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5 restaurants around Bradenton, Palmetto, Parrish get poor health inspections

Ryan Ballogg
·4 min read

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues.

The reports are public information.

During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, lack of employee handwashing and unsafe food temperatures were among the issues that caught the attention of inspectors.

Here is what they found:

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, 8913 U.S. 301, Parrish

  • An employee handled raw boneless wings and then failed to change gloves/wash hands before touching other equipment.

  • A server loaded dirty dishes into a dish machine and then failed to wash hands before taking clean dishes out.

  • Raw bacon was stored over ready-to-eat soup, and raw shrimp was stored over ready-to-eat corned beef. Corrective action was taken.

  • A slicer blade was soiled with food debris.

  • No currently certified food service manager was on duty while four or more employees were engaged in food preparation/handling.

  • There was no proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

  • Walls behind fryers were soiled with grease.

  • The interior of a reach-in cooler was soiled.

  • Fryers were heavily soiled with grease.

  • A handwashing sign at an employee handwash sink was faded and not legible.

  • Cabbage and celery were stored on the floor in a walk-in cooler, and chicken nuggets were stored on the floor in a walk-in freezer.

  • Floors under fryers were heavily soiled with grease and food debris.

  • A side kitchen exit door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.

  • Drink cups were stacked wet.

  • Two kitchen employees were not wearing hair restraints.

  • Employee personal items were stored in food prep and storage areas.

  • A cutting board was damaged and no longer cleanable.

  • There was a black slimy mold-like buildup in the interior of an ice machine.

  • A follow-up inspection was required.

Mami Carmen’s Restaurante, 5604 15th St. E., Bradenton

  • A dishmachine was not dispensing sanitizer. An inspector took a sanitizer reading of zero. Corrective action was taken. A restaurant operator placed a service call for the machine and set up manual warewashing.

  • Raw animal foods (chicken and beef) were not properly separated from one another in a holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Corrective action was taken.

  • Refried beans were hot held at a temperature less than 135 degrees. Corrective action was taken.

  • An employee handwash sink was filled with soiled dishes. Corrective action was taken.

  • There was no proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

  • Hood vents were soiled with grease.

  • Equipment gaskets were soiled with mold-like substance.

  • A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.

Alvarez Mexican Restaurant, 1431 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto

  • A dishmachine was not dispensing sanitizer. An inspector took a sanitizer reading of zero. Corrective action was taken. A restaurant operator set up manual warewashing.

  • Raw bacon was stored over ice cream in a reach-in freezer. Corrective action was taken.

  • The restaurant was operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.

  • There was no proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

  • No handwashing sign was posted at a sink used by employees in a women’s restroom.

  • Jugs of fryer oil were stored on the floor.

  • Several cutting boards were damaged and no longer cleanable.

  • There was a black slimy substance on the interior of an ice machine.

  • The restaurant met inspection standards.

First Watch, 7118 Cortez Road W., Bradenton

  • A food employee failed to wash hands during a glove change. An inspector advised on correct handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.

  • A food employee washed hands with gloves on and returned to preparing food. An inspector advised on correct handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.

  • Pancake batter was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.

  • Hood vents were soiled with grease.

  • The restaurant met inspection standards.

Wheat + Water Italian Kitchen, 7303 52nd Place E., Bradenton

  • An employee who was preparing food touched their face with gloved hands and then failed to change gloves/wash hands. An inspector advised on proper handwashing procedure. Corrective action was taken.

  • Pasta was cold held at a temperature greater than 41 degrees. Corrective action was taken.

  • There was no proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.

  • Hood filters were soiled with grease.

  • Vents were soiled with mold-like substance.

  • Walk-in cooler gaskets were soiled with mold-like substance.

  • Food was stored on the floor in a walk-in freezer. Corrective action was taken.

  • The restaurant met inspection standards.

Editor’s Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a “snapshot” of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and “high-risk” establishments tend to be inspected more frequently.

When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed at www.myfloridalicense.com.

The Bradenton Herald’s weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner — such as unsafe food temperatures, employee hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines — regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection.