Rodent Droppings and Gnaw Marks at The Sea Bistro

Restaurant inspectors temporarily closed The Sea Southeast Asian Bistro on April 26th after finding signs of rodent activity. Overall the restaurant had 13 violations with 5 marked high priority:

• Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. Live flying insects in dry storage and behind ice machine.
• Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler raw salmon over prepared sauces. Operator moved raw salmon. **Corrected On-Site**
• Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. In dry storage area in kitchen found 2 fresh droppings on white bag of rice. 6 dry droppings on brown rice bag and approximately 6 fresh behind ice machine. 5 – 20# Botan brown rice bags have gnaw marks and holes.
• Rodent rub marks present along walls/ceilings. Above soda box unit in kitchen dry storage rodent rub markings on wall leading to hole in ceiling.
• Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Rodent gnaw marks and holes in 5- 20# botan brown rice bags

The restaurant was able to reopen the same day after a follow-up inspection showed the rodent activity had been cleared. The small flying insect problem was still present and the inspector gave them an extension to address that.

The worst number in this week’s report goes to East Boca’s Deli on Rye (Federal Highway near Spanish River). The inspection showed 24 violations including 9 high priority:

• All potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) foods in reach-in cooler cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Boiled eggs, tuna salad, bacon, ham, cheese at 43-46f on the 3 door True cooler Cold cuts, beef, salads at 46-50F on the display coolers, less than 4h out of temperature according to PIC. Instructed to moved the food to another units.
• Employee failed to wash hands beforechanging gloves and/or putting on gloves to work with food. Washed hands upon request. **Corrected On-Site**
• Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands – food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Bagel sandwich, operator put gloves on. **Corrected On-Site**
• Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sauerkraut and coleslaw at 54-56f, placed in an ice bath Butter at 67f on the prep area explained implemented time control. **Corrective Action Taken**
• Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food in the process of reheating for hot holding has not reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit after more than 2 hours . Turkey reheated on the steam table from 69F to 76F in 45 min, instructed operator to reheat the turkey to 165F before placing it on the steam table.
• Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in reach-in freezer – not all products commercially packaged. Raw salmon with bread, raw salmon moved to the bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
• Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Raw eggs over batter in a cooler, eggs moved to a lower shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
• Shell eggs held at room temperature with an ambient air temperature greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Shell eggs at the cookline at room temperature, moved inside a cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
• Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Outdoors

An inspection was conducted the next day and nearly all the problems had been resolved.
Big numbers were also reported for Sushi of Boca Raton on Federal Highway (22 violations, 7 high priority including a stop sale for temperature abuse), and Santo’s Buffet, also on Federal Highway in East Boca (16 violations, 6 high priority), and Wanfu Chinese on Sample in Pompano Beach (22, 6).

---

On the good news side of things, there were several perfect inspections. Maoz Vegetarian, Tossed, and Chick-Fil-A, all in the Town Center food court, had zero violations. We’ve eaten at Maoz and like it, as does Jeff Eats.

Five Guys Burgers (another of our favorites) and Seasons 52, both near Town Center, also had zero violations. Boca Resto Lounge and Gretl’s Bistro on Federal Highway in East Boca were perfect, as was the Boca Greens Country Club.
There were also a number of near perfect inspections with only one violation each:

Fresh Bites Cafe (Mission Bay); Casa L’Italien (Lake Ridge at Yamato); Corner Bakery Cafe (near Town Center); Shake Shack (Glades east of I-95); M&M Thai Cafe (East Palmetto Park); Yogen Fruz and Pummarola (Town Center)

Other notable inspections include:
2 Violations
New York Prime near Town Center
Mississippi Sweets BBQ on Federal Highway
3 Violations
C R Chicks and Nick’s New Haven Pizza near Town Center
Mario’s Osteria
4 Violations
Shane’s Rib Shack and Toojay’s near Town Center
Big Joe’s Burgers on Federal Highway
And the rest …
Tobu Teriyaki Grill in Town Center (5 minor violations)
Chili’s on 441 in West Boca (9 violations, 2 high priority)
Cabo Flats in Delray Marketplace (9, 3)
Pei Wei in Westwinds at 441 and Glades (10, 2)
Japango in Parkland (11, 1)
First Watch on St. Andrews (11, 2)
Pollo Tropical on 441 near Palmetto (12, 5)
La Ferme on Lakeridge and Yamato (13, 2)
Apeiro in Delray Marketplace (13, 4)
Our spreadsheet is below:
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/allinsp-5-2-2016.pdf”]