Tag: inspections

Fresh Rodent Droppings and 35 Violations Close Sapphire

Four Asian restaurants in East Boca “top” our list for this report: Sapphire, Kanpai, Nori and Lemongrass.

Sapphire Restaurant in Royal Palm Place; image by Google.

It’s tough when we see a bad inspection for a place we like. Sapphire is our favorite Indian restaurant in Boca – and yes it still is even after this.
On May 18th Sapphire was hit with 35 violations (5 high priority) and a temporary closure. The worst of it was this:

Rodent activity present as evidenced by approximately 50 plus fresh rodent droppings under dry storage shelf. 30+ fresh rodent droppings under shelf next to walk in cooler 15 fresh rodent droppings under shelf contains bag in the box sodas 25+ fresh rodent droppings under fryer and grill at cook line 10+ fresh rodent droppings under prep table at cook line . No door between dry storage and kitchen.

They were able to reopen the next day with a total of 8 violations, none high priority.
Others with over 20 violations include:

  • Kanpai at Palmetto Park and Federal Highway (29 violations, 7 high priority)
  • Nori on East Palmetto Park (28 violations, 10 high priority)
  • Lemongrass, just south of Mizner Park (22, 7)

Good News
On the good news side of things, there were some perfect inspections with zero violations. Most notable were Lucille’s BBQ in Delray Marketplace and Chick N Chop in the Kmart plaza on Palmetto Park Road.

Also perfect: Rocksteady Jamaican on Federal Highway, the Marriott at Boca Center, and a perfect licensing inspection for Paladium Sports Bar on Sample in Margate.
Cafe 5150 and The Mirage at the Marriott were both near perfect with just one violation each. Other notable good inspections were as noted below.

  • Steak N’ Shake on 441 in Coral Springs: 1 minor violation
  • Sicilian Oven off St. Andrews near Town Center: 2 violations
  • Apura on Powerline near Olive Garden: 3 minor violations
  • Shake Shack on Glades near FAU: 3 minor violations
  • Sybarite Pig: 4 violations


Last but maybe not least, there appears to be a new restaurant replacing the short-lived West Boca location of Hot Dog Opolis. “Hummus Culture” had a licensing inspection on May 17th with 3 violations. We’re not sure if they’re open yet. We were in the plaza Friday and didn’t notice it. Regardless we hope to try it soon and wish them luck.
As usual our spreadsheet is below.
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/allinsp5-28-2017.pdf”]

Terrible Inspections in Delray Marketplace … Again

Japango and Bella Amici in Delray Marketplace; image by Google

This is one of the worst inspection reports we’ve done in a while and 6 of the worst 12 are located in Delray Marketplace, including the top 2.
It starts with Japango – 39 violations including 8 marked high priority:

  • Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. SUN TORI Baby corn, DOLE pineapple , HUNSTY. Bamboo shoots
  • Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Chlorine at 0ppm.
  • Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sushi cooler not maintains 41°F. fish eggs (59-62°F); ; cream cheese (63°-67°°F), cooked asparagus (63°°F), Krab (46°-57°°F ). Moved food to a working reach in cooler to attain 41°F. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Raw animal food stored over cooked food. Raw fish stored over cooked duck in the walk-in freezer.
  • Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken stored over ready to eat sauces, and washed vegetables.
  • Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in reach-in freezer – all products not commercially packaged. Raw chicken stored over raw beef.
  • Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb.
  • Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sushi chlorine sanitizer bucket at sushi counter at 300ppm.

We ate not that long ago at Japango Delray. I had the sashimi lunch. It was the worst quality sashimi I can remember having in my life. But – classic Boca – you get a lot of it for the money.
The second biggest number in the report goes to the nearby Bella Amici Pizzeria, with 36 violations, 7 high priority.

  • Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. license renewed during inspection. Verified with district office that the license was renewed. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. Approximately 5-7 flies in the kitchen.
  • Nonfood-grade lubricant in use on a meat slicer.
  • Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed a can of flying insect under a counter in the dining room. Mgr discarded the can. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Raw shelled eggs stored over cooked broccoli and cooked eggplant in MASTERBILT reach in cooler. Raw chicken fingers stored over ready to eat pastry mix in walk in freezer. Raw fish stored over cooked meatballs in walk in freezer. All food were properly stored. Was warned on the last 2 inspections. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
  • Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in reach-in cooler. Raw egg wash stored over raw calamari in reach in cooler by hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Spray bottle with unknown chemical/toxic substance stored near/on/above food preparation surface or food. Pink chemical in spray bottle on prep table. Unknown chemical in spray bottle on server prep area. Operator labeled all bottles. **Corrected On-Site**

Other big numbers at Delray Marketplace include:

Cabo Flats (28 violations, 5 high priority)
Apeiro (25, 4)
Shula Burger (24, 7)
Cinebowl & Grille (19, 2)

Stepping away from Delray Marketplace, Way Beyond Bagels on Jog in Delray was temporarily closed by inspectors. You can read the details in our Facebook post.
Also on Jog Road in Delray, Henry’s had 24 violations with 6 high priority and Rotelli’s had 24 violations, 4 high priority.
Rebel House (we were just there!) in East Boca had 19 violations, 4 high priority.
Turning to better news …

We see a perfect licensing inspection (no violations) for “Di Pizza” on 441 in Parkland, just south of the county line and Lox Road. It may be replacing a place that was called Venetian.
TW’s Lounge on the west side of 441 near SW 18th had a perfect routine inspection.
City Boys Pizza on Sandalfoot, just east of 441, had a near perfect inspection with just one minor violation.
Of course you can see all the inspections in our pdf, below:
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/allinsp-5-14-2017.pdf”]

Dukes's Hazards – Restaurant Inspection Report

It’s a close call for worst inspection in this report but the best known of the choices is Tucker Dukes Lunchbox on Powerline in Deerfield Beach. Their late April inspection showed 27 total violations including 7 high priority, live flying insects, and a stop sale order.

  • All potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) foods in walk-in cooler cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Pork (44°F – Cold Holding); turkey (44°F – Cold Holding); chicken (45°F – Cold Holding); pasta (49°°F – Cold Holding) ground beef 45°, cooked rice 49° Operator had told to place ice on the above items. See stop sale on pasta **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Employee failed to wash hands before changing gloves and/or putting on gloves to work with food. Chef touching raw chicken, raw ground beef and raw fish, change his gloves but failed to wash his hands, then pursue to portioned cheese unto sandwich buns. Chef was told to wash his hands. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. **Repeat Violation**
  • 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. Observed cooked rice and pasta in walk in cooler at 49° ; as per operator, both items were cooked from yesterday. See stop sale.
  • Raw animal food stored over cooked food. Observed raw ground turkey stored over cook ham and cut onions in walk in cooler, operator removed and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
  • 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. Observed cooked rice and pasta in walk in cooler at 49° ; as per operator, both items were cooked from yesterday.
  • Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Outside at exit door.

Ironically the Tucker Dukes food truck at the same address had a nearly perfect inspection with only one minor violation.
Two Chinese restaurants also were in the running for bad news. Panda Gourmet on Jog in Delray had 26 total violations, 6 of them high priority including both a live roach and 40 dried rodent droppings. Their follow-up inspection two days later was much better.
Chinatown on Wiles in Parkland had 25 violations, 8 high priority. Their list included multiple dented cans (stop sale), live flying insects, dead worms and a live lizard.
The worst of West Boca was the TooJay’s near Town Center with 20 violations. 5 of them were high priority including 3 separate handwashing errors and this week’s most common problem – live flying insects.
Tempura House on Clint Moore did somewhat better but not great with 14 violations, 3 high priority including a stop sale that looks like a temperature issue with some ribs.
Other notables in this report include:

  • El Mariachi in Coral Springs (19 violations, 7 high priority)
  • Japango on 441 in Parkland (15, 3)
  • Ruvens on Jog in Delray (13, 1)
  • Shinju Buffet (7, 3)

Good News

On the good side of things, Sushi Jessie on Federal Highway had a perfect inspection. Their previous inspection was also very good. We may have to try this place.
The 16 Handles yogurt place on Glades near FAU also had a perfect inspection. Cups Frozen Yogurt in Town Center was near perfect with one minor violation.
Other near-perfect inspections were reported for Funky Buddha Lounge, Fresh Kitchen and Papa Johns on Federal Highway, Earl of Sandwich in Town Center’s food court, and Lemongrass Hotpot at Boca Grove.
Jimmy the Greek on Glades did well with just 2 violations. Bonefish Grill at Boca Grove had 3. Houston’s had a respectable 4.
Our spreadsheet for this report:
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/allinsp-4-30-17.pdf”]

Bare Hands Sushi at Yakitori: Restaurant Inspections

Yakitori Sake House in Royal Palm Place off Mizner Blvd; image by Google.

Yakitori Sake House had the most “high priority” violations in our latest restaurant inspection report, though other restaurants had more total violations.
Their seven sins included:

  • Drinks stored in ice used for drinks.
  • 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. 2 out of three sushi chefs preparing sushi with bare hands. Reviewed when to wear gloves , both washed hands and put gloves on. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Tuna 45°F, salmon 46°F, at sushi bar left display cooler. Sushi chef stated for less than one hour had busy lunch and left display door open. He placed ice on the fish to help keep it cold. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) sushi rice identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking . Cook stated rice was less than 2 hours out of temperature and placed a time mark on rice. **Corrected On-Site**
  • Raw chicken not properly separated from Beef based upon minimum required cooking temperature in walk-in cooler. Chicken and beef were loosely wrapped and stored inside same container.See stop sale
  • Stop Sale issued due to Beef not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Chicken wrapped loosely inside a plastic bag stored in the same container as loosely bagged beef.
  • Sushi Chef failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to work with food. Reviewed handwashing procedure with sushi chef he went to wash hands. **Corrected On-Site**

You can read the full details in the state inspection report. They had a total of 12 violations.
Kiki’s Asian Bistro, also in East Boca, had 6 high priority violations, with 16 total. A few of the worst involved food temperatures.
Tobu Teriyaki Grill inside Town Center had 5 high priority, 12 total with two “stop sale” orders.

  • Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Dirty container with raw chicken debris on the outside and chicken inside stored inside a container of beef, at cook line.Stop sale for the beef.
  • Stop Sale issued on potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food due to temperature abuse. Raw chicken thawing over night (11+ hours) on prep table in kitchen, 55°F-59°F.

Further west, Tempura House on Clint Moore had 16 violations, 4 of them high priority. There were several temperature issues along with insufficient hand washing and this disturbing bit:

Dishmachine drain board used as food prep station to peel shrimp without first sanitizing drain board.

Nino’s on Beracasa had the biggest number with 19 total violations, though only 3 were high priority.
Other notables with not great inspections include Bluefin Express on Yamato with 7 violations, 4 high priority, and Terra Fiamma in Delray Marketplace (11, 3) with a stop sale on 20 pounds of marinara sauce that was nor properly cooled.
On the good and/or interesting news side of things, we noticed a perfect licensing inspection for “Sinbad Mediterranean Food and Hookah” on Lyons at Kimberly in the location that used to be China House restaurant. We’re not sure if this indicates cultural or demographic changes in Century Village.
Outback Steakhouse on SW 18th wins this report with a perfect routine inspection – zero violations.
Near perfect inspections were recorded by Chipotle in Westwinds (Glades & 441) and City Boys Pizza (Sandalfoot), each with one minor violation.


Other good inspections:

  • Chick-Fil-A in Town Center (2, 0)
  • Bruce’s in Boca Greens (2, 0)
  • My Delicious Deli at Palmetto and Powerline (2, 0)
  • Boston Market and also 40 Carrots in Town Center (2, 0 each)

Our full spreadsheet for this report is below:
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/allinsp-4-16-2017.pdf”]

Restaurant Inspection Report

The worst of our latest inspection report goes to two restaurants on Wiles Road in Coral Springs. Country Kitchen had 20 violations, with a whopping 12 of them marked as high priority. There were a variety of issues including hand washing, food storage and food temperatures, and a stop sale on a few items. Click the following to see it: Inspection.

Country Kitchen in Coral Springs; image by Google.

China Spring III at 8100 Wiles had 17 violations, 9 of them high priority.
The worst of West Boca was the new Ditmas, a kosher restaurant in the Boca Grove plaza on Powerline. They had 14 violations, 6 high priority:

  • Employee handled soiled dishes or utensils and then handled clean dishes or utensils without washing hands. slicing / dicing vegetables in kitchen immediately after using cell phone without hand-washing.
  • 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. – slicing / dicing vegetables in kitchen immediately after using cell phone without hand-washing.
  • Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded.
  • Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. REACH IN COOLER (Cook Line Cold Table) – quina 53° pickles 52° poco 53(AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 57°) – cooler and food iced down. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. – in walk in cooler, raw she’ll eggs directly above red sauce.
  • Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. – on splitter on mop sink

Long Island Bagel in West Boca Square (the Target plaza) had 23 violations but only 3 were marked high priority.
Maggiano’s near Town Center had 10 violations, 3 high priority.
On the good news side of things, Anthony’s Pizza in Boca Grove and Stella’s Pizza in Boca Greens each had just one minor violation.

Our spreadsheet is below:
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/allinsp-4-2-2017.pdf”]