FALAFEL N CAFE
US 19 North
Clearwater, Florida, 33736
Pinellas County County
Overall Food Safety Rating
★☆☆☆☆ (1.1/5)
Based on 5 health inspection reports
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All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 4/10/2025
High Priority
2
Intermediate
1
Basic
3
Total
6
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 13-03-4:Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook had no hair restraint at time of inspection. Discussed the importance of wearing hair restraints when involved in food prep. Repeat Violation
- 36-73-4:Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors walls and ceilings cook line, dish area, storage areas.
- 33-31-5:Basic - Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Several pieces of non working equipment such as ice maker and freezers stored outside. Discussed the importance of not having broken equipment outside including the possible attraction to vermin.
- 12A-07-5:High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee slouched soiled surfaces and then used gloves to prepare food. No hand wash. Discussed proper hand washing
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw meat stored overcooked beef bread. Operator rearranged foods to gain compliance Corrected On-Site
- 53B-02-5:Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
Food safety inspection conducted on 4/10/2025 revealed 6 total violations (2 high priority, 1 intermediate, 3 basic).
Inspection on 1/23/2025
High Priority
1
Intermediate
2
Basic
6
Total
9
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 14-09-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: **Time Extended**
- 13-03-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee cutting raw beef not wearing hair restraint. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: Chef not wearing hair restraint. Chef put in a hat during inspection. **Time Extended** Corrected On-Site
- 24-08-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Glasss stacked wet Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: Wetnesting observed. Discussed with owner. **Time Extended**
- 08B-38-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food stored on floor. Onions stored on floor. Operator relocated. Corrected On-Site Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: Flour and oil on floor in kitchen. Operator corrected. **Time Extended** Corrected On-Site
- 31B-04-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No handwash sign at sink near front counter Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: Provided operator with paper handwashing sign. Sign is not hanging. **Time Extended** Corrected On-Site
- 23-03-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with food debris. Reach in cooler gaskets. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: **Time Extended**
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shrimp above shredded cheese on door of reach in freezer. Raw beef stored over jar of pickles and dough in reach in cooler. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: Raw fish above French fries in freezer. Fish not commercially packaged. Raw chicken above hamburgers. Operator relocated items. **Time Extended** Corrected On-Site
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Cutting boards on cold holding units stained. Soda nozzles soiled. Operator states the soda machine is not working at the moment. Discussed the need to keep all equipment in the restaurant clean and sanitized. Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: **Time Extended**
- 11-26-1:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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. Employee Stella has no proof of health reporting responsibilities. All other employees have proof. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-23: **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/23/2025 revealed 9 total violations (1 high priority, 2 intermediate, 6 basic).
Inspection on 11/18/2024
High Priority
2
Intermediate
5
Basic
10
Total
18
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 24-05-4:Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Multiple pots and bowls not inverted in kitchen and warewashing area. Discussed with owner. Warning
- 14-09-4:Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation Warning
- 13-03-4:Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee cutting raw beef not wearing hair restraint. Warning
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Glasss stacked wet Warning
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Onions stored on floor. Operator relocated. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 31B-04-4:Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No handwash sign at sink near front counter Warning
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with food debris. Reach in cooler gaskets. Warning
- 21-08-4:Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. 0ppm, operator refilled. 200ppm second test Corrected On-Site Warning
- 21-38-4:Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Operator placed bucket under sanitizer bucket. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Multiple squeeze bottles in kitchen not labeled Warning
- 22-43-4:High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 0ppm. Operator refilled, second test 200ppm Corrected On-Site Warning
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shrimp above shredded cheese on door of reach in freezer. Raw beef stored over jar of pickles and dough in reach in cooler. Warning
- 53A-03-7: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/ Michael Basily expired 4/22/24 Warning
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Cutting boards on cold holding units stained. Soda nozzles soiled. Operator states the soda machine is not working at the moment. Discussed the need to keep all equipment in the restaurant clean and sanitized. Repeat Violation Warning
- 51-16-7: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 http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Operator has 2 charcoal grills outdoors. He states one is broken, and the other is used to cook kofta. No walk in cooler outside. There is a broken reach in cooler but the operator states he is not going to repair cooler. Warning
- 11-26-1: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. Employee Stella has no proof of health reporting responsibilities. All other employees have proof. Warning
- 02C-04-5: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. Potato salad prepared 11/08/2024 in reach in cooler. Operator states it was placed in the freezer after it was prepared and placed back into the reach in cooler 2 days ago. Operator put correct date mark on potato salad. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 45-02-4:Portable fire extinguisher gauge in red zone. For reporting purposes only.
Food safety inspection conducted on 11/18/2024 revealed 18 total violations (2 high priority, 5 intermediate, 10 basic).
Inspection on 5/29/2024
High Priority
3
Intermediate
1
Basic
5
Total
9
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 14-09-4:Basic - Both cutting boards in reach-in coolers in cooks line has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
- 50-09-4:Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
- 35B-01-4:Basic - Exterior door has a gap on sides, top and bottom that opens to the outside.
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Soiled gaskets on reach-in cooler doors next to fat-fryer.
- 22-16-4:Basic - Reach-in cooler next to fat-fryer interior have accumulation of soil residues.
- 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Grocery bags are used to store food in upright refrigerator at front counter.
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. From reach-in coolers on cooks line near front counter at 4:15pm. Employee placed items in ice bath. Re check at 4:40pm a. hummus (53F - Cold Holding); 43f b. baba ghanouj (53F - Cold Holding); 43f c. tzatziki sauce (53F - Cold Holding); 46f d. diced tomatoes (48F - Cold Holding); 40f e. cut lettuce (51F - Cold Holding) 42f **Corrective Action Taken**
- 41-18-4:High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Three-compartment sink chlorine sanitizer exceeding 200ppm. Operator added water to sanitizer. Re checked reading 50ppm. Corrected On-Site
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Meat slicer used more than 4 hours ago is soiled with food debris.
Food safety inspection conducted on 5/29/2024 revealed 9 total violations (3 high priority, 1 intermediate, 5 basic).
Inspection on 8/21/2023
High Priority
3
Intermediate
4
Basic
8
Total
15
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 08B-42-4:Basic - Food stored outside . Boxes of produce stored in reach in cooler outside back door - operator moved food to the inside kitchen- operator to remove cooler from outside area Corrected On-Site
- 22-08-4:Basic - Interior of microwave has accumulation of grease/food debris at cook line
- 51-13-4:Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Manager printed and posted the choking poster Corrected On-Site
- 51-18-6:Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - heavily soiled gaskets on coolers in front cook line area
- 22-16-4:Basic - Reach-in coolers interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues in front cook line area Repeat Violation
- 33-31-5:Basic - Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Broken freezer and cooler in the back area of establishment Repeat Violation
- 08B-62-4:Basic - Unprotected ice machine in a customer/nonsecure area. Ice machine stored in the back area of the restaurant not locked and fence open on east side - operator locked fenced area and wired fence to pole in enclosure Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
- 03D-02-5:High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Cooked pasta covered at 64 F at 12:00 pm in reach in cooler at cook line - cooled from previous night per cook - reviewed cooling methods and procedures - person in charge discarded pasta **Corrective Action Taken**
- 01B-36-5:High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Cooked pasta covered at 64 F at 12:00 pm in reach in cooler at cook line - cooled from previous night per cook - reviewed cooling methods and procedures - person in charge discarded pasta **Corrective Action Taken**
- 12A-16-4:High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Cook entered kitchen and began removing pitas from package without washing hands first . Reviewed proper hand washing with cook - cook then washed hands properly **Corrective Action Taken**
- 11-27-4: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. - manager printed a written procedure Corrected On-Site
- 31B-02-4:Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink in front cook line area - person in charge placed towels at hand wash sink Corrected On-Site
- 11-26-1: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 printed the employee heath reporting agreement, reviewed with employees and had the employees sign the document Corrected On-Site
- 53B-13-5: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. No proof of employee training for Estella hired 2 years Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
Food safety inspection conducted on 8/21/2023 revealed 15 total violations (3 high priority, 4 intermediate, 8 basic).