Lakeland, Polk County

DENA'S PLACE DINER

4525 S FLORIDA AVE STE 28, Lakeland, FL 33813

FoodSeating
Latest violations
7
3 High Priority
Feb 12, 2026
City
Lakeland
County
Polk
Status
Current / Active
Inspections
11

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 12, 2026

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 3Intermediate: 2Basic: 2Total: 7

03D-02-5

Detail 24367085

High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Noodles 50F inside the victory side by side reach in cooler in the dry storage area.

50-17-3

Detail 24367089

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. February 1,2026.

01B-02-5

Detail 24367087

High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Noodles 50 F.

31A-11-4

Detail 24367084

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. A container with strawberries stored in the hand washing sink in the dishwasher area. The containers was removed. Corrected On-Site

16-37-1

Detail 24367086

Intermediate - chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine chemical test strips expired 2/2022.

14-05-4

Detail 24367083

Basic - Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. Cardboard lining the shelves in the upright white freezer inside the dry storage area.

08B-38-4

Detail 24367088

Basic - Food stored on floor. A case of liquid margarine. Dry storage area. Canned vegetables, coffee

Nov 6, 2025

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Basic: 6Total: 6

08B-38-4

Detail 24175056

Basic - Food stored on floor. Beverage syrups under the dry storage shelf.

51-18-6

Detail 24175055

Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.

23-03-4

Detail 24175054

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on the flip top reach in cooler across the cook line.

22-16-4

Detail 24175051

Basic - Reach-in cooler interior have accumulation of soil residues. White upright freezer in the dry storage area.

14-33-4

Detail 24175052

Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. In the Victory 2 door cooler in the dry storage area.

25-05-4

Detail 24175053

Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. A case of white 16 oz. foam cup. Wrapped cutlery sets. Dry storage Product was removed off the floor..

Mar 5, 2025

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

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

03A-02-5

Detail 23605824

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sausage 46F in the top section of the flip top reach in cooler. Ice was put on the product. Corrective Action Taken

11-27-4

Detail 23605821

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.

32-02-4

Detail 23605822

Basic - Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Both men and women. Doors are not self closing.

51-11-4

Detail 23605820

Basic - Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured. Front counter near the beverage station.

10-20-4

Detail 23605823

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

Nov 15, 2024

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 1Basic: 3Total: 4

11-27-4

Detail 23358466

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. Provided a copy to the email provided. Corrective Action Taken

32-02-4

Detail 23358463

Basic - Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Operator closed the door. Corrected On-Site

51-11-4

Detail 23358464

Basic - Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured. Next to beverage station at the front counter.

08B-38-4

Detail 23358465

Basic - Food stored on floor. Cans of green beans and beverage syrups under the dry storage shelf in the hallway.

Jan 12, 2024

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

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

12A-25-4

Detail 22560431

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. Employee touched her face and then engaged in food preparation without changing her gloves. I had the employee to remove the gloves and wash her hands. Corrective Action Taken

11-27-4

Detail 22560433

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. Provided a copy by email. Corrected On-Site

08B-38-4

Detail 22560432

Basic - Food stored on floor. Onions, can vegetables, ketchup etc. in the dry storage area.

25-05-4

Detail 22560430

Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. 20 oz foam cups in the dry storage area.

Jul 14, 2023

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Intermediate: 2Basic: 3Total: 5

11-27-4

Detail 22122203

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. Emailed copy to manager Corrective Action Taken

11-26-1

Detail 22122205

Intermediate - 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. Manager had employees start signing acknowledgment. Corrective Action Taken

51-11-4

Detail 22122206

Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. In server area

14-11-5

Detail 22122207

Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed missing fan guard in reach in freezer

32-02-4

Detail 22122204

Basic - Women's Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. No self closer installed

Sep 22, 2022

Complaint Full

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

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

08A-05-6

Detail 21376306

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Container of raw chicken stored over rte sausage in cooler. Manager moved to bottom shelf Corrected On-Site

41-04-4

Detail 21376305

Intermediate - Toxic substance/chemical on premise that is not required for the operation of establishment. Observed packs of cigarettes on cook line. Manager removed Corrected On-Site

21-03-4

Detail 21376303

Basic - Wet wiping cloths stored in detergent and sanitizer mixed together. Manager remade separate buckets Corrected On-Site

21-07-4

Detail 21376304

Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Tested at 0ppm. Manager remade bucket and tested at 50ppm Corrected On-Site

Aug 18, 2022

Routine - Food

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

High Priority: 3Total: 3

12A-27-4

Detail 21284204

High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee crack shelled eggs then continued cooking then handles sliced tomatoes with same gloves. Spoke with manager and discussed proper hand washing techniques.

03A-02-5

Detail 21284205

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line: flats of shelled eggs (65F - Cold Holding) sitting out on cook line. Manager took out of cooler at 8:30am. Manager filled out time as a public health control and time marked product Make line: diced cooked ham (44F - Cold Holding); shredded cheddar (44F - Cold Holding); diced tomatoes (44F - Cold Holding). Manager iced down product, all retemped at 41f 30 minutes later Corrected On-Site

03B-01-6

Detail 21284206

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Prep area: cooked potatoes (122F - Hot Holding) made at 8:30am. Current time taken 8:50am. Manager filled out time as a public health control paperwork and time marked product. Corrected On-Site

Mar 15, 2022

Routine - Food

Call Back - Complied

Basic: 1Total: 1

29-11-4

Detail 20929815

Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Under dish scraping area at dish machine Warning - From follow-up inspection 2022-03-15: Time Extended

Mar 14, 2022

Routine - Food

Warning Issued

High Priority: 4Basic: 2Total: 6

22-41-4

Detail 20925978

High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Tested at 0ppm Warning

22-43-4

Detail 20925977

High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 25ppm. Manager remade and tested at 200ppm Warning

03A-02-5

Detail 20925980

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line cooler: cooked sausage (48F - Cold Holding); corned beef hash (48F - Cold Holding) Coom line: shelled eggs (59F - Cold Holding); egg wash (59F - Cold Holding); cooked potatoes (69F - Cold Holding). Prep area- container of Poultry (46F - Cold Holding) Warning

41-10-4

Detail 20925976

High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed container of chewing tobacco on cook lune. Manager removed Corrected On-Site Warning

08B-38-4

Detail 20925981

Basic - Food stored on floor. Case of shelled eggs on floor on cook line. Manager removed Warning

29-11-4

Detail 20925979

Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Under dish scraping area at dish machine Warning

Aug 4, 2021

Food-Licensing Inspection

Inspection Completed - No Further Action

No violations recorded for this inspection.