Six South Florida restaurants were temporarily forced to close after state inspectors found violations ranging from rodent droppings to roaches (both live and dead) to improper storage of raw foods.
The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for “high-priority violations,” such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.
Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spot a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR. (But please don’t contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.)
BROWARD COUNTY
BBQ Toni8ht
1386 S. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach
Ordered shut: Jan. 24
Why: Nine violations (two high-priority), including:
- About 25 live roaches on wall and ceiling in kitchen “by handwashing sink” and “on cook line and flip-top cooler,” and “on floor and walls” in dining room.
- “In kitchen by flip-top cooler, evidence of roach excrement found by outlet on wall.”
- “Reach-in cooler in kitchen soiled with food debris.”
- “Raw chicken stored on floor by three-compartment sink” in kitchen.
Status: A follow-up inspection was still pending at press time.
Pita Pockets
2727 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Ordered shut: Jan. 22
Why: Seven violations (one high-priority), including:
- Six live roaches “inside of gaps in wood door frame at kitchen entrance,” “on ground under front-line, flip-top cooler” and “under handwash sink at front line.”
- About 11 dead roaches “inside of not-in-use, three-door, reach-in cooler in prep area in kitchen” and “on ground under front-line, flip-top cooler.”
- No soap provided at front counter and prep-area handwash sinks.
Status: Reopened Jan. 23 after a follow-up inspection found two intermediate and basic violations.
That’s A Wrap Sandwich Co.
110 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Jan. 22
Why: Five violations (two high-priority), including:
- About nine rodent droppings “on floor in lobby behind drink station counter.”
- About two live roaches “on floor under hot holding unit in kitchen.”
- About eight dead roaches in kitchen — on floor “under hot holding unit” and “under two-door, reach-in cooler.”
- About two dead roaches “in sticky trap under front counter.”
Status: Reopened Jan. 23 after a second visit found three violations (one high-priority).
La Estancia Argentina
801 N. Federal Highway, No. 111, Hallandale Beach
Ordered shut: Jan. 21
Why: 11 violations (three high-priority), including:
- Four live roaches on “top of bread crumbs bag stored on rack in kitchen,” in “front of mop sink next to water heater in dishwashing area,” “in storage cabinet at entrance of kitchen” and “in container of individual mayonnaise packets at coffee station.”
- Five dead roaches “in employee handwashing sink in kitchen,” “under handwashing sink [in] front counter” and “under bench in dining room.”
- Stop sale ordered for cooked rice “due to temperature abuse.”
- “Dishwashing machine area covered with standing water.”
Status: Reopened Jan. 22 after a follow-up inspection found three violations (one intermediate and two basic).
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Carmine’s La Trattoria
2401 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens
Ordered shut: Jan. 22
Why: 15 violations (eight high-priority), including:
- About 11 rodent droppings on floor under shelf “at kitchen-area dry storage near bread station” and “at kitchen prep area … on floor under prep table.”
- “At walk-in freezer, raw veal not commercially packaged over cooked chicken wings.”
- “At reach-in cooler at cook line, raw ground beef stored over raw fish.”
- Stop sale ordered for cooked mushrooms “due to temperature abuse.”
- Time/temperature issues involved cooked potatoes, milk, goat cheese, mozzarella and butter.
- “Clam tags not marked with last date served.”
Status: Reopened Jan. 23 after a second visit found four violations (two high-priority), with a follow-up inspection required.
Rhum Shak
802 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach
Ordered shut: Jan. 21
Why: Four violations (three high-priority), including:
- “Five rodent droppings in reach-in cooler used for storage” of tortillas, chips and uncooked pasta in kitchen.
- “Chef did not wash hands prior to handling food items from flip-top cooler.”
- About five live flies “on beer cases outside kitchen near bar entryway.”
Status: Reopened Jan. 22 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.