Inspection Report

Emergency Closure InspectionDBPR disposition: Emergency order recommended
Florida DBPR Inspection Report
Closed

SANTA FE MEXICAN GRILL

800 CLEARWATER LARGO RD · LARGO · Pinellas County · FL 33770

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Inspection Summary

Inspection dateAugust 15, 2023
Inspection typeRoutine – Food
Inspection classFood
DBPR dispositionEmergency order recommended
Resultfacility_temporarily_closed
Inspection number3343299
Visit number1
Inspection Visit ID8362559
DBPR license6217167

Emergency Closure Summary

ClosedAugust 15, 2023 1:12 PM
StatusReopened after callback/compliance
ReopenedAugust 16, 2023 1:42 PM
Record basisDBPR weekly closure extract
Closure conditionRodent, Roach & Fly activity

Violation Summary

Counts reported for this inspection visit.

Full inspector observations available
7 High Priority4 Intermediate19 Basic0 Critical0 Non-Critical30 Total
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All DBPR Inspector Observations

30 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.

High Priority 7

#20High Priority22-49-4

High Priority – Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer is reading 0ppm. Operator primed Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer solution, reading 120f 50ppm **Corrected On-Site**

Corrected On-Site
#21High Priority35A-19-4

High Priority – Live rodent present. 1 live rodent in sticky trap located in storage room.

#22High Priority35A-02-6

High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly near 3 compartment sink in dish area. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#23High Priority35A-04-4

High Priority – Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. 7 rodent droppings in wine storage room. 4 rodent droppings in employee restroom located near wine storage room. 37 rodent droppings in dry-storage room.

#24High Priority12A-09-4

High Priority – Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed employee leave cook line touch walk-in cooler door handle then return to cook line and touched ready to eat shredded cheese served on tacos without washing hands. Educated employee on proper hand hygiene practices. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**

Corrective Action TakenRepeat Violation
#25High Priority03A-02-5

High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in coolers on cook line at 11:45am cut lettuce (53F – Cold Holding); diced tomatoes (53F – Cold Holding); sour cream (53F – Cold Holding); raw steak (59F – Cold Holding); raw chicken (57F – Cold Holding) Operator moved items to freezer. Walk-in cooler at 1230pm Cooked chicken (47F – Cold Holding); cooked pork (46F – Cold Holding); raw fish (47F – Cold Holding); raw chicken (47F – Cold Holding) Operator moved items to freezer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**

Corrective Action TakenRepeat Violation
#26High Priority41-10-4

High Priority – Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray can of flying insect spray stored in box with cans of condensed milk. Operator removed spray can. **Corrected On-Site**

Corrected On-Site

Intermediate 4

#27Intermediate11-27-4

Intermediate – Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Emailed operator written procedures for cleanup of vomit and diarrheal.

#28Intermediate11-26-1

Intermediate – No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator has no proof of employee health reporting responsibilities for employee who's only task is to operate Dishmachine; servers who were hired more than 60 days ago without employee training. Emailed operator employee reporting health agreement.

#29Intermediate31B-03-4

Intermediate – No soap provided at handwash sink. At hand wash sink next to 3 compartment sink. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#30Intermediate53B-13-5

Intermediate – 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. Establishment has no proof of training for employees hired over 60 days.

Basic 19

#1Basic51-11-4

Basic – Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. C02 tank not secured in dry-storage room and next to reach-in cooler in kitchen.

#2Basic36-34-5

Basic – Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling tiles and vents on cook line soiled with grease and dust buildup. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#3Basic14-09-4

Basic – Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#4Basic35A-03-4

Basic – Dead roaches on premises. Two dead roaches underneath prep table near cook line. 1 dead roach inside of hand wash sink near ice machine. 1 dead roach in front of hand wash sink near ice machine. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#5Basic40-06-5

Basic – Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on prep table next to ice machine.

#6Basic14-11-5

Basic – Equipment in poor repair. Reach-in coolers on cook line shelves rusted. Shelves near Dishmachine is rusted.

#7Basic36-22-4

Basic – Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor underneath prep table near cook line and in front of walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer.

#8Basic36-73-4

Basic – Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled with grease buildup underneath prep table near cook line.

#9Basic08B-38-4

Basic – Food stored on floor. 5 gallons of cooking oil stored on floor next to fat fryer.

#10Basic36-62-4

Basic – Light not functioning. Light bulb above cook line is burned out. Light bulbs above 3 compartment sink burned out.

#11Basic38-07-4

Basic – Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. 3 lights on cook line missing shields. 1 light shield cover missing above 3 compartment sink. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#12Basic31B-04-4

Basic – No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At hand wash sink next to 3 compartment sink. Hand wash sink near cook line. Emailed operator hand wash sign. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#13Basic22-16-4

Basic – Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in coolers on cook line shelves and interior soiled with food debris.

#14Basic14-20-4

Basic – Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Torn foil used as a shelf cover on bottom shelves of prep tables near 3 compartment sink and reach-in freezer.

#15Basic21-10-4

Basic – Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Soiled dry wiping cloth stored on cutting board on reach-in cooler on cook line.

#16Basic29-20-5

Basic – Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink. Standing water in hand wash sink next to 3 compartment sink.

#17Basic08B-12-5

Basic – Stored food not covered. Taco shells and tortilla chips on prep table near cook line not covered. In walk-in cooler cheese sauce, cooked chicken, raw chicken

#18Basic14-17-4

Basic – Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk-in cooler shelves **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#19Basic02D-01-5

Basic – Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Season removed from original container not labeled on prep table next to 3 compartment sink.

Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on August 10, 2026 8:36 AM.

Violation category totals
Category 2 · Original container, labeling, date marking and consumer advisory
1 observation(s)
Category 3 · Time/temperature control for safety food
1 observation(s)
Category 8 · Food protection and cross-contamination
2 observation(s)
Category 11 · Employee health knowledge / ill employees
2 observation(s)
Category 12 · Handwashing and hygienic practices
1 observation(s)
Category 14 · Food-contact and nonfood-contact surface design/maintenance
4 observation(s)
Category 21 · Wiping cloths, linens and laundry facilities
1 observation(s)
Category 22 · Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
2 observation(s)
Category 29 · Plumbing, mop sink, filters and backflow prevention
1 observation(s)
Category 31 · Handwash sinks, supplies and signage
2 observation(s)
Category 35 · Pest control / insects / rodents / animals / outer openings
4 observation(s)
Category 36 · Floors, walls, ceilings, attached equipment and ventilation
4 observation(s)
Category 38 · Required lighting and protected fixtures/bulbs
1 observation(s)
Category 40 · Employee personal belongings
1 observation(s)
Category 41 · Chemicals and toxic substances
1 observation(s)
Category 51 · Other sanitary and safe-operation conditions
1 observation(s)
Category 53 · Food manager certification / employee training verification
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.