PIONEER RESTAURANT
COR HWY 64/US HWY 17 · ZOLFO SPRINGS · Hardee County · FL 33890
Inspection Summary
Emergency Closure Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
All DBPR Inspector Observations
19 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 6
01B-01-4High Priority – Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. **Warning**
03A-02-4High Priority – Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. All foods on buffet no time marks, no paperwork for Time as a Public Health Control. Form was given at last inspection. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03B-01-5High Priority – Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Observed reserve meat and gravy on hot hold not stirred to maintain proper temperature throughout the food. Foods stored and brought to 165°F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03F-02-4High Priority – Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-04-4High Priority – Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed rodent droppings: At center dry storage area behind kitchen- Observed 3 rodent droppings inside bread cage caught in spider web. 4 along wall ledge behind dry storage racks 1 inside box on top of folded to go bags. 4 on top of Closed box of to go bags 1 on shelf beside 3 gallon plastic sugar container. Back dry storage at walk-in freezer 1 chew area on flour inside plastic container. 2 droppings on can rack. Plastic container with 5 5 lb bags hush puppy mix with chew marks. At kitchen: 4 droppings under soda syrup shelves, beside reach in cooler. 3 droppings under 3 bay sink. 1 dropping on table beside grill where seasonings and grill cleaning equipment is stored. At dining room: Observed too many droppings to count in room marked private that contains cleaning supplies and A/C return. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-03-4High Priority – Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. Observed 3 bags of flour and 5 bags of hush puppy mix that were contaminated by rodent chewing. **Warning**
Intermediate 7
22-22-4Intermediate – Encrusted material on can opener blade. **Warning**
31A-02-4Intermediate – Handwash sink not accessible for employee use due to being blocked by garbage can. One sink available for establishment. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
53A-01-6Intermediate – Manager lacking proof of food manager certification. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ not available at interior. **Warning**
31B-02-4Intermediate – No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. One sink available for establishment. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
53B-01-5Intermediate – No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. No proof available at inspection. **Warning**
03F-10-4Intermediate – No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food. For buffet. Form given at last inspection. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
02C-02-4Intermediate – Ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Basic 6
16-13-4Basic – Equipment and utensils not washed, rinsed and sanitized in the correct order in three-compartment sink. Do not use dishes/equipment not properly sanitized. Washing then dipping in sanitizer, no rinse step. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4Basic – Food stored on floor. Observed three boxes of fresh uncut tomatoes stored under shelves on floor in walk in cooler. Floor littered with debris. **Warning**
36-75-4Basic – Heavy damp Build-up of soil/debris on the floor under shelving, ice machine, all walls throughout kitchen. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
06-04-4Basic – Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food thawed at room temperature. Observed 3 large plastic containers of raw fish thawing on counter. Thawed portions of fish at 46°F. removed fish to walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
08B-13-4Basic – Stored food not covered in walk-in cooler. Raw chicken in open container, raw beef on open cutting board in walk in. **Warning**
36-72-4Basic – Walk-in cooler/walk-in freezer floor heavily soiled with old food and dirt and old rodent chewed insulation. Observed holes in walk in cooler plugged with steel wool and foam sealant. **Warning**
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on August 10, 2026 6:50 PM.
Violation category totals
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
4 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 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.