Roach infestations led to the temporary closure of two Broward County restaurants last week, with state inspectors finding about 86 dead roaches throughout a sub shop and 45 live roaches in an arepa spot’s kitchen.
Meanwhile, a third restaurant was operating without running water, among other issues.
No Palm Beach County restaurants were ordered shut last week.
The South Florida 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 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, visit myfloridalicense.com. (But please don’t contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn’t inspect restaurants.)
Broward County
Subaba Subs
4806 SW 28th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale
Ordered shut: Feb. 3
Why: Six violations (three high-priority), including:
• Three live roaches “on wall in prep area” and on trash can and on ground “next to hallway hand wash sink outside of restroom.”
• About 86 dead roaches in areas such as “on hand wash sink” and “on soap dispenser at hand wash sink at front line in kitchen,” “in gaskets of small, [two-door] flip-top cooler on front line,” “on ground under reach-in cooler in prep area in kitchen,” “in hallway leading to restroom” and “on ground in restroom.”
• “Buildup of roach droppings inside of gaskets at door hinges at three-door, flip-top cooler [and] small two-door, flip-top cooler at front line in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Feb. 5 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
Arepasmania (inside Sawgrass Mills)
12801 W. Sunrise Blvd., Suite 869, Sunrise
Ordered shut: Feb. 4
Why: 10 violations (three high-priority), including:
• 45 live roaches in kitchen “in bin with cans of corn and chickpeas under employees’ hand washing sink,” “under case of black beans” and “crawling on wall next to employees’ handwashing sink.”
• “Employee washed hands while still wearing gloves and continued working with cooked foods.”
• “Tray of raw shell eggs stored behind container of raw pork in double-drawers cooler under flat-top in front line.”
• “Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”
Status: Reopened Feb. 5 after a next-day visit found one intermediate violation.
Wally House of Flavors Restaurant
4711 NW 14th St., Lauderhill
Ordered shut: Feb. 3
Why: 12 violations (three high-priority), including:
• “No water throughout entire establishment.”
• “No soap provided at handwash sink … in kitchen.”
• “No paper towels or mechanical hand-drying device provided at handwash sink” in kitchen.
• “Operator licked her hands with gloves on and handled clean equipment without washing hands and changing gloves.”
• “Mac and cheese made two days ago not date marked.”
Status: Reopened later that same day after a reinspection found two intermediate violations.