LA COCINA AT THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS
157 KING ST · SAINT AUGUSTINE · St. Johns County · FL 32084
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 3
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. Observed dishwasher at 0ppm chlorine. Detergent and sanitizer lines were reversed. Person in charge corrected dish machine lines, drained and rinsed out machine and ran cycles until sanitizer was at 100ppm. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-45-4High Priority – Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed dishes in dish machine not being sanitized. Dish machine at 0ppm chlorine. Person in charge fixed dish machine and sanitized food contact surfaces. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed shrimp (54F – Cold Holding); salmon (56F – Cold Holding) left on prep table from thawing. Person in charge placed in reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
Intermediate 4
31B-02-4Intermediate – No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed hand washing stations on cook line and prep area missing paper towels.
51-16-7Intermediate – No plan review submitted and approved – renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Observed complete kitchen remodel with moved ware washing, hand washing stations, and food prep areas. **Warning**
03G-50-1Intermediate – Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Observed short ribs in a reduced oxygen vacuum sealed bag. Discussed with person in charge all available options and provided Special Processes hand out card. **Warning**
02C-02-5Intermediate – Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed lamb made two days prior to inspection per person in charge not date marked. Person in charge added date mark.
Basic 1
06-01-5Basic – Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed sausage, short rib, salmon thawing on prep table. Observed shrimp thawing on prep table in water. Person in charge placed product in reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on September 23, 2026 12:32 PM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
2 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.