RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE
825 SR 66 · ZOLFO SPRINGS · Hardee County · FL 33890
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
11 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 8
03D-01-5High Priority – Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. Enchiladas sauce (84F – Cooling) stored at room temperature on a dry storage shelf in the kitchen. Owner stated the enchiladas sauce was cooked at 10:00 am and placed on rack to cool. Owner discarded sauce. **Warning**
01B-36-5High Priority – Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Enchiladas sauce (84F – Cooling) stored at room temperature on a dry storage shelf in the kitchen. Owner stated the enchiladas sauce was cooked at 10:00 am and placed on rack to cool. Owner discarded sauce. **Warning**
14-31-5High Priority – Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed raw beef stored in and in direct contact with black garbage bag in the reach in freezer chest by back exit. Owner removed the beef. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6High Priority – Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over container of milk and container of margarine on the right side of reach in cooler in the kitchen. Owner removed the eggs. Observed a pan of raw beef stored over a pan ready to eat broccoli in the reach in cooler on the left side in the kitchen. Owner removed the beef. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-13-4High Priority – Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Bag of ice, container of creamer and pitcher of lemonade stored in the ice machine and in direct contact with the ice in the machine used for customer drinks. Owner removed the items and discarded the ice in the machine. **Warning**
01B-02-5High Priority – Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. All the following items stored in the reach in cooler on the left side of cook line, Sliced tomato (54F – Cold Holding); Sliced American cheese (58F – Cold Holding); Shredded mix cheese (59F – Cold Holding); Sliced fresco cheese (55F – Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (55F – Cold Holding). Manager stated the items stored in reach in cooler over night, manager discarded the items. **Warning**
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. All the following items stored in the reach in cooler on the left side of cook line, Sliced tomato (54F – Cold Holding); Sliced American cheese (58F – Cold Holding); Shredded mix cheese (59F – Cold Holding); Sliced fresco cheese (55F – Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (55F – Cold Holding). Manager stated the items stored in reach in cooler over night, manager discarded the items. **Warning**
29-34-4High Priority – Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker on the hose bibb under the preparation sink located in the kitchen. **Warning**
Intermediate 2
16-37-1Intermediate – No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine test strips for sanitizer bucket or 3 compartment sinks. **Warning**
31B-03-4Intermediate – No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at handwashing sink in wait station. Owner placed soap at sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Basic 1
16-16-4Basic – Equipment and utensils not rinsed between washing and sanitizing. Observed employee washing dishes in three compartment sink without rinsing before sanitizing. Employee set up a rinse bay in three compartment sink and rehashed the dishes. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on September 22, 2026 12:26 PM.
Violation category totals
3 observation(s)
2 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.