Inverness Highlands South, Citrus County

JOE'S FAMILY RESTAURANT

1754 US HWY 41, Inverness Highlands South, FL 34450

FoodSeating
Latest violations
16
3 High Priority
May 4, 2026
City
Inverness Highlands South
County
Citrus
Status
Current / Active
Inspections
6

Violation history

Florida violations grouped by priority level over time.

Inspection history

Florida inspections are violation-priority based, with high priority, intermediate, and basic counts shown separately.

May 4, 2026

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 3Intermediate: 6Basic: 7Total: 16

01B-28-5

Detail 24554088

High Priority - Date marked combined ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days of preparing/opening the earliest ready-to-eat time/temperature for safety ingredient. See stop sale. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, tuna date marked 4/23/26.

03A-02-5

Detail 24554095

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, ham 57F, cheese 51F, raw pork 46F, manager add ice on top and moved to freezer., ham dropped to 42F. Corrective Action Taken

03B-01-6

Detail 24554096

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the cook line grilled onions 125-128F, employee moved to grill Corrected On-Site

53A-03-7

Detail 24554100

Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ For one employee with a manager certifications (E. Jones).

22-02-4

Detail 24554091

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.can opener blade with food residue, manager moved to dish machine. Corrected On-Site

02C-04-5

Detail 24554099

Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. In walk-in cooler meatloaf no date marked, manager dated 05/4/26. Corrected On-Site

53B-14-5

Detail 24554093

Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. For one male employee.

53B-09-4

Detail 24554090

Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Two photocopies

41-17-4

Detail 24554097

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At the host station, spray bottle with blue liquid not labeled.

50-09-4

Detail 24554089

Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.

12B-07-4

Detail 24554087

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks above prep table, manager moved. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

40-06-5

Detail 24554101

Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee personal items above cooler, manager moved off over the cellphone. Corrected On-Site

08B-17-4

Detail 24554092

Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. In walk-in cooler, case of lemons above dessert tray, manager moved. Corrected On-Site

21-12-4

Detail 24554094

Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. In front of walk-in cooler, wet whipping cloth on prep table.

21-38-4

Detail 24554102

Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Sanitizer bucket on cook line on floor, manager moved off the floor. Corrected On-Site

02D-01-5

Detail 24554098

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. At the server area, sugar bin not labeled, manager labeled. Corrected On-Site

Sep 2, 2025

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 1Intermediate: 2Basic: 6Total: 9

12A-12-4

Detail 24000112

High Priority - Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. Cooked cracked raw eggs without washing hands and touching RTE veggies , manager spoke to him and he washed hands properly and changed gloves. Employee cooked vegetables in omelette. Corrective Action Taken

22-02-4

Detail 24000114

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice machine deflector plate soiled Can opener blade soiled

16-37-1

Detail 24000110

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine test kit expired

14-09-4

Detail 24000115

Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards grooved. Repeat Violation

12B-07-4

Detail 24000117

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink cup at triple sink area. Operator removed cup. Corrected On-Site

35B-01-4

Detail 24000116

Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Kitchen back door gaps along with bottom part of frame

36-73-4

Detail 24000111

Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled underneath dish machine

22-08-4

Detail 24000118

Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris Toaster oven inside soiled and grease buildup

08B-17-4

Detail 24000113

Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed pineapple on top coleslaw in walk in cooler Operator removed pineapple to bottom shelf Corrected On-Site

May 22, 2025

Routine - Food

Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

Intermediate: 1Total: 1

53A-03-7

Detail 23786542

Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Owner Sean Donnelly Repeat Violation Admin Complaint - From follow-up inspection 2025-05-22: Operator is scheduled to take certified food manager test Admin Complaint

Mar 18, 2025

Routine - Food

Administrative complaint recommended

High Priority: 1Intermediate: 4Total: 5

50-17-3

Detail 23636844

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 2/1/2025

53A-03-7

Detail 23636845

Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Owner Sean Donnelly Repeat Violation Admin Complaint

22-02-4

Detail 23636841

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Cutting boards in cook line area

53B-01-5

Detail 23636842

Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.

02C-04-5

Detail 23636843

Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Sliced pork in walk in cooler dated 3/6. Operator states pork was thawed on 3/16.

Sep 3, 2024

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 6Intermediate: 2Basic: 5Total: 13

12A-13-4

Detail 23113987

High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Dishwasher touched dirty dishes, then clean dishes, no handwashing. Spoke with manager and dishwasher about importance of handwashing.

03A-02-5

Detail 23113991

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 63F butter pats wait staff area 39F, manager moved to freezer 2nd temps 10:21 am. Corrected On-Site

03B-01-6

Detail 23113985

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast cooling (90F) walk in at 8:55 am manger moved to freezer, 2nd temp at 10:20 am. 119F sautéed onions cook line 9:12 am, employee moved to stove, 166F at 10:23 123 sausage cook line ,employee moved to stove at 143F at 10:24 am, stuffed peppers 123F at 9:19 am in oven, reheated by manager2nd temp 166F at 10:22 am Corrected On-Site Corrected On-Site

41-10-4

Detail 23113988

High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Sanitizer bucket stored on prep table, manager moved. Corrected On-Site

41-18-4

Detail 23113989

High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Dishwasher sanitizer too strong, over 200 ppm. Manager fixed and second reading was 50 ppm. Corrected On-Site

41-15-5

Detail 23113980

High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer bucket over 200 ppm. Manager fixed second test 50 ppm. Corrected On-Site

53A-03-7

Detail 23113981

Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Owner, Sean Donnelly food manager certificate expired.

02B-01-5

Detail 23113984

Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. No asterisk on consumer advisory on bottom of menu matching asterisk on menu descriptions. Manager placed asterisk next to consumer advisory. Corrected On-Site

14-09-4

Detail 23113986

Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards deeply grooved on cook line.

08B-49-4

Detail 23113979

Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee personal food in reach in cooler in back kitchen. Manager moved to segregate from customer food. Corrected On-Site

36-73-4

Detail 23113983

Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled under equipment in kitchen.

33-10-4

Detail 23113990

Basic - Inside/outside of dumpster not clean. Outside of dumpster soiled. Spoke with manager.

33-16-4

Detail 23113982

Basic - Open dumpster lid.

Feb 2, 2024

Food-Licensing Inspection

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.