December health inspections: 7 Pensacola restaurants in hot water, 47 have perfect visits
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story did not clarify the location of El Patron Mexican Grill. The El Patron Mexican Grill that was inspected is located at 8662 Navarre Pkwy. El Patron Mexican Grill of Pensacola, located at 830 N Navy Blvd., is not affiliated.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Hotel and Restaurant Division had a long list of inspections to check off their list this holiday season. Of those inspected, 92 restaurants across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties passed their first inspection in December, compared to the 27 that didn't.
Of those 92, 47 restaurants passed their inspections without registering a single violation. A complete list of those restaurants is included at the end of this article.
October inspections: 3 spots in Escambia, Santa Rosa top 10 violations, 51 are flawless
November inspections: Pensacola taco spot ordered to close, 36 have perfect visits
7 restaurants top 10 violations
Though most restaurants found success in their evaluations, there were several that racked up heavy criticism from the DBPR.
El Patron Mexican Grill, Navarre
El Patron Mexican Grill fell under 15 complaints, receiving 14 of those violations for basic-level offenses. Some of these included the accumulation of a black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine, an employee observed eating in a food preparation area and a nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt or dust.
However, there was one high priority violation cited for raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat food, noting that chorizo was being stored above the tortillas in the walk-in cooler.
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Windjammers on the Pier
Navarre’s Windjammers on the Pier received 13 violations, with three high priority violations and one intermediate violation. The high priority violations included raw animal food not separated from ready-to-eat food, the dish machine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength and food not being stored at the proper temperature.
Wasabi House
Wasabi House in Pace was placed on the list with 13 violations. During the visit, the inspector noted an employee touched cooked chicken with bare hands, escolar and salmon that did not have proof of parasite destruction and food was being stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler.
High priority notes included the dish machine chlorine sanitizer not being set to a proper minimum strength and food being stored at an improper temperature.
Samurai Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Samurai Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar in Navarre held 11 violations after the December inspection. The restaurant received one high priority violation for one nonfood-grade container being used for food storage. Other basic violations included cloth being used as a food-contact surface, the floor being accumulated with debris and an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.
Pho 99 Vietnamese Restaurant
This Navarre Vietnamese restaurant received 11 violations with a follow-up inspection required. The restaurant received primarily basic-level violations including uncovered food stored near the sink, a pan of cooked chicken in a dry storage area next to chemical hand washing soap and clean equipment being stored less than six inches above the floor.
The restaurant also received one high priority complaint stating that raw animal food was being stored over or with unwashed produce. Upon inspection, a small pan of raw chicken was being stored above case of lettuce in a walk-in cooler.
Marcus Pointe Golf Club
The Marcus Pointe Golf Club brought in 12 violations, three being high priority complaints and four intermediate complaints. Some of the high priority complaints included the dish machine chlorine sanitizer not being set to a proper minimum strength and food not being stored at the proper temperature.
Quickly
Quicky received 10 violations for offenses, such as the accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine, fly sticky tape hanging over the make line in the kitchen and store food not being covered in the reach-in freezer.
2 restaurants receive administrative complaints
Quickly
Quickly on Cervantes had an administrative complaint recommended for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
Where Y'At Seafood
Where Y'At Seafood in Navarre received three violations and an administrative complaint for operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Other violations included equipment in poor repair and food not being stored at the proper temperature.
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47 restaurants had perfect December inspections
More than half of restaurants that DBPR staff visited in December had nothing but good news to report.
Here are the 47 restaurants and food service establishments that turned up flawless reports when the DBPR paid them a visit in December:
Chicken Pollo
Hurricane Pizza
Taco Bell, 6 E. Nine Mile
Taqueria Catra Mex
Frank’s Daily Bread Catering
Jimmy Johns, 501 E. Gregory St., Unit C
Hampton Inn & Suites, 8021 Lavelle Way
Holiday Inn Express, 130 Loblolly Lane
Comfort Inn Deli, 8080 N. Davis Highway
The Po-Boy Shack
Best Western/Blue Angel Inn
Arlene Williams Bar-B-Que
Surestay Studios
Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar
JBW’s Eatery
Wendy’s Old Fashion Hamburger Restaurant, 5685 N. Ninth Ave.
Ragtyme Package and Lounge AKA Pelican’s Nest
The Establishment
The 5 Barrel
Phil’s Jazzy Barbecue
Flip-n-Yaki
Profitt’s Cart Concessions
Sweet Dreams Inn
Mr. Tacos Grill
Adonna’s Garden St Café and Bakery
Chick-fil-A on Navy Boulevard
Hershey’s Ice Cream Parlor on the Beach
Wow Wing & Deli
Deep Blue Tiki
Captain D’s, 8090 N. Davis Highway
Pizza Hut 2068, 4522 Saufley Field Road
Dharma Blue
The Club at Hidden Creek LLC
Buh's BBQ LLC
Hauling Butts BBQ LLC
Bella Luna Italian Bistro
Hooked and Flavored
Bigfoot Dogs LLC
Ah Los Panchos Tamales y Tacos #1
Ah Los Panchos Tamales y Tacos #2
Let's Eat
Suga Cakes Soul Kitchen
Foley's Grub
JJ’s Pizza Shack
Outlaw Grub
Burger King #8645, 4120 U.S. 90
Whistling Pig LLC
View the detailed DBPR criteria and inspection information for yourself at data.pnj.com/restaurant-inspections/escambia.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Nearly 100 Pensacola restaurants pass final inspection of the year