DirtyFLRestaurant Inspection Data

LA PITAYA

With 8 documented inspections, LA PITAYA in LAKE WORTH has achieved a 2.1/5 food safety rating. Recent inspections indicate some food safety concerns.

400 S DIXIE HWY #16

Overall Food Safety Rating

★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5)
Based on 8 health inspection reports

All Inspection Reports

Inspection Date: 8/19/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10926270

  • 06-01-5:Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. In kitchen at three compartment sink, raw chicken thawing in standing water. Operator turned on faucet to run water,
  • 09-01-4: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. In kitchen, employee was touching ready to eat tortillas on flat top grill and putting them in to go containers. Discussed with operator to inform employee of not touching ready to eat foods with bare hands and to use gloves or utensils. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 08A-02-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in white chest freezer in storage area, raw chicken stored on top of frozen fish. Operator moved chicken to bottom. Corrected On-Site
  • 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On steam table, shredded chicken 125°F. Operator stated held on steam table less than two hours. Instructed operator to reheat on stove. Temperature 167°F after reheat. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 02C-02-5:Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In reach in cooler at front prep area, salsa made yesterday, more than 24 hours no date marked. Operator date marked Corrected On-Site

Inspection Date: 2/20/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8893159

  • 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Raw chicken stored in thank you to go bags in reach in freezer. Explained to store in food grade bags.
  • 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. Chef and 1 food handler working more than 60 days and no food handler training certificate available upon request.
  • 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. 5 food handlers working 1 certified food manager, 2 food handlers training available. Other 2 food handlers no certificate and no employee food reporting agreement. Emailed one.

Inspection Date: 11/19/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8892789

  • 12A-16-4:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee handled bleach to make sanitizer bucket and immediately began handling tortillas and cooking equipment. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-19: Female employee cleaning dishes then wiped hands with paper towel to start working on cook line without washing hands. Admin Complaint
  • 08A-17-6:High Priority - - From initial inspection : 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 in freezer chest in prep area. Items not commercially packaged Removed Corrected On-Site Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-19: Bag of raw chicken on top ( bag in contact ) of raw fish in chest freezer in prep room. Admin Complaint

Inspection Date: 9/18/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8731595

  • 06-01-5:Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Beef in hand sink at room temperature 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. Employee handled bleach to make sanitizer bucket and immediately began handling tortillas and cooking equipment. Warning
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken over ready to eat broth for chicken soup in two door stainless steal cooler in kitchen Removed Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 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 in freezer chest in prep area. Items not commercially packaged Removed Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 31A-11-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Steak thawing in hand sink in kitchen. removed from sink Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 53B-01-5: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. Two employees on site during inspection Warning

Inspection Date: 2/20/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8441807

  • 31B-04-4:Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Both hand sinks
  • 09-01-4: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. Chef observed wrapping tortillas to go with barehands. Educated on site.
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken over cooked barbacoa two door cooler in kitchen Removed Corrected On-Site
  • 03D-15-4:Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. cooked beef (64F - Cooling) at 3:00 pm to 64F at 3:20 pm since 2:00 pm. At this rate food will not cool to 41f within 6 hours. In closed zip locked bags. Reopened **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 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/
  • 53B-05-5:Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
  • 41-17-4:Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Under prep sink in kitchen

Inspection Date: 11/28/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8497573

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed

Inspection Date: 9/12/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8441432

  • 06-01-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen fish in prep sink. Ran water. Corrected On-Site Warning - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-12: Frozen chicken and beef thawing at room temperature in area next to establishment. **Time Extended**
  • 14-15-4:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Grocery bag storing bread rolls in glass door cooler in storage room next to restaurant Warning - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-12: Grocery bag storing bread rolls in glass door cooler in storage room next to restaurant Admin Complaint
  • 51-16-7:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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 https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Unit used for storage and prep next to restaurant. no plans submitted. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-12: Spoke with plan review. Plans are Insufficient. **Time Extended**

Inspection Date: 7/11/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8352923

  • 14-69-4:Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Freezer chest in storage room next to restaurant Warning
  • 06-01-5:Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen fish in prep sink. Ran water. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 14-15-4:High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Grocery bag storing bread rolls in glass door cooler in storage room next to restaurant Warning
  • 31A-07-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink missing in warewashing or food preparation area. Storage room next to restaurant. Employee observed cutting raw meat. No hand sink. Warning
  • 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Garbage can infront of Hand sink Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 16-37-1:Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine 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 https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Unit used for storage and prep next to restaurant. no plans submitted. Warning