STERLING CIGAR
1531 E 7 AVE · TAMPA · Hillsborough County · FL 33605
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
8 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 2
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. Employee cut orange peel with bare hand and added to drink to serve customer. **Warning**
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold holding: milk 48 F, almond milk 47 F, operator voluntarily threw out items at time of inspection. **Warning**
Intermediate 4
22-02-4Intermediate – Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Warning**
31A-11-4Intermediate – Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Tongs in handwash sink. **Warning**
22-56-4Intermediate – Hot water sanitizing dishmachine final rinse not reaching proper temperature at manifold. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. High temperature dish machine not temping at 160 F. Dish machine ran 4 times with temperatures reaching 133 F, 137 F, 144 F, 146 F. There is no three compartment sink in establishment. After multiple times of operator running machine high temperature was 159 F. **Admin Complaint**
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. Per employee Hillary Post she has been working since July 2023. **Warning**
Basic 2
12B-07-4Basic – Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink and banana on bar. **Warning**
08B-38-4Basic – Food stored on floor. Juice and seltzer water on floor in bar. **Warning**
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on October 16, 2026 12:42 PM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 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.