| Daily news from Northwest Florida
What do restaurant inspectors look for?
Each inspection report is a snapshot of the conditions in the restaurant at the time of the inspection.
Ginny Beagan, Wochit
You can use the database to search by province or by restaurant name.
Florida restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where customers can see them, so we provide you with that information every week.
For a complete listing of local restaurant inspections, including violations that do not require a warning or administrative action, visit our Okaloosa County Restaurant Inspections website.
Below is a summary of recent health inspections in Okaloosa County, Florida, for the week of July 8-14, 2024. Please note that some more recent follow-up inspections may not be included here.
Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a “snapshot” of the conditions present at the time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted during their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment.
For complete restaurant inspection information, visit our Okaloosa County restaurant inspection site.
Which restaurants in Okaloosa County received perfect scores on their health inspections?
During the inspections from July 8 to 14, these restaurants met all standards and no violations were found.
- Anglers Beachside Cafe, mobile food van
- Chapala Authentic Mexican Restaurant and Grill, 1027 John Sims Pkwy, Niceville**
- Chili’s Grill and Bar, 2680 S. Ferdon Blvd. Unit 203, Crestview
- Emerald Coast Aviation, 5535 John Givens Rd, Crestview
- Jojo’s Coffee and Goodness, 4652 Hwy 20 East Suite 102, Niceville
- Laurel Hill Grill, 8196 N. Highway 85, Laurel Hill
- Miller’s Destin Ale House, 34906 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin**
- Pedros of Destin, 36178 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin**
- Polar Bear Ice, 1328 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview
- Pounders Hawaiian Grill Crestview, 6276 Old Bethel Rd, Crestview
- Sabina’s Europe, 4550 Highway 20, Suite I, Niceville
- Stewby’s Seafood Shanty, 4120 Ferdon Blvd., Crestview
- Waffle House #1162, 4575 Highway 20, Niceville
**Restaurants that failed an inspection and successfully passed a follow-up inspection in the same week
Which restaurants in Okaloosa County had high priority violations?
1027 John Sims Parkway, Niceville
Complaints inspection on July 9
Follow-up Inspection Required: Violations require further investigation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
5 total violations, 1 of which was a high priority violation
- High Priority – Time/Temperature Control for Safe Food Held Cold at 41 Degrees Fahrenheit or Above. Low Boy Line – Steak 50, Sausage 61, Chicken 50F (Second Temps – Steak 56, Sausage 61, Chicken 50F) Per Staff Less Than 4 Hours. Items Frozen for Rapid Cooling During Inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
1027 John Sims Parkway, Niceville
Complaints inspection on July 10
Follow-up Inspection Required: Violations require further investigation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
1 total violation, with 1 high priority violation
- High Priority – – From initial inspection: High Priority – Time/temperature control for safe food held cold above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Lowboy Line – Steak 50, Sausage 61, Chicken 50F (Second temps – Steak 56, Sausage 61, Chicken 50F) Per staff less than 4 hours. Items frozen for rapid cooling during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning** – As of follow-up inspection 07/10/2024: At time of call back inspection Lowboy Drawer Cooking Line – Raw Beef 45/46, Raw Chicken 49, Flank Steak 53/54F Per operator less than 4 hours. Additional ice packs partially melted. Operator refrozen for rapid cooling during inspection. Sliced Peppers and Onions 51 ambient cooling less than 4 hours. Operator advised TCS food to be held cold at 41F or below. **Time extended**
979 Highway 98 East, Ste 4, Destin
Complaints inspection on July 10
Follow-up Inspection Required: Violations require further investigation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
3 total violations, 1 of which was a high priority violation
- High Priority – Time/temperature control for safe food held cold above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Kitchen 1 Make Bar – pico 49/51, shredded cheese 51/55, liquid eggs 56, sausage 49, ham 50F Per operator less than 4 hours. Operator advised to take measures to rapidly cool TCS products to or below 41F **Warning**
979 Highway 98 East, Ste 4, Destin
Complaints inspection on July 11
Follow-up Inspection Required: Violations require further investigation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
1 total violation, with 1 high priority violation
- High Priority – – From initial inspection: High Priority – Time/temperature control for safe food held cold above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Kitchen 1 is making bar – pico 49/51, shredded cheese 51/55, liquid eggs 56, sausage 49, ham 50F Per operator less than 4 hours. Operator advised to take action to rapidly cool TCS products to 41F or below **Warning** – As of follow-up inspection 2024-07-11: At time of callback Kitchen 1 is making bar Tomatoes 59, Cheese 59/56, liquid eggs 57, cooked chicken 53F Per kitchen staff above items out of temperature less than 4 hours. Kitchen 1 is making bar TCS food moved to cold room during inspection for rapid cooling. **Time Extended** **Corrective Action Taken**
34906 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin
Complaints inspection on July 9
Follow-up Inspection Required: Violations require further investigation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
5 total violations, 1 of which was a high priority violation
- High Priority – Time/Temperature Control for Safe Food Held Cold at 41 Degrees Fahrenheit or Above. Sauté Station – Sliced Tomatoes 55, Shredded Cheese 55/56, Chopped Lettuce 55, Corn Salsa 50, Pot Stickers 50F per manager less than 4 hours. TCS Food Moved to Secondary Cooler for Rapid Cooling. Line Salad Cooler/Make Bar – Salad Mix 49/50/51, Sliced Tomatoes 50, Coleslaw 52F per manager and line staff less than 4 hours. Items Frozen for Rapid Cooling. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
36178 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin
Routine inspection on July 9
Follow-up Inspection Required: Violations require further investigation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
16 total violations, of which 3 were high priority violations
- High Priority – Stop Sale issued on Time/Temperature Control for Safe Food due to temperature abuse. Glass upright cooler – ambient 46F – salsa 45F (10am-3am). Housemade habanero sauce 45F, housemade jalapeño sauce 45F, housemade ranch sauce 45F (all held 48+ hours). Make bar – beef empanada 65F, cheese slices 55F (held overnight). **Warning**
- High Priority – Time/Temperature Control for Safe Foods Held Cold at 41 Degrees Fahrenheit or Above. Glass Upright Cooler – Ambient 46F – Salsa 45F (10am-3am). Homemade Habanero Sauce 45F, Homemade Jalapeño Sauce 45F, Homemade Ranch Sauce 45F (all held for 48 hours). Make Bar – Beef Empanada 65F, Cheese Slices 55F (held overnight). See Stop Selling. **Warning**
- High Priority – Time/Temperature Control for Safe Foods, Other Than Whole Roast Meat, Held Warm Below 135 Degrees Fahrenheit. Hold Warm – Rice 125F (12:00-3:00) – Reheat 188F. **Corrected on Site**
Which agency inspects restaurants in Florida?
Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is carried out by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department of Health is responsible for the investigation and control of foodborne illness outbreaks associated with all food service establishments.
How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?
If you see violations of state standards, report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors. Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online.
The full story can be found in our restaurant inspection database.
What does all this terminology mean when it comes to Florida restaurant inspections?
Basic violations are those that are contrary to best practices.
a warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a certain number of days after receipt of the inspection report.
A administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Lack of compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeated violations, or the existence of serious circumstances that warrant immediate action may result in the division filing an administrative complaint against the facility. The division’s website states, “Correcting the violations is important, but sanctions may still apply to violations corrected after the warning period has passed.”
A emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an imminent threat to the public. Here, the director of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants has determined that the establishment must cease doing business and that any division license has been revoked to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the public.
After an emergency closure or permit withdrawal, a call-back inspection is carried out for 24 hours.
