LAS MARGARITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT
4405 NW 39 AVE · GAINESVILLE · Alachua County · FL 32606
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
24 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 7
01B-01-4High Priority – Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Can of jalapeños with multiple dents compromising seams
12A-14-4High Priority – Employee coughed, sneezed, used a handkerchief or disposable tissue then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee not wearing gloves in prep area took paper towel wiped face and nose. Then went to cook line and handled cooking equipment and stirred food, without washing hands. Discussed with Manager. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
09-01-4High Priority – Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands – food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee not wearing gloves cutting onions then placing onion in bin to store in walk-in-cooler
22-35-5High Priority – Food preparation surface has soil/old food residue. Observed employee cutting onions then placing onion in bin. Bin was stored inside the top of trash can. Employee removed bin and placed on prep table, then handled bottom of bin and placed in walk-in-cooler
08A-02-6High Priority – Raw animal food box storing ready-to-eat food in a freezer – not all products commercially packaged. Raw onions stored in egg box in walk-in-cooler.
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut Tomato stored in bin on ice in kitchen at 54F. Tomatoes had been cut 30 minutes earlier. Manager had the bin placed inside the ice and tomatoes were 41F 30 minutes later **Corrected On-Site**
29-34-4High Priority – Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No vacuum breaker on hose Bibb by back door.
Intermediate 3
22-02-4Intermediate – Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on flip-top make table and fruit cutting board with mold like substance in the grooves in kitchen. Ice bin under soda dispenser has mold on the top edge of the ice bin. **Repeat Violation**
51-16-7Intermediate – No plan review submitted and approved – renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Three-compartment sink and handwash sink at bar are not located in the area shown in the 2011 approved plans **Warning**
02C-02-5Intermediate – Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. No date on food (beef, salsa) in walk-in-cooler,prepared two days earlier per manager
Basic 14
14-01-5Basic – Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Styrofoam cup in salsa container in walk-in-cooler.
14-45-4Basic – Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. Wet Cardboard on shelf in reach in cooler at bar.
12B-07-4Basic – Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee open container drinks found on prep table and stored over bag of onions. Both drinks were removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5Basic – Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cellphone and speaker stored over clean dishes in dishwash area. Manager removed items **Corrected On-Site**
24-08-4Basic – Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried – wet nesting. Clean stacked Equipment ( cups at server station and bar, bins in dishwash area )not properly air-dried, and stored wet on clean ware rack resulting in wet nesting. **Repeat Violation**
10-01-5Basic – In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control food stored with handle touching food ( flour ). Manager removed handle from product. **Corrected On-Site**
23-03-4Basic – Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Mold like substance on the underside of the non food contact surface of the nozzles on the soda dispensing machine at server station. **Repeat Violation**
08B-39-4Basic – Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Observed cut produce ( avocado ) located in flip-top make table with produce stickers still on produce. Manager instructed employee to remove sticker when washing. **Corrective Action Taken**
25-32-4Basic – Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Margarita mix concentrate containers reused and filled with margarita mix.
25-06-4Basic – Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Single service aluminum trays not inverted. Manager inverted trays **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6Basic – Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in reach in cooler at bar.
06-01-5Basic – Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Shrimp and scallops thawing in standing water.
08B-17-4Basic – Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed produce (whole pinapples ) stored over ready-to-eat food ( salsa ) in walk in cooler
02D-01-5Basic – Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of food removed ( salt ) from original container not labeled with name of contents. Container of food removed ( powdered sugar in cinnamon container ) from original container not labeled with name of contents.
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on September 3, 2026 12:08 PM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
3 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
Inspection records and inspector observations reflect conditions documented by DBPR at the time of the inspection and may not reflect current conditions.