76 Inspections for Mid-February

Two places shut down by inspectors. Two others with 20 or more violations. Eight more in double digits. And of course some good news too. One of the country clubs also got popped with 19 violations, 7 of them high priority.

Inspections seemed focused on Glades Road, 441, SW 18th and more.

CEK Caterers on Military Trail and La Brasa at Lyons and Hillsboro were both subject to emergency orders from inspectors last week.

La Brasa had bigger numbers with 6 violations and 4 high priority. The worst of it was:

  • Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. Approximately more then 30 flies landing on to go containers and shelves in dry storage observed flies coming from one of the containers with spoiled onions.
  • Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. 25 lbs of red onions, observed flies landing on them.
  • Cooked/heated potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cooked/heated yesterday/on a previous day not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a total of 6 hours. Food has been cooling overnight. See stop sale. 280 lbs black beans (69-72°F – Cooling overnight) , 35lbs cooked potatoes (48°F – Cooling overnight) see stop sale.
  • Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cooked/heated yesterday/on a previous day not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a total of 6 hours. Food has been cooling overnight. See stop sale. 280 lbs black beans (69-72°F – Cooling overnight) , 35lbs cooked potatoes (48°F – Cooling overnight) see stop sale.

CEK Caterers had only one violation in their inspection but insects were enough to shut them down too.

Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. 1 airborne live fly at dry storage next to line, non food contact 3 airborne live flies at hand sink next to dish area, non food contact 3 live flies on food packaging in dry storage area next to cook line, food contact surfaces 2 live flies on clean utensils on pan rack across from dish washing station, food contact surfaces Approximately 8 live flies in narrow hallway next to walk-in cooler on clean utensils and food packages, food contact surfaces 2 live flies on equipment at doorway next to ice machine, non food contact surfaces 3 live flies on clean water carafes, food contact surfaces 14 live flies in electrical room, non food contact surfaces 5 live flies at dirty pot rack next to dishwasher station, non food contact surfaces 1 live fly on clean pots at prep area, food contact surfaces 4 live flies in plastic/paper storage area, non food contact surfaces 5 live flies at prep sink at end of line, non food contact surfaces 3 live flies at garbage can on cook line, non food contact surfaces 1 live fly on clean pan under cookline, food contact surface Approximately 10 live flies on walls of produce kitchen, non food contact surfaces

Both were able to reopen the following day.

The biggest number this week was for 818 Heat, a Korean Hotpot and BBQ place just east of the Turnpike off Glades. They had 25 violations including 5 high priority.

  • Employee handled soiled dishes or utensils and then handled clean dishes or utensils without washing hands. – food preparer moving trash to prepping food without washing hands
  • Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
  • otentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. BUFFET LINE – octopus 50F, Kimchee 52F, seaweed salad 51F, pickled radish salad 52F, KITCHEN – (Cold Table) mussels 50F, ham 45F, taro 47F, talapi 47 Water chestnuts 42F, sausages 50F, Karbala 47F,, tofu 47F. **Repeat Violation**
  • Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. In WALKIN COOLER – raw shell eggs above sauces and cut vegetables.
  • Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands.

Bagel City South also did poorly with 20 violations including 6 high priority.

  • All potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) foods in reach-in cooler cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit….tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, cut tomatoes, cut lettuce, sausages, turkey bacon, white fish salad ,ham hot dogs all at between 48°-50° in reach in cooler at cook line . Per manager food being held less than four hours. Employee moved food to walk in cooler . **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Employee handled soiled dishes or utensils and then handled clean dishes or utensils without washing hands…dishwasher. Discussed with operator. **Repeat Violation**
  • Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area….one small fly front line, one bread toast station flying around. Employee kick them out. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit….milk 67° at coffee station at front line being held more than four hours. Employee discarded milk at time of inspection . Stop sale issue ……single serve butter 62° at bagel / bread toast station being held less than four hours , employee time marked on butter…..egg wash 58°, feta cheese 49° , smoked salmon 47° temperature control in ice at cook line being held less than four hours. Employee added up more ice . **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Shell eggs held at room temperature with an ambient air temperature greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit at cook line being held less than four hours. Employee moved it to walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Stop Sale issued on potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food due to temperature abuse…. Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit….milk 67° at coffee station at front line being held more than four hours.

Boca Woods Country Club had a bad report with 19 violations including 7 high priority. The worst of their report was a stop sale:

Stop Sale issued on potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food due to temperature abuse….. Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cooked/heated yesterday/on a previous day not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within a total of 6 hours. Food has been cooling overnight. …marina sauce 52°, chicken stock 49 in a dipper 4 inches container ( 22qt.bucket) at walk in cooler. Per chef food was cooked yesterday.

Others who stood out with big numbers include Rafina on SW 18th and El Balcon on Sandalfoot with 13 violations each, Duffy’s on St. Andrews and Me-Sen Thai on SW 18th with 10 violations each.

With 8 violations each:

  • Smokey Bones on 441
  • L’Chloe Cafe on SW 18th
  • Cilluffo’s Pizza on SW 18th

Juice & Java on St. Andrews had 7 violations.


The good news starts with Hot Dogs on a Roll listed on Sandalfoot Blvd. We think that’s a hot dog cart rather than a restaurant and we’re not sure where they set up the cart or what name they operate under. They had a licensing inspection and it was perfect.

There were also a few perfect inspections for venues inside Boca Woods (Cabana Grille) and 4 venues inside Woodfield Country Club.

Panera in Mission Bay and Five Guys near Town Center were both near perfect with 2 violations each.

Inspectors reported 3 violations for:

  • Carrabba’s on SW 18th
  • BurgerFi on SW 18th
  • Chef2Go / Gersh on Sandalfoot

Others who did reasonably well with four violations include Sushi Yoshee and Burger King on 441 , steakhouses Outback on SW 18th and Abe & Louie’s on Glades, and Pukara (Peruvian) on SW 18th.

As usual our spreadsheet is below:

Author: Warren Redlich

Warren Redlich is a real estate agent and an attorney. He focuses on selling homes in West Boca Raton. Call or text Warren at 561-536-3645. Warren is also a tech YouTuber covering Tesla, SpaceX and more. His YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/c/WarrenRedlich/ and he sells Elon Musk related t-shirts and other merchadise at https://ElonBits.com. Warren also publishes videos about politics at https://warrenredlich.locals.com/