Orlando, Florida — Nine restaurants across Central Florida were temporarily shut down last week following routine visits from state health inspectors, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
Violations across these establishments included cockroaches, rodent droppings, improper food storage, sanitation failures, and other concerning conditions.
Despite the closures, every restaurant was allowed to reopen after completing required corrections, often within one to two days.
Below is a detailed breakdown of each closure by city, as reported by ClickOrlando.
Davenport
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar — 200 Ambersweet Way
- Closed: Nov. 19
- Violations:
- Over a dozen dead roaches
- Nearly 90 flies
- Nearly 10 live roaches
- Reopened: Nov. 21
Haines City
Don Criollo Bakery & Restaurant — 201 E. Hinson Ave.
- Closed: Nov. 17
- Violations:
- Five dead roaches
- One live roach above prep table
- Seven flies inside the premises
- Reopened: Nov. 18
Lady Lake
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery — 905 Bichara Blvd.
- Closed: Nov. 19
- Violations:
- Four live roaches (repeat violation)
- Reopened: Nov. 19
Ocala
Bonefish Grill — 4701 SW College Road
- Closed: Nov. 21
- Violations:
- Three dead roaches
- Five live roaches
- Roach droppings in dry storage
- Employee touched clothes, then handled dishes without washing hands
- Employee put on beard guard without washing hands
- Stainless steel cleaner stored on dishmachine
- Gray water backing up at dishmachine drain
- Reopened: Nov. 24
Orlando
China Buffet — 8255 International Drive
- Closed: Nov. 20
- Violations:
- One dead roach behind sandwich in cooler
- Four live roaches
- Dented can of pizza sauce
- Juices stored directly in ice inside soda machine
- Raw fish stored over liquid margarine; raw softshell crab stored above soy sauce bucket
- Sanitizer concentration too high
- Reopened: Nov. 20
Ormond Beach
Hi Tulip Café — 400 Beach Village Drive
- Closed: Nov. 17
- Violations:
- Dishwasher sanitizer not at proper strength
- Employee cracked eggs and reused gloves without washing hands
- Over a dozen rodent droppings
- Eight mahi thawed in sealed oxygen-reduced bags (discarded)
- Time/temperature violations for raw eggs and hash browns
- Reopened: Nov. 18
Tampa
La Giraldilla Hanley — 8218 Hanley Road
- Closed: Nov. 21
- Violations:
- Around 17 dead roaches
- One live roach behind storage rack
- Nearly 40 rodent droppings
- Dishwasher not sanitizing properly
- Raw chicken stored over cooked plantains
- Time/temperature violations for poultry, shrimp, sliced ham, cooked pork
- Degreaser stored next to pizza boxes
- Reopened: Nov. 21
Pita Plus+ — 2810 E. Busch Blvd.
- Closed: Nov. 19
- Violations:
- Over 60 dead roaches inside pest-control traps
- Four live roaches
- Dented can of mushrooms
- Two flies
- Expired restaurant license
- Temperature violations for falafel, feta cheese, macaroni and cheese
- Reopened: Nov. 20
Sal & Pimienta Restaurant — 6110 Causeway Blvd.
- Closed: Nov. 18
- Violations:
- Two dead roaches
- Over 15 live roaches
- Around 20 ants above reach-in cooler
- Employee touched ants, then touched cut tomatoes with same gloves
- Employee handled ready-to-eat food with bare hands
- Time/temperature violations for chicken soup and baked chicken
- Raw eggs stored over condiments
- Raw chicken stored over raw pork
- Reopened: Nov. 19
Food safety is essential for every community. Were inspectors right to act quickly, or should restaurants be given more warnings before closures?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
