Rodents and their droppings continue to cause issues at South Florida restaurants. (One rodent was even seen entering the premises and collapsing.)
These violations — along with rising wastewater, cockroach infestations and other issues — prompted the state to temporarily shut seven South Florida restaurants last week.
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
Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine
7015 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation
Ordered shut: Dec. 8
Why: Three violations (two high-priority), including:
- “Observed wastewater coming up from floor drains on the ground in the kitchen … Observed employees walking through the wastewater. Unable to isolate area.”
- Time/temperature issue involved sliced tomatoes.
Status: Reopened Dec. 9 after a follow-up inspection found one basic violation.
RC Caribbean Restaurant
3760 NE Third Ave., Pompano Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 9
Why: 10 violations (three high-priority), including:
- About 200 rodent droppings in kitchen “on bottom shelf of food prep table” and “on top shelf of food prep table next to cookline.”
- About 21 roaches “running on kitchen floor” and “crawling on top and underneath [bain-marie], not in use, in kitchen.”
- “Observed heavy accumulation of grease and food debris underneath cookline equipment” and “heavy buildup of old food debris underneath cookline food prep tables in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 10 after a second visit found two basic violations.
Punta Cana Restaurant
9119 Taft St., Pembroke Pines
Ordered shut: Dec. 10
Why: 16 violations (three high-priority), including:
- Five live roaches “in kitchen hand sink,” “on wall above clean pans at shelf above triple sink,” “behind kitchen flip-top unit” and “on wall by ice machine.”
- 12 dead roaches “under kitchen triple sink and around wall under prep sink,” “on floor behind kitchen flip-top unit,” “on wall between kitchen triple sink and prep sink” and “on floor to right of ice machine.”
- Raw shrimp stored above cooked chicken and beef in kitchen flip-top lower cooler.
- “Standing water on floor under kitchen hand sink and triple sink.”
- Time/temperature issues involved bags of raw beef and cream-based beverage.
Status: Reopened Dec. 11 after a reinspection found two intermediate and basic violations. A follow-up inspection was required.
Miyi La Cubanita Cuban Cafe
1553 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 8
Why: 13 violations (three high-priority), including:
- 11 live roaches in kitchen “in castor wheels and on floor under food prep table next to large oven,” “in castor wheels and on floor underneath large oven” and “on wall behind large oven.”
- Three dead roaches in kitchen “in cleaned bowl stored at cleaned utensils rack,” “on cleaned plate stored at cleaned utensil rack at cookline” and “on floor behind large oven.”
- Time/temperature issue involved cooked potato.
- “Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”
- “Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled clean utensils at the cookline without washing hands in kitchen.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 9 after a follow-up visit found two basic violations.
Blue Ginger Seafood Steakhouse
14395 Miramar Parkway, Miramar
Ordered shut: Dec. 11
Why: 20 violations (five high-priority), including:
- “Live rodent came from back entrance door, collapsed on the floor and died.”
- “Manager picked up dead rodent, went outside to [dispose], came back to dishwasher area and failed to wash hands.”
- “Two live roaches [seen] crawling on storage rack in front of dishwasher machine.”
- In cook line, cooking utensils stored in “soiled water.”
- “Hot water faucet completely shut off” at the bar-area hand wash sink.
Status: Reopened Dec. 12 after a second inspection found three intermediate and basic violations.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Little Caesars
1436 Lantana Road, Lantana
Ordered shut: Dec. 8
Why: Seven violations (four high-priority), including:
- More than 46 rodent droppings on a shelf under dough prep area “inside of a box containing deep-dish mix” and “in and around boxes containing deep-dish dough sheets,” as well as “on prep table next to reach-in freezer.”
- Stop sale ordered for mix and dough sheets.
Status: Reopened Dec. 9 after a second visit found no violations.
Oyako Sushi
6655 Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach
Ordered shut: Dec. 9
Why: Nine violations (two high-priority), including:
- “Observed approximately 15 rodent droppings on top of dishwashing machine.”
- About eight 8 dead flies “in fly sticky tape near warewashing area.”
- Time/temperature issue involved shrimp tempura batter with milk.
- “Wontons not covered in reach-in freezer.”
Status: Reopened Dec. 10 after a follow-up visit found no violations.
