DirtyFLRestaurant Inspection Data

CORTESSE'S BISTRO

172 San Marco Avenue
Saint Augustine, Florida, 32084
Saint Johns County County

Overall Food Safety Rating

★★½☆☆ (2.7/5)
Based on 7 health inspection reports

All Inspection Reports

Inspection Date: 5/27/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10719247

  • 06-09-1:Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed six bags of reduced oxygen packaged fish completely thawed while not being removed from its reduced oxygen environment. See stop sale.
  • 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed case of fish on floor in walk-in freezer. Person in charge placed fish on shelf. Corrected On-Site
  • 10-07-4:Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed grill and cooking utensils sitting in 84F water. Person in charge placed on grill and slowly reheated water to 135F Corrected On-Site
  • 24-17-4:Basic - Silverware/utensils/dishes dried with a towel/cloth. Observed dish employee drying dishes with towels.
  • 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 cooked pasta from previous day (55F - Cooling) 1640 see stop sale.
  • 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. Observed cooked pasta from previous day (55F - Cooling) 1640
  • 35A-02-7:High Priority - Live, small flying insects found Observed one live flying insect in kitchen near soup. Observed one live flying insect at bar near ice bin. Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 01B-14-4:High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. Observed one cracked raw shell egg in walk-in cooler.
  • 01B-13-4:High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed six bags of reduced oxygen packaged fish completely thawed while not being removed from its reduced oxygen environment.
  • 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed butter kept on time control being placed into a new pan and placed back on ice. Discussed with person in charge.
  • 03F-04-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control not discarded at the end of the 4-hour/6-hour period. See stop sale. Observed butter kept on time control being placed into a new pan and placed back on ice. Discussed with person in charge. See stop sale.
  • 29-34-4:High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed green hose by back door at bar missing vacuum breaker.
  • 02C-03-5: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. Observed milk opened on Sunday per person in charge missing date mark. Person in charge added date mark. Corrected On-Site
  • 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting board in flip-top cooler stained with black marks.
  • 31A-11-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed large quantities of ice dumped in hand washing station by dish washer.

Inspection Date: 11/20/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10719015

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed

Inspection Date: 11/13/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8740192

  • 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 employee phone and speaker on top of dishes on cook line. Person in charge removed personal items from cook line.
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on some reach in coolers soiled with food debris.
  • 29-11-4:Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Observed faucet used to fill steamer table leaking.
  • 35A-02-6:High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two live flying insects at bar. Person in charge started killing flying insects. **Corrective Action Taken** Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 14-15-4:High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed Homer bucket used to store soups in walk-in cooler. Person in charge removed Homer bucket from walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand washing station by ice machine near bar blocked by out of order sign. Person in charge is unaware why hand washing station is out of order. Person in charge will speak to operator and plan to fix Repeat Violation Warning
  • 31B-02-4:Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed paper towels missing from hand washing station at bar near ice machine.

Inspection Date: 4/16/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8653746

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed

Inspection Date: 4/15/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8361657

  • 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed food pans stacked in storage with visible moisture. Repeat Violation
  • 36-73-4:Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed food debris on kitchen floors under equipment.
  • 10-07-4:Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooking utensils stored in 76F water on floor. Person in charge placed utensils in ware washing. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed multiple gaskets on small reach in coolers in kitchen soiled with food debris. Corrected On-Site
  • 35A-02-6:High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two live flying insects in dry storage near bags of onions. Discussed with person in charge.
  • 14-15-4:High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed orange Home Depot Homer bucket used to store elbow macaroni soup.
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed frozen individually wrapped fish stored above frozen cakes in walk-in freezer. Not all originally packaged. Observed raw veal stored above ready to eat milk in glass door reach in cooler. Person in charge moved raw veal to another cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 01B-13-4:High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed sheet pan in glass door reach in cooler of oysters. Person in charge could not find any oyster tags.
  • 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed mushroom soup (112F - Hot Holding); chicken stock (120F - Hot Holding); escargot sauce (97F - Hot Holding); elbow macaroni in bucket (120F - Hot Holding); house made red sauce (89F - Hot Holding); gravy (92F - Hot Holding) Warning
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed house made sauces (gravy, cream) x 4 (52-54F - Cold Holding) left on speed rack from walk-in cooler 30 mins prior to inspection per person in charge. Person in charge placed in cooler to cool. **Corrective Action Taken** Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 03F-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. Observed garlic butter missing time mark. Butter put since 1500 per person in charge.
  • 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 mushroom soup (112F - Hot Holding); chicken stock (120F - Hot Holding); escargot sauce (97F - Hot Holding); elbow macaroni in bucket (120F - Hot Holding); house made red sauce (89F - Hot Holding); gravy (92F - Hot Holding) Products have been left out since 1200 in various places in kitchen per person in charge. Warning
  • 01C-02-4:Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. Observed no oyster tags for last 90 days for establishment. Repeat Violation
  • 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand washing station in dry storage kitchen blocked by trash can and vacuum cleaner. Observed hand washing station in kitchen blocked by cart. Person in charge moved cart.
  • 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/ Observed seven food employees in establishment without food manager present.
  • 01C-01-4:Intermediate - No tag on/for original container of raw, in-shell clams/mussels/oysters. See stop sale. Observed sheet pan in glass door reach in cooler of oysters. Person in charge could not find any oyster tags.

Inspection Date: 9/20/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8493561

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed

Inspection Date: 9/6/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8491367

  • 22-20-5:Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.Observed interior deflector plate in ice machine soiled with white/black/green mold like substance
  • 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed food pans stacked on drying rack with visible moisture. Discussed with person in charge.
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed multiple reach in cooler and walk-in cooler gaskets soiled with black/green mold like substance.
  • 16-46-4:Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Observed old labels stuck to food pans on drying rack. Discussed with person in charge.
  • 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. Observed dish machine being used at 0ppm chlorine. Person in charge set up triple sink at 200ppm **Corrective Action Taken** Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 22-45-4:High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed rack of dishes in dish machine while dish machine is 0ppm chlorine. Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed mashed potatoes (78F - Cold Holding) left on prep table since 1330 person in charge. Person in charge placed in walk-in cooler to cool. **Corrective Action Taken** Admin Complaint
  • 01C-02-4:Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. No tags from oysters served in prior month. Per person in charge.