marinated chicken, flan, cooked rice and breaded steak either lacked date marks or were more than 24 hours old. A microwave was crusted with old food, utensils were stored on dirty shelving and a cutting board was so scarred it was considered unrepairable. Staff were observed skipping handwashing between tasks, and a soiled wiping cloth was used to wipe a clean plate, according to the report, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Past inspections and repeated failures
State records indicate this was not DiCrespo’s first tango with the rulebook. The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation inspection log from October 2025 shows multiple warnings and sanitation issues. Local coverage has previously grouped DiCrespo with other South Florida kitchens that were ordered shut for roach infestations, and Local 10 included DiCrespo on an October list of problem inspections.
Regulatory consequences
The DBPR stresses that inspection reports are snapshots and that “the division’s procedures are designed to compel compliance with all violations through follow-up visits, administration action or closure when necessary.” The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation also notes that items deemed unsafe are subject to stop-sale until they are discarded or brought back into compliance…