DirtyFLRestaurant Inspection Data

MEKENITA CANTINA

MEKENITA CANTINA maintains a 2.7/5 food safety rating based on 6 health department inspections in TAMPA. Recent inspections indicate some food safety concerns.

6707 North Florida Avenue
Tampa, Florida, 33604
Hillsborough County County

Overall Food Safety Rating

★★½☆☆ (2.7/5)
Based on 6 health inspection reports

All Inspection Reports

Inspection Date: 8/18/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10896679

  • 36-34-5:Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling vents through kitchen area soiled with dust. Repeat Violation
  • 40-06-5:Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on prep table next to tea dispenser. Purse on rack with dry good items.
  • 13-04-4:Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation.
  • 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans above prep table near back door wet-nesting. Discussed with employee
  • 36-11-4:Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Floors on cook line uneven.
  • 35B-02-4:Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Bug zapper on reach in freezer, employee moved to bottom of prep sink. Corrected On-Site
  • 33-11-4:Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. Shared dumpster
  • 14-47-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact equipment exposed to splash/spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Exterior of ice machine rusted underneath lid.
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with debris. Repeat Violation
  • 25-06-4:Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Aluminum pans in office not inverted.
  • 21-08-4:Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer Bucket tested at 0ppm, employee remade solution, 2nd test at 200ppm. Corrected On-Site
  • 02C-01-5:High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Horchata in walk in cooler dated 8-7, made more than 7 days, employee discarded. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 01B-13-4:High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Horchata stored walk in cooler made 08-07-2025, more than 7 days.
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Corn above fill line 56F, bottom 43F. Employee adding more ice to cool down, 2nd temp 43F Corrected On-Site
  • 16-37-1:Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Operator missing test strips for Quat, has chlorine test strips to use chlorine for sanitizer buckets.
  • 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. Pudding frozen 6-30, thawed and stored in walk in cooler with no date tracking
  • 53B-14-5:Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 1 expired employee training

Inspection Date: 1/28/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8874698

  • 36-34-5:Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, and dust.
  • 14-09-4:Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with dust and grease Repeat Violation

Inspection Date: 10/28/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8874584

  • 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 2024-10-28: **Time Extended**
  • 36-24-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Wall soiled with accumulated black debris in dishwashing area. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-28: **Time Extended**
  • 23-03-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with dust and grease Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-28: **Time Extended**
  • 16-37-1:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-28: **Time Extended**

Inspection Date: 8/28/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8725984

  • 14-09-4:Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation Warning
  • 12B-07-4:Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Warning
  • 36-24-5:Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Wall soiled with accumulated black debris in dishwashing area. Warning
  • 10-20-4:Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. On stove Warning
  • 51-13-4:Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Warning
  • 31B-04-4:Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. In restrooms used by employees Warning
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with dust and grease Repeat Violation Warning
  • 16-46-4:Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Plastic containers on top shelf by back door Warning
  • 53A-01-7:Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Mike Bianca Person In Charge Warning
  • 16-37-1:Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Warning
  • 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. Warning

Inspection Date: 2/20/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8540881

  • 14-09-4:Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation
  • 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 hats stored on food rack Corrected On-Site
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with dust and grease Repeat Violation
  • 50-17-3:High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
  • 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice machine (large)

Inspection Date: 10/31/2023

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8347578

  • 14-09-4:Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Repeat Violation
  • 36-24-5:Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Wall soiled with accumulated black debris in dishwashing area
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with dust and grease Repeat Violation
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Shrimp 48 F operation placing in ice to cool down. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 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. Corrected On-Site