TEQUILA'S MEXICAN BAR AND GRILLE
13731 S TAMIAMI TRAIL
Overall Food Safety Rating
★½☆☆☆ (1.9/5)
Based on 6 health inspection reports
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All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 1/14/2025
High Priority
1
Intermediate
4
Basic
6
Total
11
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 14-01-5:Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed plastic container with no handle in the sugar. Operator removed container. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 32-12-5:Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed no covered trash receptacle in women's restroom. Warning
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting of metal and plastic pans/containers. Operator educated employees on proper storage. Warning
- 14-11-5:Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed ice machine in disrepair. When lid is lifted top section lifts off from bottom ice bin, creating an area not properly sealed or protected from contamination from outside sources. Warning
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed buckets of food stored on floor in walk in freezer. Operator moved for proper storage. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 08B-17-4:Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Observed unwashed produce stored above washed, cut and portioned produce. Operator moved for proper storage. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 01D-01-5:High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Observed white fish served in ceviche with no parasite destruction available. Observed parasite destruction letter received before end of inspection. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed two hand wash sinks at bar furthest of kitchen area blocked with containers in them. Operator working on moving items to allow access to hand wash sinks. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 02B-01-5:Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Observed ceviche not marked with consumer advisory indicating a raw product. Warning
- 31B-02-4:Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed hand wash sink furthest from kitchen with no paper towel or soap. Operator provided paper towel or soap. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 02C-08-5:Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Observed sauces containing cooked peppers pulled from freezer and not properly date marked to indicate the remaining time available. Operator provided proper dates. Corrected On-Site Warning
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/14/2025 revealed 11 total violations (1 high priority, 4 intermediate, 6 basic).
Inspection on 9/13/2024
High Priority
1
Intermediate
2
Basic
2
Total
5
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 36-50-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Heat lamp top attached to pass through window soiled with dust accumulation. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: **Time Extended**
- 22-16-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: **Time Extended**
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In front line ice bath housemade tomato salsa (52F - Cold Holding) for 1 hour 30 minutes per operator. Operator time marked salsa for 4 hour discard; provided operator with time as a public health control form via email. **corrective action taken** Also Tall white reach-in cooler cook line right:; cooked corn (45F - Cold Holding); cooked tripe soup (45F - Cold Holding); cooked tripe menudo (45F - Cold Holding) for 3 hours per operator. Operator iced down foods and moved to walk-in cooler for rapid cooling. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: In front line ice bath housemade tomato salsa (59F - Cold Holding) for 3 hour 45 minutes per operator, second housemade tomato salsa at 46F for 30 minutes per operator. Resent and explained time as a public health control form with operator. Tall white reach-in cooler cook line right has been removed and is no longer in use. Admin Complaint
- 31B-02-4:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink at entrance to bar. Operator placed towels at sink. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: No paper towels at bar sink. **Time Extended**
- 31B-03-4:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink at entrance to bar. Operator placed soap at sink. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: Soap dispenser at bar sink not dispensing soap. **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 9/13/2024 revealed 5 total violations (1 high priority, 2 intermediate, 2 basic).
Inspection on 9/12/2024
High Priority
4
Intermediate
2
Basic
4
Total
10
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 33-29-4:Basic - Grease receptacle lid open. Warning
- 05-09-4:Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Walk-in cooler exterior ambient thermometer broken, not showing a reading. Warning
- 36-50-4:Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Heat lamp top attached to pass through window soiled with dust accumulation. Warning
- 22-16-4:Basic - Walk-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Warning
- 22-41-4: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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm) in bar after running and priming three times. Also Dishwasher (0ppm chlorine) in main kitchen after running three times. Operator set up manual sanitation in 3 compartment sink, 50ppm chlorine. Operator instructed staff to discontinue using machines. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 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. Observed employee coming in from back door to kitchen with gloves still on, begin to work with food no glove change or handwash. Spoke with employee, employee removed gloves and properly washed hands before resuming work. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 08A-20-5:High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk-in cooler, raw chicken over raw shrimp. Operator rearranged items for proper food storage. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In front line ice bath housemade tomato salsa (52F - Cold Holding) for 1 hour 30 minutes per operator. Operator time marked salsa for 4 hour discard; provided operator with time as a public health control form via email. **corrective action taken** Also Tall white reach-in cooler cook line right:; cooked corn (45F - Cold Holding); cooked tripe soup (45F - Cold Holding); cooked tripe menudo (45F - Cold Holding) for 3 hours per operator. Operator iced down foods and moved to walk-in cooler for rapid cooling. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 31B-02-4:Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink at entrance to bar. Operator placed towels at sink. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Warning
- 31B-03-4:Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink at entrance to bar. Operator placed soap at sink. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Warning
Food safety inspection conducted on 9/12/2024 revealed 10 total violations (4 high priority, 2 intermediate, 4 basic).
Inspection on 4/16/2024
High Priority
1
Intermediate
1
Basic
3
Total
5
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 22-20-5:Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Outside back entrance to kitchen.
- 40-06-5:Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone on cutting board, prep line. Operator removed the phone. Repeat Violation
- 36-50-4:Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Hood over cook line and removable vents soiled with accumulation of grease.
- 08A-17-6:High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken over raw beef, raw beef over ready-to-eat sauces. Operator rearranged freezer for proper food protection. Corrected On-Site
- 31B-03-4:Intermediate - No soap, paper towels provided at handwash sink at entrance to bar. Operator placed both at sink. Corrected On-Site
Food safety inspection conducted on 4/16/2024 revealed 5 total violations (1 high priority, 1 intermediate, 3 basic).
Inspection on 2/8/2024
High Priority
0
Intermediate
2
Basic
0
Total
2
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 53A-05-6:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Five (5) cooks and five (5) servers working and no certified food manager is present. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-08: **Time Extended**
- 02C-08-5:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Soups and sauces, prepared on site and frozen, not date marked with date thawed. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the operator. Repeat from 04-03-2023 Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-08: Thawed foods still need labels. **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 2/8/2024 revealed 2 total violations (0 high priority, 2 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 2/1/2024
High Priority
2
Intermediate
4
Basic
6
Total
12
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 14-01-5:Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Cup used as scoop in sugar bin. Operator removed. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 21-05-5:Basic - Cloth used as a food-contact surface. Wiping cloth used in direct contact with cilantro. Operator removed cloths. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 12B-07-4:Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Partial bottle of water on back prep table. Operator removed. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 40-06-5:Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phones on back prep table with prepared food. Operator removed phones. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 31B-04-4:Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Not present at hand sink next to refrigerator at cooks line. Operator provided signage Corrected On-Site Warning
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of Mexican Cumin in prep area not labeled. Warning
- 22-49-4:High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. High temp dishwasher machine Dishwasher (Temperature 146.7) after three attempts at the surface of the place. Operator set up three compartment sink for sanitizing. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 41-10-4:High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Cleaning chemicals stored on top of dish machine. Operator removed. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 53A-05-6:Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Five (5) cooks and five (5) servers working and no certified food manager is present. 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. DBPR Form HR 5030-103 was provided to operator. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 02C-08-5:Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Soups and sauces, prepared on site and frozen, not date marked with date thawed. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the operator. Repeat from 04-03-2023 Warning
- 41-17-4:Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. On top of dish machine. Warning
Food safety inspection conducted on 2/1/2024 revealed 12 total violations (2 high priority, 4 intermediate, 6 basic).