PESTO CAFE & GRILL
16323 Southwest 88th Street
Florida, 33176
Miami-Dade County County
Overall Food Safety Rating
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5)
Based on 5 health inspection reports
Location Map
Loading map...
Nearby Locations
All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 3/13/2025
High Priority
3
Intermediate
1
Basic
8
Total
12
Inspection Details:
- 36-34-5:Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed vent soiled with dust in walk in cooler.
- 13-07-4:Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed male employee engaged in food preparation while wearing a watch.
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed plastic cups wet nesting on shelf at kitchen entrance.
- 14-11-5:Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed lid of ice machine broken.
- 36-73-4:Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floors soiled with food debris at front counter.
- 10-20-4:Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tongs stored on oven handle at front counter.
- 21-12-4:Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed wet wiping cloths stored on preparation tables throughout establishment.
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed bottle of oil stored on stove unlabeled. Also observed sugar in plastic container unlabeled.
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw chicken stored over turkey slices in reach in cooler under stove. Coached operator on proper separation procedures.
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Pancake Mix (69F - Cold Holding) at front counter. As per chef, it had only been out of the reach in cooler for 10 minutes. Instructed chef to place mix back in reach in cooler for rapid chill.
- 29-34-4:High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed at mop sink.
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food containers of flour soiled on shelf near three compartment sink.
Food safety inspection conducted on 3/13/2025 revealed 12 total violations (3 high priority, 1 intermediate, 8 basic).
Inspection on 12/12/2024
High Priority
1
Intermediate
1
Basic
1
Total
3
Inspection Details:
- 08B-38-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed bucket of pickled stored on floor in back of kitchen. Operator moved to shelf for proper protection. Corrected On-Site Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-12-12: Observed bag of rice on floor of kitchen at time of callback inspection report. **Time Extended**
- 03B-01-6:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Jamaican patty in warmer at front counter 112F. Operator stated the pastry's were there less than 2 hours prior to inspection. Operator turned heat up in machine. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-12-12: Observed at pastry warmer Jamaican patty (108F Hot Holding) and guava pastry (120F Hot Holding). As per operator, pastry's were baked and placed into warmer an hour and a half prior to inspection. Operator turned heat up in warmer at time of callback inspection report. Admin Complaint
- 22-31-4:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Observed rust on shelves on drying rack of dishes. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-12-12: Observed rust on shelves on drying rack of dishes at time of callback inspection report. As per operator, new shelves were ordered or replace the old ones. **Time Extended** **Corrective Action Taken**
Food safety inspection conducted on 12/12/2024 revealed 3 total violations (1 high priority, 1 intermediate, 1 basic).
Inspection on 12/11/2024
High Priority
5
Intermediate
3
Basic
3
Total
11
Inspection Details:
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed bucket of pickled stored on floor in back of kitchen. Operator moved to shelf for proper protection. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 42-01-4:Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed mop stored inside bucket, not allowed to air dry. Repeat Violation Warning
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed bucket of sugar not labeled underneath prep table in back of kitchen. Warning
- 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. Observed in walk in cooler hashbrown (45-50F - Cooling). As per operator, hashbrown were heat treated and placed in walk in cooler day prior to inspection. Warning
- 22-12-5:High Priority - Metal stem-type thermometer soiled. Observed probe thermometer soiled. Warning
- 03A-03-5:High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Observed raw shell eggs with ambient temperature greater than 45F. As per operator, eggs have been on line less than 1 hour prior to inspection. Operator placed eggs in reach in cooler for rapid chill. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in walk in cooler hashbrown (45-50F - Cooling). As per operator, hashbrown were heat treated and placed in walk in cooler day prior to inspection. Warning
- 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Jamaican patty in warmer at front counter 112F. Operator stated the pastry's were there less than 2 hours prior to inspection. Operator turned heat up in machine. **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 Lox cream cheese with smoked salmon not identified on menu. Oberseved manager mark salmon on menu either asterisk to identify raw item. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 22-31-4:Intermediate - Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Observed rust on shelves on drying rack of dishes. Warning
- 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. Observed spinach pies in freezer with no label or date mark. Repeat Violation Warning
Food safety inspection conducted on 12/11/2024 revealed 11 total violations (5 high priority, 3 intermediate, 3 basic).
Inspection on 3/29/2024
High Priority
2
Intermediate
2
Basic
7
Total
11
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 40-06-5:Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed cellphone over cutting board at front counter.
- 14-11-5:Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed hot box used for empanadas in disrepair. As per operator, equipment is broken and not being used.
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in freezer gaskets soiled.
- 14-09-4:Basic - Observed cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable at front counter.
- 24-18-4:Basic - Observed silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up at warewashing area
- 42-01-4:Basic - Observed wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry near mop sink. Repeat Violation
- 36-02-5:Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Observed at walk-in freezer. Repeat Violation
- 12A-17-4:High Priority - Observed employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands at front counter hand washing sink.
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Cut lettuce (50F - Cold Holding); Cut tomatoes (50F - Cold Holding) at front counter. As per operator, less than 3 hours. Operator placed products in ice for rapid cooling. **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. Observed containers of lentils not labeled in the walk in cooler. As per employee cooked yesterday morning. Repeat Violation
- 41-17-4:Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed bottle of degreaser and chlorine not labeled located next to the 3 compartment sink. Repeat Violation
Food safety inspection conducted on 3/29/2024 revealed 11 total violations (2 high priority, 2 intermediate, 7 basic).
Inspection on 12/19/2023
High Priority
5
Intermediate
4
Basic
9
Total
18
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 10-17-4:Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Observed 5 knives in preparation table located at the front counter and 3 knives between the wall and pipe of 3 compartment sink.
- 10-20-4:Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed 2 tongs stored in oven door at the front counter. Manager removed tongs. Corrected On-Site
- 31B-04-4:Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed in men's restrooms.
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood filter soiled.
- 16-46-4:Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers, observed in walk in cooler.
- 33-16-4:Basic - Open dumpster lid.
- 36-02-5:Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Observed in walk in freezer.
- 42-01-4:Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.
- 21-12-4:Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed in preparation area at the front counter.
- 03D-01-5:High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. Observed rice(9:35) (100F - Cooling); rice (10:20) (90F - Cooling) the product decrease 10 degrees in 45 minutes. Manager moved the container with rice to walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
- 03B-15-5:High Priority - Hot time/temperature control for safety food received at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Jamaican empanadas (74F - Hot Holding), chicken empanadas (70F - hot holding) in the hot box wt the front line. As per manager was cooked 2hrs ago. Manager removed it to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken**
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef stored and raw chicken over cut ham and hashed brown located in the reach in cooler at the cook line. Manager was informed on the proper method of storing products.
- 03A-03-5:High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Observed raw shell eggs stored in the front line. Manager removed it and placed in the reach in cooler from rapid cooling.
- 41-18-4:High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Observed Triple Sink (Chlorine +200ppm). Manager corrected it and sanitizer went down to 100ppm. Corrected On-Site
- 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. Provided handout to manager.
- 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. Provided the handout to manager, and he had employees on site signed. Corrected On-Site
- 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. Observed containers with chicken soup, lentils and hash browns not labeled in the walk in cooler. As per manager cooked yesterday morning.
- 41-17-4:Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed degreaser not labeled located next to the 3 compartment sink.
Food safety inspection conducted on 12/19/2023 revealed 18 total violations (5 high priority, 4 intermediate, 9 basic).