Key West, Monroe County

PIRATES COVE

617 FRONT ST, Key West, FL 33040

FoodSeating
Latest violations
9
3 High Priority
Jan 12, 2026
City
Key West
County
Monroe
Status
Current / Active
Inspections
8

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.

Jan 12, 2026

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 3Intermediate: 1Basic: 5Total: 9

09-01-4

Detail 24293537

High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed the bar tender cutting oranges not wearing gloves. The owner had the bartender wash his hands and put on gloves and wash the cut oranges. Corrected On-Site

08A-04-5

Detail 24293540

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw salmon over fruit in the reach in cooler.

03A-02-5

Detail 24293541

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed butter packs (56F - Cold Holding) in the front counter wait station. As per the owner they were put there approximately two hours ago. The owner moved them to a different cooler.

16-37-1

Detail 24293544

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

06-09-1

Detail 24293542

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. Observed tuna (36F - Cold Holding) still in the vacuum. The owner put them back in the freezer. Corrective Action Taken

08B-38-4

Detail 24293538

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed a large plastic container with cooking oil on the floor by the back door.

14-69-4

Detail 24293539

Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer. Observed in the glass door freezer. Repeat Violation

10-07-4

Detail 24293543

Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed two utensils in water with a temperature or 79°F. The owner turned on the stove to heat it up. Corrective Action Taken

23-03-4

Detail 24293545

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the reach in cooler gasket and door soiled.

Jul 29, 2025

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 1Basic: 4Total: 5

29-45-4

Detail 23912049

High Priority - Hose attached to faucet at three-compartment/food preparation/handwash sink eliminating required air gap. Observed hose at 3 compartment sink. Operator fixed the hose. Corrected On-Site

50-09-4

Detail 23912050

Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.

14-69-4

Detail 23912052

Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in side of sliding door freezer. Repeat Violation

10-20-4

Detail 23912051

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tongs stored on oven door handle in kitchen. Operator removed tongs. Corrected On-Site

31B-04-4

Detail 23912048

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed hand wash sink missing sign near pizza oven.

Feb 26, 2025

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 1Basic: 2Total: 3

22-02-4

Detail 23590386

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled. Employee clean it. Corrected On-Site

14-69-4

Detail 23590385

Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup inside reach in freezer.

21-04-4

Detail 23590384

Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Employee removed it. Corrected On-Site

Apr 16, 2024

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 1Intermediate: 2Basic: 1Total: 4

50-17-3

Detail 22804859

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Operator made payment at the time of the inspection.. Corrected On-Site Admin Complaint

22-02-4

Detail 22804861

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

27-16-5

Detail 22804860

Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. By coffee station.

24-06-4

Detail 22804862

Basic - Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty drawer or rack. Observed knives stored on soiled rack at cook line.

Apr 16, 2024

Routine - Food

Call Back - Complied

No violations recorded for this inspection.

Apr 25, 2023

Routine - Food

Call Back - Extension given, pending

Intermediate: 1Basic: 1Total: 2

53A-03-7

Detail 21957230

Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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/ - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-25: 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/ Time Extended

14-69-4

Detail 21957229

Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezers. Kitchen and front counter. - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-25: No ice buildup in reach-in freezers. Kitchen and front counter. Time Extended

Feb 21, 2023

Routine - Food

Warning Issued

Intermediate: 3Basic: 3Total: 6

53A-03-7

Detail 21797792

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/

31B-06-4

Detail 21797788

Intermediate - Soap dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense soap. By the lager oven. Operator placed soap at the hand washing sink.

27-16-4

Detail 21797791

Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. By the large oven

14-69-4

Detail 21797789

Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezers. Kitchen and front counter.

10-20-4

Detail 21797793

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed two pair of tongs hanging on the oven door. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

25-06-4

Detail 21797790

Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Expo area: forks not inverted. Corrected On-Site

Apr 26, 2022

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 3Basic: 5Total: 8

22-02-4

Detail 21042903

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food debris throughout kitchen can opener.

16-37-1

Detail 21042900

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

05-10-4

Detail 21042904

Intermediate - Probe thermometer not used to ensure proper food temperatures.

24-05-4

Detail 21042902

Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner.

10-20-4

Detail 21042906

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

31B-04-4

Detail 21042905

Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Kitchen hand washing sink.

21-10-4

Detail 21042899

Basic - Soiled dry wiping cloth in use.

42-01-4

Detail 21042901

Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.