Flies in Dunkin’ Donuts, restaurants in Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, Keys fail inspection
We know it seems like only a few days since the last Sick and Shut Down List — because it was — but we’ve got a new quartet of restaurants that includes two national chains and representatives from the 561, 954 and both 305 counties.
So, let’s get down on it.
HOW THE LIST WAS DONE: What follows comes from Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation restaurant inspections in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. A restaurant that fails inspection remains closed until passing an inspection.
If you see a problem and want a place inspected, contact the DBPR. Do not call us. Do not email us. We don’t control who gets inspected nor how strictly the inspector inspects. Let us say that again — we do not control who gets inspected.
We don’t include all violations, just the most moving, whether internally or literally moving (because it’s alive or once was alive). Some violations get corrected after the inspector points them out. But, you have to ask, why do the violations exist in the first place? And how long would they have remained if not for the inspection?
We report without passion or prejudice but with a frosting of humor.
In alphabetical order...
Domino’s Pizza, 2704 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West: Complaint inspection, seven total violations, two High Priority violations.
Of the 17 flies the inspector counted, more than eight were landing on an empty dough container (hope they cleaned it) and five landed on food delivery bags sitting on kitchen shelves.
But the bigger problem seemed to be “Sewage/wastewater backing up through floor drains...water backing up from the drain line when hand wash sink is turned on, located under preparation line.”
Domino’s was back feeding Key West munchies after a re-inspection the next day.
Dunkin’ Donuts, 95 NW 167th St., North Miami Beach: Routine inspection, seven total violations, two High Priority violations.
Judging from past appearances on the Sick and Shut Down List, Dunkin’ Donuts locations might as well be giant sugary no-pest strips. Straight outta Amityville.
The inspector came back to this place because the water treatment device still hadn’t been “inspected or serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”
Upon return, the inspector saw over 20 flies “on the wood stripe below the menu, eco lab sign, on the wall and on the covering of the front donut stand” as well as five flies loitering on a wall behind syrup bottles.
Nobody gave up any knowledge about the dead fly at the front counter handwash sink.
“Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris and paper behind front counter...paper and dust are behind the counter.”
The inspector didn’t take the jelly out of Dunkin’s donut that day, but ruled a follow-up inspection would be in order.
But when the inspector returned two days later, the little bugs had been fruitful and multiplied. So, the inspector whipped out the Stop Sale uzi and sprayed the “assorted donuts, muffins and buns” at the front counter being used as a playground by 18-plus flies, and the same kind of food at the drive-thru window being used the same way by 25-plus flies.
On the wood stripe under the menu were another 24-plus flies and another 20-plus on the wall and covering of the front donut stand. The two dead flies on the window sill probably got blamed for everything.
And if that’s not enough yuck for you, “In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment.”
This Dunkin’ passed re-inspection Friday.
Helen’s Mandarin House, 2029 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood: Routine inspection, 11 total violations, 4 High Priority violations.
When the inspector came the first time, the bug count was eight dead roaches and six live ones, five of the latter under a prep table next to the dish washing area.
Also, the dishwashing machine’s sanitizer measured at zero.
“Floor area(s) covered with standing water under the cook line.”
When the inspector returned, Thursday, clearly, there was a loss of patience because seven live roaches under the top of a prep table and around the dishwasher and one dead roach under the three-compartment sink were enough to close the kitchen.
“Floor area(s) covered with standing water under the cook line” didn’t help, even as the manager claimed it was from cleaning the night before.
Helen’s eventually passed inspection on Friday.
Red Crab — Juicy Seafood, 1837 N. Military Tr., West Palm Beach: Routine inspection, 10 total violations, four High Priority inspections.
The rodents claimed the dry goods storage area with 15 droppings and put another 20 under the dishwashing machine.
That gave them dominance over the roaches, the two on a steamer, the other two crawling on a microwave and the dead one under the microwave, another two on a steamer.
Also, to be found in dry storage, liquid margarine on the floor.
Red Crab passed re-inspection the next day.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
