MEZCAL CANTINA AUTHENTIC MEXICAN GRILL

High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. In the walk in cooler; refried beans (61/57F - Cold Holding); pastor (56F - Cold Holding); carnitas (58F - Cold Holding); chicken (62/59/55F - Cold Holding); queso (57F - Cold Holding) all cooked the previous day to cook overnight covered in deep metal pans. Warning

High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In the walk in cooler, plastic grocery bags used in direct contact to store raw ground sausage.

High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. In the rear storage area by the reach in freezer, ortho brand roach pesticide stored on the floor. Operator removed the pesticide. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Admin Complaint

High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In the two door reach in cooler opposite the flat top grill, raw chicken over steak. In the single door reach in cooler opposite the flat top grill, raw chicken wings stored on top shelf over raw fish. Operator relocated the products to the correct storage levels. Corrected On-Site

High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. In the walk in cooler, one broken egg at the front of the cardboard container with three in contact eggs stored in the back of the container.

High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In the walk in cooler; fish (57F - Cold Holding); sausage (54F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding) all stored in the cooler overnight. In the walk in cooler; refried beans (61/57F - Cold Holding); pastor (56F - Cold Holding); carnitas (58F - Cold Holding); chicken (62/59/55F - Cold Holding); queso (57F - Cold Holding) all cooked the previous day to cook overnight covered in deep metal pans. Warning

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In the walk in cooler; fish (57F - Cold Holding); sausage (54F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding) all stored in the cooler overnight. Warning

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Flip top reach in cooler door gaskets and reach in freezer door gaskets have mold like substance along the top and sides of the gaskets. Can opener opposite the flat top grill has old food debris build up on the blade. Repeat Violation

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in the prep area blocked by large lid in hand wash sink, employee relocated the lid from the hand wash sink. Corrected On-Site

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. Establishment has employee reporting agreements but has not had the staff acknowledged of their responsibility to report illness.

Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Hand wash sink in the dishwashing area, paper towel dispenser has paper towels visible but no paper towels able to dispense.

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of the bulk ice bin has mold like substance and rust staining on the deflector plate. Repeat Violation

Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In the bulk rice container, bowl used as a scoop. Repeat Violation

Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Reach in cooler stored under the flat top grill has accumulation of grease on the front handles of the unit.

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling vents through main kitchen area have accumulation of dust around the vents. Repeat Violation

Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. At time of inspection license currently displayed expired in 2020, license provided from office expired 2022.

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage stored on in use prep table used to cut lettuce. Repeat Violation

Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone stored on shelf over in use prep table. Employee speaker stored on bulk container of sugar. Employee phone stored on clean plate on the cook line. Operator relocated the employee phone. Corrective Action Taken

Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. In the warewashing area on the shelf next to the reach in cooler, clean metal containers stacked while wet. Repeat Violation

Basic - Food stored on floor. Bulk containers of tortilla chips stored on the floor in the waitstation area. In the walk in cooler bulk container of peeled onions stored in the floor. Repeat Violation

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. On the main cook line, tongs and a spoon stored hanging off the oven door handles. Operator relocated the utensils. Corrected On-Site

Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. On the prep table next to the hand wash sink, wet wiping cloth stored under in use cutting board. Employee removed the cloth and cutting board. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Interior of refrigerator or freezer in disrepair/has exposed insulation. Flip top reach in cooler on the main cook line has separating insulation on the top cooler door. Two door reach in cooler on the main cook line has a torn cooler door gasket.

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Multiple shelves with build up of food debris and grease residue. Bulk ice bin with missing front cover has accumulation of dust on the top of the ice bin.

Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Multiple shelves lined with ripped tin foil. Repeat Violation

Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. In the dry storage room opposite the office, multiple containers of single service carry out drink cups and lids stored in the floor.

Basic - Stored food not covered. In the reach in cooler opposite the flat top grill, uncovered containers of cooked sausage. Repeat Violation

Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. At the rear exterior door, wet mop head stored in large plastic container not hung to dry.

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk container of sugar in the dry storage area with no product labeling. Repeat Violation

High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. In the walk in cooler, containers of pork carnitas and cooked beef made the night before and stored covered in the walk in cooler; beef (81F - Cold Holding); pork carnitas (56F - Cold Holding). Operator informed staff not to sell the products per the inspector. Corrective Action Taken

High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Household ant and roach killer stored on the floor of the reach in freezer storage room.

High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In the stand up reach in cooler on the main cook line opposite the flat top grill, raw beef stored over raw chicken. In the reach in freezer in the back storage room, raw frozen beef stored over ready to eat frozen chicken. Operator relocated all products to proper storage levels. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Admin Complaint

High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In the walk in cooler, containers of pork carnitas and cooked beef made the night before and stored covered in the walk in cooler; beef (81F - Cold Holding); pork carnitas (56F - Cold Holding). Operator informed staff not to sell the products per the inspector.

Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. In the walk in cooler, open container of milk opened on three days before with no date marking. Operator placed a date label on the open container of milk. Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Standup reach in freezer in the kitchen area and reach in chest freezer behind the bar have mold like substance spots on the freezer door gaskets. Repeat Violation

Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels available at hand wash sink in between walk in cooler and server pass through area. Employee provided paper towels for the hand wash sink. Corrected On-Site

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. No proof of any employee food handler training at time of inspection. Warning

Intermediate - Original container of toxic substance or chemical does not bear the manufacturer's label. On storage shelf behind the bar area, container of bleach water stored in spray bottle with no product label. Operator labeled the chemical spray bottle. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of the bulk ice bin has mold like substance spots inside the ice bin along the walls. Repeat Violation

Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic single use portion cup in bulk container of rice on bottom shelf of prep table on the main cook line. In the walk in cooler plastic portion cup used as scoop in container of sauce. Operator removed the plastic containers from the products. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Build up of grease and food debris on the reach in cooler door handles under the flat top grill. Repeat Violation

Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Accumulation of dust on ceiling vents and surrounding tiles over the warewashing area. Repeat Violation

Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered receptacle available in the womens rest room. Repeat Violation

Basic - Dead roaches on premises. At time of inspection, two dead roaches observed in the back storage room on the ground to the side of the reach in freezer. Operator removed the dead roaches from the establishment. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Open employee beverage stored on shelf over steam table. Operator removed the employee beverage. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee personal food stored on shelf in walk in cooler over container of refried beans. Operator relocated the employee food to the bottom shelf. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf closest to the reach in freezer storage room, clean containers stacked on shelf while wet. Repeat Violation

Basic - Equipment in poor repair. On the main cook line, flip top reach in cooler opposite the flat top grill has broken flip top door with cooler insulation separated from the door. In the main kitchen the bulk ice bin has a broken front panel with exposed motor and wires. Stand up reach in cooler on main cook line opposite the fryers has a torn cooler gasket. Repeat Violation

Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Rear exterior door in kitchen area has a gap at the bottom of the door, door appears to have chipped at bottom evident by light shining through when the door is closed. Repeat Violation

Basic - Food stored on floor. At the wait station prep table, bulk container of chips stored on the floor. In the walk in cooler bulk container of salsa stored on the floor. Behind the bar area, containers of drink mixes stored on the floor. In the dry storage room, jugs of fryer oil stored on the floor. Operator relocated all food to the proper storage area. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. At prep station by the entrance to the kitchen from the dining room, knives stored on backside of prep table with blades in between wall and prep table. On main cook line, tongs stored on the oven door handles. Operator relocated all utensils to the proper storage location. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Cut avocados stored in flip top reach in cooler not washed as evident by the stickers being attached. Repeat Violation

Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Ripped foil lining shelf over prep area at entrance to kitchen from the dining room. Repeat Violation

Basic - Stored food not covered. In the reach in freezer, raw frozen pork in plastic container with no lid or cover. Operator covered the pork with plastic wrap. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation

Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. At rear exterior door by the restrooms, wet mop stored inside of mop bucket. Operator inverted the mop to allow it to dry. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk container of rice on bottom shelf of prep table on the main cook line with no product label.

High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. First aid kitchen on top of bags of tortilla. Moved by manager. Corrected On-Site Warning

High Priority - Displayed food not properly protected from contamination. Cut Lemons , limes at frontline bar not covered. Covered by manger. Corrected On-Site Warning

High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Residential style roach spray in rear by Dish machine line. Moved by manager Corrected On-Site Warning

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Container of cooked pork next to oven at 73°. Made at noon. Operator discarded item. Corrective Action Taken Warning

High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle next to cups at bar. Warning

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Prep line Hand wash sink blocked by large container. Rear Hand wash sink blocked by large boxes.

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bag of peppers stored in rear Hand wash sink. Moved by manager Corrected On-Site

Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at dispenser at Hand wash sink at rear by Dish machine.

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Multiple unlabeled chemical spray bottle in kitchen.

Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plate as scoop in cooked chicken in walk in cooler. Moved by manager Corrected On-Site

Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Soiled exterior of equipment including handles to coolers. Multiple.

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table. Moved by manager. Corrected On-Site

Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Two employees eating by Dish machine area.

Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Gap at base of rear door. (Daylight visible ).

Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Grease build up on floor under cookline equipment. Floors soiled throughout.

Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair and/or in disrepair. Multiple floor tiles broken , in disrepair in kitchen areas.

Basic - In-use utensil for non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored in a clean, protected location. Utensils at bar under soap dispenser.

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Soiled Counters and shelves at multiple areas in kitchen and bar.

Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Missing self closing mechanism on rear door.

Basic - Stored food not covered. Multiple prepped and cooked foods uncovered in walk in cooler.

Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Leak under bar Hand wash sink.