Inspectors flag nesting rodents at Hooters, ‘mold-like’ stuff at KFC and sewage backups
Did South Florida restaurants start shaving Chewbaccas in their kitchens last week? Because standing wastewater is the running theme on this week’s Sick and Shut Down List.
Except at KFC and Hooters, where other problems stood with greater putrid prominence.
(This is not to be confused with our Gross Grocers list of supermarkets, minimarts and other food sellers that failed Florida Department of Agriculture inspections. That also posted Monday.)
What follows comes from Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation restaurant inspections. If you see a problem and want a restaurant inspected, don’t email us. Click here and file a complaint. We don’t control who gets inspected or how strictly. We report without passion or prejudice, but with two scoops of humor.
In alphabetical order:
Aravita Coffee, 18400 NW 75th Place, North Miami-Dade: Only three violations, only one of which was High Prirority, for this week’s Amityville Horror Restaurant of the Week.
“Observed 15-plus live flies flying over the three-compartment sink, 10-plus live flies flying over the mop sink, four live flies on storage area and six live flies flying at the hall through the bathroom.”
That got Aravita closed on Tuesday. They reopened after passing Wednesday’s re-inspection.
Golden Krust, 4861 Coconut Creek Pkwy., Coconut Creek: “Objectionable odor in establishment,” noted the inspector.
When the inspector experiences olfactory offense, you’re about to be closed for the day. Because the reason’s usually something like what happened at the Krust on Thursday.
“Sewage/wastewater backing up through sinks. Water backing up when using the three-compartment sink and handwash sink...when using handwash sink, water came back up through the floor drain in the kitchen. When draining the three-compartment sink, the water came back up from the drain in the kitchen...gray water coming from the drain in the prep area. Observed water come up from the drain in front counter.
“When walking/working in the kitchen and front counter, water cannot be avoided due to the back flow of drains.”
Employees dried and cleaned the Krust by the re-inspection later in the day.
Hooters, 2020 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach: Remember when this chain was the name sponsor of the Arena Football League’s Miami Hooters? Back in those puritanical days, the Miami Herald sports section wouldn’t even print the team’s name. Times have changed.
Bet Hooters longs for those days because now we have to report that this Hooters had “around 100-plus (rodent) droppings found on the floor at the dry storage room in the back area of the kitchen, separated by a door to the kitchen.”
Or, that there were “Rodent rub marks present along walls/ceilings between the roof and wall in the dry storage area.”
Or that there were “rodent burrow or rodent nesting materials present,” as in “gnaw marks on a box containing light bulbs and a box containing plastic sealed bags.”
Well, this helps explain it. “Perimeter walls and roofs do not effectively protect establishment against environmental cross contamination or the entrance of pests, in dry storage area.”
Flies flitted about the bar area and kitchen.
The soap dispensers at the handwash sink next to the grill and the three-compartment sink “are in poor repair” and “unable to dispense soap.” The one at the side order station leaked water on the floor (of course).
A Stop Sale got dropped on the ground beef still at a balmy 59 degrees after an overnight in the apparently ineffective walk-in cooler.
What don’t you want to see when you have such an brazen colony of rodents? “Two cases of chicken breast stored on the floor in walk-in freezer.”
“Build-up of soil and food debris (chicken bones) on the floor under shelving in dry storage room.” Is that from the humans or the rodents?
There’s one of these every week. “Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”
KFC, 3298 N. State Rd. 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL: You’ll find these inspections on the Florida DBPR under “Kentucky Fried Chicken” with the address listed as being in Fort Lauderdale instead of Lauderdale Lakes.
The flies had no problem finding the place, however and they were thirsty. “Over 10 live flies in dining area landing on drink machine and in and on nozzles and on ice tea nozzles.”
Another 11 flies were counted zipping about the dining room, the front service counter, the prep table, the ice machine, etc.
Speaking of the ice tea nozzles, “ice tea nozzles soiled” and “ice dispenser with mold-like substance.”
Also with “mold-like substance” were ceiling tiles in the dining area and walls behind racks in the storage room.
Somebody needs to keep Drano or the number for Roto-Rooter around. “Standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly. Observed standing water under prep table where microwaves are kept. Observed standing water under batter station on cookline.”
And somebody let the cole slaw get too warm. The manager shoved the slaw in the walk-in cooler for a rapid cool down.
The KFC got it together for Friday’s re-inspection and were reopen for the Friday dinner rush.
La Nueva Nicaragua, 340 SW 109th Ave., West Miami-Dade: This week’s “Which Violation Is The Worst?” restaurant had a list of problems longer than the Miami Dolphins draft needs.
So, what skeeves you out the most? “Employee washing dishes but not sanitizing them.”
Or, a Stop Sale dropped on gallo pinto rice cooked the day before, but not properly refrigerated?
Or, “Encrusted material on can opener blade?”
Or, no way for employees to dry their hands in the restroom?
Or “Every time an employee uses three-compartment sink, the drain comes from kitchen drain. There is a pump that takes the sewage water to the back door and the drain comes up and down.”
And what happens to the sewage water then? “Raw sewage on ground of establishment. Observed sewage water dumping in outside back door area.”
Or, sausages thawing at room temperature. That’s the kind of thing that can lead to your kid throwing up in their sleep and snoozing in their own barf.
There were 19 other violations on Dec. 9, but those are our choices for Worst finalists. La Nueva bounced back to pass Tuesday’s re-inspection.
Sarku Japan, 7501 N. Kendall Dr., South Miami-Dade: “Objectionable odor in establishment. Inside the kitchen and prep area.”
See the Golden Krust above about your restaurant bringing the bad kind of funky. And, this stink comes with a similar origin story to the Krust’s malodorous air, but the standing water spread its damage.
“Observed huge part of the kitchen and prep area covered with gray waters. Grey waters also inside walk in cooler Floor not draining at all.
“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Possible contamination due to grey waters inside walk-in cooler.”
“Observed standing dirty water with food debris at three-compartment sink at the kitchen.”
When your three-compartment sink has that problem, there’s minimal cookware cleaning happening. “Accumulation of food debris/grease on food-contact surface. Pots and pans at cook line with food debris.” “Cutting board(s) stained/soiled.” “Soil residue build-up on nonfood contact surface. At cooking equipment.”
Two things you can’t blame on the janky sink situation: the front reach-in coolers gaskets “with slimy/mold-like build up” and “accumulation of food debris/soil residue” on the front counter handwash sink. Looks like that sink doesn’t get used much.
Two days later, Sarku passed re-inspection.
This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 1:35 PM.
