DirtyFLRestaurant Inspection Data

RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE

Based on 7 health inspections, RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE in ZOLFO SPRINGS has earned a 1.8/5 food safety rating. Recent inspections show improving food safety practices.

Last inspection: 2 months ago · 7 reports on file

825 SR 66, ZOLFO SPRINGS 33890

Overall Food Safety Rating

★½☆☆☆ (1.8/5)
Based on 7 health inspection reports

All Inspection Reports

12/15/2025· 2mo ago

Visit ID: 13543377

Met Inspection Standards

2 basic

  • 14-11-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed torn gaskets in the reach in cooler in the kitchen. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-12-15: **Time Extended**
  • 35B-09-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Screen in door torn/in poor repair - vermin present. Observed back screen door is torn. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-12-15: **Time Extended**
  • 46-01-4:- From initial inspection : Marked exit/path to marked exit blocked. For reporting purposes only. Observed a table blocking the exit door in the dining room. - From follow-up inspection 2025-12-15: **Time Extended**

10/8/2025· 5mo ago

Visit ID: 10871020

Follow-up Inspection Required

2 high, 2 int, 5 basic

  • 12B-07-4:Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employees drink on the prep table in the kitchen, employee moved drink. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 14-11-5:Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed torn gaskets in the reach in cooler in the kitchen. Warning
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hoods soiled with grease. Warning
  • 35B-09-4:Basic - Screen in door torn/in poor repair - vermin present. Observed back screen door is torn. Warning
  • 29-49-6:Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Observed in reach in cooler under prep table with standing water at the bottom. Warning
  • 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed green tomatoes in a carry out bag in the reach in freezer. Repeat Violation Warning
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observe flats of hard raw shell eggs over butter chips and jalapeños in the reach in cooler in the kitchen. Warning
  • 31B-02-4:Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at the hand wash sink in back of kitchen, employee replaced. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 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. Observed employees I. Torres expired 8/12/23 and H. Tyson expired 8/12/23 from approved food worker training program. Warning
  • 46-01-4:Marked exit/path to marked exit blocked. For reporting purposes only. Observed a table blocking the exit door in the dining room.

5/21/2025· 9mo ago

Visit ID: 10712955

Met Inspection Standards

2 high, 1 basic

  • 22-20-5:Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed a mold like substance on the ice drop tray on the inside of the ice machine.
  • 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed non food grade bags used in the freezer and reach in.
  • 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. Observed the reach in freezer with chicken repackaged and stored over beef and seafood. Corrected On-Site

11/6/2024· 1y 4mo ago

Visit ID: 10712844

Met Inspection Standards

1 high, 2 int

  • 29-34-4:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker on the hose bibb under the preparation sink located in the kitchen. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-06: **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. Observed no chlorine test strips for sanitizer bucket or 3 compartment sinks. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-06: **Time Extended**
  • 31B-03-4:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at handwashing sink in wait station. Owner placed soap at sink. Corrected On-Site Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-06: **Time Extended**

11/5/2024· 1y 4mo ago

Visit ID: 8722607

Follow-up Inspection Required

8 high, 2 int, 1 basic

  • 16-16-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not rinsed between washing and sanitizing. Observed employee washing dishes in three compartment sink without rinsing before sanitizing. Employee set up a rinse bay in three compartment sink and rehashed the dishes. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 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. Enchiladas sauce (84F - Cooling) stored at room temperature on a dry storage shelf in the kitchen. Owner stated the enchiladas sauce was cooked at 10:00 am and placed on rack to cool. Owner discarded sauce. Warning
  • 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. Enchiladas sauce (84F - Cooling) stored at room temperature on a dry storage shelf in the kitchen. Owner stated the enchiladas sauce was cooked at 10:00 am and placed on rack to cool. Owner discarded sauce. Warning
  • 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed raw beef stored in and in direct contact with black garbage bag in the reach in freezer chest by back exit. Owner removed the beef. Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over container of milk and container of margarine on the right side of reach in cooler in the kitchen. Owner removed the eggs. Observed a pan of raw beef stored over a pan ready to eat broccoli in the reach in cooler on the left side in the kitchen. Owner removed the beef. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Admin Complaint
  • 01B-13-4:High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Bag of ice, container of creamer and pitcher of lemonade stored in the ice machine and in direct contact with the ice in the machine used for customer drinks. Owner removed the items and discarded the ice in the machine. Warning
  • 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. All the following items stored in the reach in cooler on the left side of cook line, Sliced tomato (54F - Cold Holding); Sliced American cheese (58F - Cold Holding); Shredded mix cheese (59F - Cold Holding); Sliced fresco cheese (55F - Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (55F - Cold Holding). Manager stated the items stored in reach in cooler over night, manager discarded the items. Warning
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. All the following items stored in the reach in cooler on the left side of cook line, Sliced tomato (54F - Cold Holding); Sliced American cheese (58F - Cold Holding); Shredded mix cheese (59F - Cold Holding); Sliced fresco cheese (55F - Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (55F - Cold Holding). Manager stated the items stored in reach in cooler over night, manager discarded the items. Warning
  • 29-34-4:High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker on the hose bibb under the preparation sink located in the kitchen. Warning
  • 16-37-1:Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine test strips for sanitizer bucket or 3 compartment sinks. Warning
  • 31B-03-4:Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at handwashing sink in wait station. Owner placed soap at sink. Corrected On-Site Warning

1/30/2024· 2y 1mo ago

Visit ID: 8536243

Met Inspection Standards

3 high, 2 int, 2 basic

  • 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed box of potatoes stored n floor at back door. Operator moved to shelving. Corrected On-Site
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed exterior of bulk flour containers with old grease and food debris.
  • 14-86-1:High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Bserved tortillas stored in damp cloth and covered by garbage bag in reach in cooler. Operator discarded tortillas touching cloth and rewrapped others in deli paper and plastic wrap. Corrected On-Site
  • 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed thank you take out bags used to store raw meats in reac in chest freezer.
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs over jug of milk and bread and cut vegetables operator rearranged shelves. Corrected On-Site
  • 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. Inspector provided form and operator had employees sign during inspection 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 cooked pork cooked two days ago not dated at working cooler across from steam table. Operator dated. Corrected On-Site

10/25/2023· 2y 4mo ago

Visit ID: 8344892

Met Inspection Standards

3 high, 1 int, 3 basic

  • 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed beverage glasses stored nested while still wet.
  • 16-16-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not rinsed between washing and sanitizing. Employee washing and sanitizing with no rinse step. Manager corrected and rinse sink was set up. Corrected On-Site
  • 10-12-5:Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Observed ice scoop stored on bucket with debris observed inside. Manager had items sent through dishwash. Corrected On-Site
  • 22-42-4:High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Corrected On-Site
  • 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. Observed cook making tortillas and removing from grill with bare hand. Manager corrected. Corrected On-Site
  • 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed raw meat stored in to go bags with food on contract with bags.
  • 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. Inspector emailed form and operator had employees read sign and date during inspection. Corrected On-Site