SANTA FE MEXICAN GRILL
800 CLEARWATER LARGO RD · LARGO · Pinellas County · FL 33770
Inspection Summary
Emergency Closure Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
38 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 10
11-02-5High Priority – Certified Food Manager or person in charge failed to verify employee health, exclusions or restrictions. Operator was unable to verify exclusions and restrictions. Educated operator and went over big six and symptoms, restrictions and exclusions. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-41-4High Priority – Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. First tested at 25ppm chlorine. Had operator prime sanitizer and run dishwasher again. It tested at 100ppm chlorine. **Corrective Action Taken**
35A-02-6High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly in kitchen near the drafts and overflow bucket. 1 live fly at front bar area.
08A-20-5High Priority – Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over raw shrimp. Operator moved food items to proper shelves. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-05-4High Priority – Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 2 live roaches in kitchen, across from the three compartment sink, between the white freezer and beer cooler. 2 live roaches in kitchen on cart in between the white freezer and beer cooler. 1 live roach inside the white freezer,in kitchen across from the three compartment sink on interior gasket. All contained to area around double door, glass front upright beer cooler. 1 live roach on floor in kitchen, to the right of the walk-in cooler. 1 live roach on floor in kitchen, outside of walk-in freezer.
35A-23-4High Priority – Roach excrement and/or droppings present. On kart in kitchen, located behind the three compartment sink and stored between the white stand up freezer and beer cooler.
12A-09-4High Priority – Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled.cooks were washing gloved hands **Corrective Action Taken**
01B-02-5High Priority – Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Crab salad temped at 51F and was kept overnight in the cooler
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. crab salad (51F – Cold Holding); chicken tenders (61F – Cold Holding); (61F) salsa 50 degrees, pico 47 degrees had operator move food items to cooler temping properly on the main cook line. **Corrective Action Taken**
03E-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. rice (110F – Hot Holding); refried beans (120F – Hot Holding). Retemped rice at 167F, and refried beans at 175F at 12:10pm **Corrected On-Site**
Intermediate 9
12A-03-4Intermediate – Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed hands in 2 compartment sink. Educated employee about washing hands in hand wash sink only.
05-07-4Intermediate – Food thermometer(s) not calibrated according to manufacturer's specifications. Calibrated by using ice water bath. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4Intermediate – Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Shelving in walk-in cooler show accumulation of debris on shelving. Cutting boards on cookilne
31A-09-4Intermediate – Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Chair in front I'd hand wash sink in rear kitchen to the left of the three compartment sink. Silverware in bar hand sink, scrubbie and dishes in cook line hand sink
16-37-1Intermediate – No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
31B-02-4Intermediate – No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. On cookline
31B-03-4Intermediate – No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap at hand wash sink to the right of the three compartment sink in kitchen.
53B-13-5Intermediate – Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Operator could not gain entrance to their office at time of inspection.
02C-02-5Intermediate – Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Diced tomatoes and sauces not date marked in walk-in cooler. Had operator date mark items properly. **Corrected On-Site**
Basic 19
22-20-5Basic – Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine in server alley shows mold like substance on interior.
14-01-5Basic – Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Handle of scoop in sugar bin. Employee moved scoop so handle was not touching food. **Corrected On-Site**
36-34-5Basic – Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vents and hoods on cook line show accumulation of debris and grease.
14-09-4Basic – Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. On main cook line in kitchen, the cutting board on the two door deli cooler shows staining and cut marks.
35A-03-4Basic – Dead roaches on premises. 11 dead roaches in kitchen, across from the three compartment sink between the white freezer and beer cooler. 1 dead roach on floor to the right of the walk-in cooler. 2 dead roaches on the cook line on floor to the right of the fryer.
08B-48-4Basic – Employee preparing food in customer section of dry storage with no hand wash sink. Educated operator and the moved the cheese grader machine to the prep area. **Corrected On-Site**
14-11-5Basic – Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on the two door deli cooler on main cook line. Torn gasket on white freezer across from three compartment sink in kitchen. Light fixture in walk-in cooler in hanging by wires.
35B-01-4Basic – Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Gap beneath exterior door in kitchen, to the left of the fuse box.
33-19-4Basic – Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster.
36-68-5Basic – Hood ventilation system inadequate as evidenced by grease accumulation on walls/ceiling. Hoods on main cook line show excessive accumulation of grease and debris.
22-08-4Basic – Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Interior of microwave on cook line shows accumulation of debris.
38-01-4Basic – Light shield damaged/in disrepair. Lights on main cook line are not functioning properly or working at all. Missing shields
31B-04-4Basic – No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees.throughout the kitchen
23-03-4Basic – Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on the walk-in cooler show accumulation of debris. Cart holding mixer and blender showed accumulation of debris and roach excrement. Debris under grill, grease on cooklineEmployee cleaned and sanitized the cart. **Corrective Action Taken**
29-05-4Basic – Plumbing line from a removed fixture not capped off. Line running out of walk-in cooler into a bus tub.
14-20-4Basic – Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover.multiple areas
08B-12-5Basic – Stored food not covered. Cut beef in walk-in cooler, not covered. Had employee place cover on top. Food in walk-in freezer, onions in walk in cooler, ice cream in reach in cooler, rice and beans in dry storage **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4Basic – Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed mushrooms over unwashed heads of lettuce, over ready to eat diced tomatoes, onions and green peppers in walk-in cooler. Had operator rearrange the food on shelves. **Corrected On-Site**
14-17-4Basic – Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Shelves rusted in walk-in cooler in kitchen.
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on August 10, 2026 8:52 AM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
4 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
5 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
4 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
4 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
5 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.