EL MEZCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT
8441 SW HWY 200 STE 147/149 · OCALA · Marion County · FL 34481
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
See what changed since the last inspection.
Sign in or create a free account to browse without ads and see newly cited, repeated, and no-longer-cited violation categories.
All DBPR Inspector Observations
29 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 8
12A-16-4High Priority – Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee entered kitchen from outside and began handling clean dishes without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-07-5High Priority – Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee put on hair net, then put on gloves and proceeded to handle food on cook line without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-13-4High Priority – Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handled dirty dishes and proceeded to handle clean dishes without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands and rewash dishes. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-07-4High Priority – Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Cucumbers stored in walk-in cooler.
08A-05-6High Priority – Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Shell eggs stored over cheese in walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-09-4High Priority – Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee handled raw chicken and beef, changed gloves, then proceeded to handle clean plates without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands and change gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items stored in cook line grill drawers: beef (45F – Cold Holding); chicken (44F – Cold Holding); shrimp (46F – Cold Holding). Manager stated items placed in drawers three hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved items to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F. Items stored in reach-in cooler across from cook line grill: pork (45F – Cold Holding); chicken (44F – Cold Holding); beef (46F – Cold Holding). Manager stated items placed in drawers three hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved items to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
29-42-4High Priority – Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Hose side of splitter in mop sink. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
Intermediate 7
53A-04-6Intermediate – Food service manager not certified within 30 days of employment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Manager on duty has no manager certification and the manager stated they have been a manager for a couple of months.
22-02-4Intermediate – Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on reach-in cooler across from cook line. Bin for ice machine in front of walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4Intermediate – Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee dumping old food from pans in hand washing sink next to three compartment sink.
53A-05-6Intermediate – No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. No certified manager on duty with six employees working.
31B-02-4Intermediate – No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No hand towels at all hand washing sinks. Manager provided hand towels at wait station hand washing sink. **Corrective Action Taken**
27-09-4Intermediate – No running water at hand washing sink. Hand washing sink next to three compartment sink. **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. Cooked chicken stored in walk-in cooler. Employee stated chicken prepared the previous morning. **Repeat Violation**
Basic 14
12B-09-5Basic – Employee chewing gum while preparing food or while in a food prep/food storage/warewashing area. Employee chewing gum in wait station.
08B-49-4Basic – Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee bottle of Coke stored in reach-in freezer next to office. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4Basic – Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried – wet nesting. Cups stored in wait station.
14-11-5Basic – Equipment in poor repair. Interior of cook line microwave has rust.
36-17-5Basic – Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor on cook line, tile loose. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4Basic – Food stored on floor. Case of cooking oil stored on cook line floor.
14-42-4Basic – Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system. Gap in between hood filters above cook line.
14-69-4Basic – Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Wait station reach-in freezer.
10-20-4Basic – In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on oven handle. Employee placed tongs on top of oven. **Corrected On-Site**
23-03-4Basic – Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above cook line greasy.
16-46-4Basic – Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Containers on shelf in front of walk-in cooler.
33-16-4Basic – Open dumpster lid. Dumpster behind building.
08B-12-5Basic – Stored food not covered. Container of mixed vegetables in walk-in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
08B-17-4Basic – Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed lettuce and broccoli stored over salsa in walk-in cooler.
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on September 2, 2026 12:20 PM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
5 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
5 observation(s)
3 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
Inspection records and inspector observations reflect conditions documented by DBPR at the time of the inspection and may not reflect current conditions.