NICHOLAS FAMILY RESTAURANT
615 N 6 AVE · WAUCHULA · Hardee County · FL 33873
Inspection Summary
Violation Summary
Counts reported for this inspection visit.
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All DBPR Inspector Observations
28 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.
High Priority 10
41-07-4High Priority – Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed medicine in wait staff area and in cook area. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
01B-01-4High Priority – Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed 4 rusted cans of ketchup on the can storage rack. **Warning**
12A-16-4High Priority – Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Observed cooks putting gloves on without washing hands first after switching tasks. **Warning**
08A-05-6High Priority – Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw pork chops over ready to eat stuffed crabmeat in the reach in cooler in kitchen area, manager moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
02C-01-5High Priority – Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed in walk in cooler Cole slaw and soup that was not date marked and made on 10/19/24. Manager corrected. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03A-03-5High Priority – Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Observed 6 flats of shell eggs stored at room temperature on cook line. Operator placed into refrigerator. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Ham holding at 84F. and rehydrated hash browns holding at 75F. at grill station. Pancake and waffle batters containing dairy were stored at room temperature in kitchen. Butter packets holding at 67F. at server station. Operator states products were on counter for an hour. Operator placed into refrigerator. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03B-01-6High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Sausage patty holding at 74F. and sausage links holding at 70F. at grill station. Operator reheated products to over 165F. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-10-4High Priority – Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed bleach stored with food in dry storage room. **Warning**
29-34-4High Priority – Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed the hose outside needs one, hose located by mop sink. **Warning**
Intermediate 4
22-02-4Intermediate – Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed slicer had a lot of food debris on it. **Warning**
52-01-4Intermediate – Identity of food or food product misrepresented. Establishment offers Broiled, Fried, and Stuffed Grouper with homemade crabmeat on their menu. Establishment has no Grouper on site and cannot provide a recent invoice, Swai is utilized. Also, they are utilizing Surimi Flakes as their crabmeat. **Admin Complaint**
31B-02-4Intermediate – No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed hand sink in kitchen area, no paper towels. **Warning**
05-08-4Intermediate – No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. **Warning**
Basic 14
23-24-4Basic – Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed door handles on reach in cooler and hand wash sink on cook line need to be cleaned, manager corrected. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
36-06-4Basic – Cardboard used on floor as anti-slip measure not replaced every day or when heavily soiled, whichever comes first. Observed soiled cardboard underneath black mats in cook area. **Warning**
36-32-5Basic – Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Water damaged tiles in dining and kitchen areas. **Warning**
12B-12-5Basic – Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Observed cup without lid on shelve next to microwave in kitchen. **Warning**
36-73-4Basic – Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed in kitchen and cook line there is a lot of food debris under the equipment. **Warning**
08B-36-4Basic – Food stored in a location that is exposed to splash/dust. Observed condensation from condenser unit in walk in freezer falling directly onto food products causing ice build up on the food. **Warning**
14-69-4Basic – Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice build up in walk in freezer. **Warning**
38-07-4Basic – Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Observed in walk in cooler, storage and hallway no covers on the lights. **Warning**
33-11-4Basic – Missing drain plug at dumpster. **Warning**
23-03-4Basic – Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed build up of dust on fixtures above dining room tables. **Warning**
36-60-5Basic – Screen in door torn/in poor repair. Observed back screen door, screen was torn in a couple of places and exposed. **Warning**
33-31-5Basic – Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Observed old rusted meat saw stored in food/dish area. **Warning**
36-27-5Basic – Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed walls in the kitchen area are soiled. **Warning**
02D-01-5Basic – Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed flour, sugar and seasoning in containers not labeled. Manager corrected. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on September 23, 2026 12:24 PM.
Violation category totals
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
3 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 observation(s)
5 observation(s)
1 observation(s)
2 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.