Apalachicola, Franklin County

THE OWL CAFE

15 AVE D, Apalachicola, FL 32320

FoodSeating
Latest violations
6
1 High Priority
Feb 19, 2026
City
Apalachicola
County
Franklin
Status
Ownership Changed
Inspections
15

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.

Feb 19, 2026

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 1Intermediate: 1Basic: 4Total: 6

12A-25-4

Detail 24382237

High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands.

22-02-4

Detail 24382238

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.cutting board cook line. Repeat Violation

16-23-4

Detail 24382236

Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine.

24-07-4

Detail 24382235

Basic - Cleaned and sanitized equipment or utensils not properly stored. Knife stored between reach in cooler and the wall in the salad. Employee removed the knife. Corrected On-Site

06-09-1

Detail 24382240

Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Gator. Cook took the gator out of the bag. Corrected On-Site

33-19-4

Detail 24382239

Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around back the area.

Dec 3, 2025

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 3Basic: 4Total: 7

22-02-4

Detail 24222942

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on the cook line.

31A-11-4

Detail 24222938

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Dipping scoop in the employee hand sink in the salad area.

41-17-4

Detail 24222941

Intermediate - Soap bottle containing toxic substance not labeled in the bar area.

22-08-4

Detail 24222940

Basic - All Interior of ovens has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.

14-01-5

Detail 24222943

Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Serving cup inside the container of walnuts.

29-11-4

Detail 24222939

Basic - Water leaking from faucet/handle in the bar area.

02D-01-5

Detail 24222937

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bakery area.

Aug 13, 2025

Routine - Food

Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Feb 17, 2025

Routine - Food

Call Back - Extension given, pending

Intermediate: 1Total: 1

31A-04-4

Detail 23561557

Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. On the cook line. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-17: Observed hand sink on the cook line hasn't been reinstalled. Time Extended

Jan 13, 2025

Routine - Food

Warning Issued

Intermediate: 2Basic: 5Total: 7

11-27-4

Detail 23470284

Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.

31A-04-4

Detail 23470281

Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. On the cook line. Warning

51-11-4

Detail 23470282

Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured,by the office. Repeat Violation

36-32-5

Detail 23470285

Basic - Ceiling/ hole above the drink station upstairs. Warning

24-14-4

Detail 23470283

Basic - Clean utensils knifes stored between prep table and reach in cooler on the cook line.

36-24-5

Detail 23470280

Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall going upstairs by the handrails and stairs. Warning

10-20-4

Detail 23470286

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses, on the oven doors.

Aug 15, 2024

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 3Basic: 8Total: 11

22-02-4

Detail 23068137

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board ,cook line.

53B-13-5

Detail 23068130

Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.

43-08-4

Detail 23068127

Intermediate - Unnecessary persons in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing area. Observed a person from the fish company across the street came in the kitchen to pickup food he ordered.

51-11-4

Detail 23068132

Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured, in bar area.

32-12-5

Detail 23068134

Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in employee bathroom.

14-11-5

Detail 23068135

Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed heat element around the walk in cooler door in disrepair, with ice buildup.

08B-38-4

Detail 23068133

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed a bag of potatoes on the stockroom floor and a box onion rings on walk in freezer floor. Repeat Violation

22-08-4

Detail 23068131

Basic - Interior of ovens has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris, both cook line and back prep area.

31B-04-4

Detail 23068128

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Bar area.

23-03-4

Detail 23068129

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood system. Observed fan guard inside walk in cooler has build up.

02D-01-5

Detail 23068136

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar container in the stockroom not labeled.

Aug 15, 2024

Routine - Food

Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Mar 28, 2024

Routine - Food

Warning Issued

Intermediate: 6Basic: 6Total: 12

01C-03-4

Detail 22758463

Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.

31A-11-4

Detail 22758462

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed scoop inside employee sink in the prep area.

31A-01-4

Detail 22758470

Intermediate - No handwash sink located in vending machine area where employees service bulk food machines.

31B-02-4

Detail 22758461

Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink in the bar area. Employee placed paper towel at the hand sink. Corrected On-Site

51-16-7

Detail 22758464

Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Observed kitchen has been remodeled by installing a new hood system next to the old hood system and added new reach in coolers and freezer and new prep area and new cooking equipment on the cook line and new walk in cooler next to the old walk in cooler. Warning

02A-01-4

Detail 22758467

Intermediate - Raw or undercooked oysters offered and establishment has no consumer advisory sign provided on wall, menu, placard, table tent or by any other written means. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Email a copy of the oyster advisory.manager printed and posted in the establishment. Corrective Action Taken

35B-01-4

Detail 22758468

Basic - Back Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed the back door bottom corner rusted out,seeing outside.

24-26-4

Detail 22758469

Basic - Clean equipment/utensils not stored at least 6 inches above the floor. Observed a clean pot setting on the stockroom floor.

14-11-5

Detail 22758471

Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed the heating element around the walk in freezer door in disrepair with ice buildup.

08B-38-4

Detail 22758466

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed a bag of panko setting on the stockroom floor. 'Employee removed item off the floor and stored item correctly. Corrected On-Site

10-20-4

Detail 22758472

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Cook line. Cook removed the tongs from the oven door. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

31B-04-4

Detail 22758465

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees in the bar area.

Nov 3, 2023

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 3Basic: 3Total: 6

01C-02-4

Detail 22421489

Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days.

22-02-4

Detail 22421488

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on the cook line.

41-17-4

Detail 22421487

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled on the cook line.

36-08-4

Detail 22421490

Basic - Floor and wall junctures not coved in food area next to salad station.

10-20-4

Detail 22421485

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses on the oven doors.

22-08-4

Detail 22421486

Basic - Interior of oven has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.

Jun 22, 2023

Complaint Partial

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Jan 25, 2023

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 2Basic: 2Total: 4

11-27-4

Detail 21725403

Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.

22-02-4

Detail 21725400

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board cook line and can opener blade back prep area.

36-36-4

Detail 21725401

Basic - Ceiling tile missing,above dish machine.

22-16-4

Detail 21725402

Basic - Upstairs Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.

Jan 25, 2023

Routine - Food

Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Sep 21, 2022

Routine - Food

Warning Issued

High Priority: 2Intermediate: 5Basic: 4Total: 11

12A-17-4

Detail 21373317

High Priority - Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands. Observed employee washing his hands for 5 second.

01B-14-4

Detail 21373315

High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. Walk in cooler.

22-02-4

Detail 21373313

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with mold-like substance cutting board. Repeat Violation

53A-01-7

Detail 21373318

Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Warning

53B-01-5

Detail 21373314

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. Warning

31B-03-4

Detail 21373312

Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Bar area.

41-17-4

Detail 21373316

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Bar area. Repeat Violation

10-20-4

Detail 21373321

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Oven doors.

38-01-4

Detail 21373311

Basic - Light in disrepair,cook line.

38-12-4

Detail 21373319

Basic - Light shield for lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing end caps. Cook line.

31B-04-4

Detail 21373320

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Bar area. Repeat Violation

Jun 21, 2022

Complaint Full

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 2Basic: 4Total: 6

41-17-4

Detail 21148113

Intermediate - bottle containing toxic substance not labeled, three compartment sink in the tap room.

22-02-4

Detail 21148111

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board cook line.

14-11-4

Detail 21148112

Basic - Equipment in poor repair reach in cooler gaskets on the cook line.

22-08-4

Detail 21148110

Basic - Interior of oven has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris,back Bakery area.

31B-04-4

Detail 21148109

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Tap room.

29-49-6

Detail 21148108

Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Cook line.

May 31, 2022

Food-Licensing Inspection

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 2Basic: 7Total: 9

22-02-4

Detail 21114528

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board l

31A-11-4

Detail 21114521

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed dawn dish soap and scrub pad inside the employee hand sink in the bakery area. Observed food inside employee hand sink up in the waitress station.

24-08-4

Detail 21114526

Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Stacking food Containers not properly air dried.

08B-38-4

Detail 21114524

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cooking oil on the back floor in storage area by walk in cooler.

36-24-5

Detail 21114523

Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall,coming upstairs to the main dining area.

31B-04-4

Detail 21114527

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Bakery area.

23-03-4

Detail 21114520

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with dust. Walk in cooler fan guard.

25-05-4

Detail 21114522

Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed foam lids on the stockroom floor.

02D-01-5

Detail 21114525

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour container not labeled.