Restaurant inspections in St. Lucie County: Four eateries temporarily closed; 10 others pass easily

Unlike other states and cities, Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every few weeks, we provide that information for you.

In the past 30 days, 76 St. Lucie County restaurants passed inspection on the first visit and 31 did not.

Here's the breakdown of the most recent restaurant inspections in St. Lucie county:

Eateries temporarily shut down

Samunprai Thai Restaurant, 4903 South U.S. 1, Fort Pierce, was told to close Sept. 16 when inspectors found roach activity and plumbing, coolers and ceilings, all in disrepair. They reopened the next day after a follow-up inspection.

Welele Restaurant, 1758 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St Lucie, was closed Aug. 21, when inspectors found roach activity, a dirty microwave oven, plumbing in disrepair and employees and management without the required certification. They reopened after a follow-up inspection the following day.

Tropical Latin Foods, a food truck out of Port St. Lucie, was shut down after its Sept. 10 inspection. Among the eight violations, notes mention improper disposal of wastewater, a few time/temperature control issues regarding food safety, employees without the required state training and a lack of hot water at a handwash sink. After resolving several issues, the mobile eatery was reopened at its follow-up inspection.

Taqueria Tierra Caliente, a mobile food stand based out of Fort Perce, was shut down after its Aug. 28 inspection. Roach and flying insects in the kitchen, drinking water from an unapproved source and operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license were some of the violations. The establishment was reopened later the same day. 

More: What Florida inspectors look for when rating restaurant kitchens

The most violations

Golden Corral, 651 N.W. St. Lucie West Blvd., Port St. Lucie, was cited for 21 violations, including greasy walls, a dirty oven, leaky pipes and time/temperature control concerns regarding food safety.

Pit-Bbq-Togo, a mobile eatery based out of Fort Pierce, had 15 violations. Notes mention unclean cutting boards, time/temperature control issues, not properly displaying its mobile food dispensing vehicle license number and an inaccessible handwash sink.

Zest Kitchen & Bar,1347 St. Lucie West Blvd., Port St. Lucie, had 14 violations at its most recent inspection. Among them were a food prep employee without a beard guard, not properly air-drying utensils and no certified food service manager on duty. 

Park Ave BBQ & Grille, 220 N.W. Peacock Blvd., Port St. Lucie, also had 14 violations, including crusty can openers, dirty fryers, and greasy floors.

Lefty's Wings & Grill,1034 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, also accumulated 14 violations. The report mentions dirty ovens, a food prep employee without a hair restraint, leaky pipes and dented/rusted cans.

Frank & Al's Pizza, 4955 U.S. 1, Fort Pierce, had 13 violations. The inspector's notes mention time/temperature control issues regarding food safety, dirty cutting boards and walls, no proof of food manager certification.

Chucks Seafood Restaurant, 822 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, also had 13 violations, including a moldy ice machine, an inaccessible handwash sink and the inability to provide documentation for source of lobster. 

More: Here's where to find best soul food restaurants on Treasure Coast

Zero violations

• Tea Spot, 986 St. Lucie West Blvd., Port St. Lucie
• Moonswiners BBQ, 3900 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce
• Chocolate Shoppe of PSL, 3211 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port Saint Lucie 
• Super Taqueria, a mobile food dispensary based out of Fort Pierce
• La Haciendita Super, a mobile food dispensary based out of Fort Pierce
• Bangers BBQ, 1690 S.E. Village Green Drive, Port St Lucie
• St. Lucie Draft House, 6630 South U.S. 1, Port St. Lucie
• Club Med Main Dining and Infinity Pool Bar, 3500 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St Lucie
• Shea's Pub, 315 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St Lucie
• Side Door Brewing Company,1419 S.E. Village Green Drive, Port St Lucie

To read the complete reports, or check on your favorite restaurant, visit our digital database, which is updated daily and is searchable by county or restaurant name.

Inspections are a 'snapshot'

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants conducts more than 48,000 inspections a year using a three-tier system for food safety and sanitation inspections. 

Each inspection is a "snapshot" of conditions present at the time of the inspection and may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. 

More: What's opened recently despite COVID-19 and fears of dining out?

Want to report a food service complaint?

Contact the DBPR Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395 or access the Division of Hotels and Restaurants online complaint form at MyFloridaLicense.com. You can also complete a complaint form and mail it to the division.  

More: Lack of social distancing, cross-contamination concerns cited in latest restaurant inspections

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