Seven Central Florida restaurants were temporarily shut down last week after health inspectors walked in and found some stomach-turning problems, including rodent droppings, raw sewage, cockroaches, and risky food storage. The closures stretched from Clearwater and Cocoa Beach to Ocala, Satellite Beach, and multiple locations in Orlando. Most of the places were allowed to reopen within a day or two after fixing the violations noted in the reports.
State Records Flag Serious Violations
According to state inspection records, seven restaurants were ordered closed between Feb. 16 and Feb. 22 for problems ranging from improper food storage and expired licenses to sewage issues and significant pest activity. Inspectors documented issues such as pesticides kept near food, workers not changing gloves between tasks, and large numbers of rodent droppings. These details were reported by ClickOrlando.
How Inspections Actually Work In Florida
In Florida, county health departments and state regulators conduct routine checks, respond to complaints, and carry out follow-up visits. If an inspection turns up serious problems, a restaurant can be ordered to close on the spot until violations are corrected. The Department of Health notes that each inspection report is a snapshot of conditions at the time the inspector walks in, and that follow-up inspections are used to confirm fixes. That process is laid out by the Florida Department of Health.
What Inspectors Found At Specific Restaurants
State reports list a range of serious issues. At Taiwan Express in Orlando, inspectors counted roughly 170 rodent droppings under the cook line. China Garden on West Colonial Drive was written up for more than a dozen dead roaches and over 30 live ones. Pizzavola CB in Cocoa Beach was closed after raw sewage was found along a rear sidewalk and drains were overflowing. Sacred Spice Tampa Bay in Clearwater was cited for wastewater backing up behind the cook line along with an expired license.
Catrina Cocina Mexicana in Ocala and Alin’s Thai Street Food in Satellite Beach were also shut down for pest activity and hygiene problems. In Orlando, The Chimi Spot required a follow-up inspection after inspectors found rodent burrows and raw beef stored above raw shrimp, which is a food safety no-go. These findings were detailed by ClickOrlando.
Reinspections And Getting The Doors Back Open
Once restaurants correct high-priority violations, inspectors return for a recheck and can clear them to reopen if problems are resolved. Those follow-up visits are how many of the businesses on this list got back into operation. Reinspections are meant to verify that anything that could cause foodborne illness has been addressed and that the restaurant now meets state standards. The Department of Health stresses that initial inspection reports capture only one moment in time, while follow-up reports show whether the issues were fixed.
How Diners Can Check The Latest Reports
To check a restaurant’s current status, you can search the state’s restaurant inspection or licensing portal and contact the local health department for the most recent information. State tools from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation allow the public to look up inspection results and license status for food service businesses. You can start by using the online license and inspection search at MyFloridaLicense…