Columbia County — Food Safety Records
Columbia County, Florida has 129 food establishments with 2,744 inspections on record. 4 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 83%, below the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 5.2 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Wendy's in Lake City, shut down August 26, 2026 for fly activity.
Largest fine: $400 assessed to Woods in Lake City on July 7, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.
Columbia County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Columbia County Restaurants: Recent Closures (1)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wendy's | Lake City | Fly activity |
Columbia County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Potro Mexican Restaurant | Lake City | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Sonny's Real Pit BBQ | Lake City | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Bob Evans 228 | Lake City | 12 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Two Fat Guys Burgers and Fries | Lake City | 10 (4 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Denny's #9226 | Lake City | 8 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Baymont by Wyndham | Lake City | 4 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| El Potro Mexican Restaurant | Lake City | 19 (5 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Chick-fil-a | Lake City | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Sonny's Real Pit BBQ | Lake City | 4 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Good Times at the County Line | Lake City | 6 (1 high) | Administrative complaint recommended |
Columbia County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 33,635 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 31,735 |
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 29,367 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 17,229 |
| 03 | Employee health reporting | 15,665 |
Columbia County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2026 | Woods | $400 | 5--2026033462 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | U Mi Fl LLC | $400 | 5--2026022113 |
| Jul 20, 2026 | Tienda La Pinata Corp | $400 | 5--2026034235 |
Columbia County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 36 |
| Other fire safety violation | 13 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 6 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 4 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 4 |
Columbia County: Notable Restaurants
La Fiesta Tacos and Tequila
Hong Yip Restaurant
Roadhouse Chicken Co
Salsas Mexican Restaurant
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen #131
Baymont by Wyndham
Columbia County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 6 | 391 | 0 |
| Wendys | 4 | 522 | 1 |
| Waffle House | 3 | 513 | 0 |
| Hardees | 3 | 463 | 1 |
| Burger King | 3 | 144 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 2 | 98 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 2 | 232 | 0 |
| Days Inn | 2 | 58 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 2 | 195 | 0 |
| Little Caesars | 2 | 169 | 2 |
Columbia County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Columbia County?
- Columbia County, Florida has 129 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Columbia County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Columbia County is 83%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Columbia County this year?
- 4 food establishments in Columbia County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Columbia County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Columbia County are: Food contact surfaces, Chemical properly stored, Consumer advisory.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Columbia County?
- Subway has the most locations in Columbia County with 6 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Columbia County?
- Wendy's in Lake City was shut down on August 26, 2026 for fly activity.
- How does Columbia County compare to the Florida state average?
- Columbia County has a pass rate of 83%, which is 2.8 percentage points below the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 5.2 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Columbia County?
- Food establishments in Columbia County have an average of 21.3 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Columbia County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Columbia County have been assessed $17,840 in fines across 42 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $435 and the largest single fine was $1,600.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Columbia County restaurants?
- 63 fire safety violations have been documented across 36 food establishments in Columbia County. The most common issue is fire extinguisher in red zone.
In the News Columbia County
See all 30 stories ↓Piesano's Stone Fired Pizza Logged 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
A Lake City pizza chain racked up 7 high-severity violations in one inspection, including undercooked food and no illnes…
Stories You May Have Missed
- Piesano's Stone Fired Pizza Logged 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Lake City Mexican Restaurant Kept Serving With 9 High-Severity Violations
- Lake City Wendy's Emergency-Closed for Fly Activity, Reopened Same Day
- Red Ginger in Lake City Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- China One in Lake City Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Lake City Mexican Restaurant Racked Up 14 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Captain Crab in Lake City Racked Up 11 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Lake City Seafood Spot Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- China One Led Columbia County's Worst Week, With 7 High-Severity Violations
- Columbia County's 14 Inspections Turned Up 10 Facilities With Multiple High-Severity Violations
- Captain Crab Led 11 Columbia County Restaurants With High-Risk Violations, August 2026
- Columbia County's 11 Restaurants Inspected: 10 Had Multiple High-Severity Violations
- Columbia County Restaurants Rack Up 14 High-Severity Violations at One Spot in a Single Week
- Columbia County Restaurants Rack Up 50+ High-Severity Violations in One Week
- Shirley's Restaurant in Lake City Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
Columbia County Restaurants & Food Establishments (126)
Arby's #5984 1 closure
3289 W US HWY 90, Lake City
19 inspections · 71 violations · Last: Aug 2026Woods 1 closure
149 SW WOOLSEY GLN, Lake City
6 inspections · 16 violations · Last: Apr 2026Ole Times Buffet
2469 US HWY 90 W STE 106, Lake City
45 inspections · 361 violations · Last: Jul 2026Phish Tales
1445 SW MAIN BLVD #170, Lake City
35 inspections · 297 violations · Last: Aug 2026Krystal Restaurant
2383 W US HWY 90, Lake City
36 inspections · 273 violations · Last: Dec 2025Red Ginger
2143 W US HWY 90 STE 101, Lake City
27 inspections · 239 violations · Last: Aug 2026Huddle House
3320 N US HWY 441, Lake City
30 inspections · 235 violations · Last: Feb 2026Kountry Korner Restaurant
1084 N MARION AVE, Lake City
32 inspections · 232 violations · Last: Mar 2026Beef O Brady's
857 SW MAIN BLVD STE 100, Lake City
39 inspections · 231 violations · Last: Jun 2026Bw Blacksmith
419 SW FL 247 STE 101, Lake City
29 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Jun 2026Gator's Dockside Lake City
313 NW COMMONS LOOP, Lake City
31 inspections · 216 violations · Last: Aug 2026Fu King Chinese Restaurant
649 SW MAIN BLVD, Lake City
22 inspections · 208 violations · Last: Jul 2026Ken's Bar-b-que
387 SW ST MARGARET ST, Lake City
32 inspections · 203 violations · Last: Apr 2026Bob Evans 228
3628 W HWY 90, Lake City
26 inspections · 197 violations · Last: Sep 2026Jersey Mike's Subs
2888 W US 90 #105, Lake City
33 inspections · 196 violations · Last: Dec 2025Maggie's Place Latin Cafe
132 SE HERNANDO AVE, Lake City
23 inspections · 194 violations · Last: Apr 2026Waffle House 388
2963 W US HWY 90, Lake City
29 inspections · 190 violations · Last: Jun 2026Steak N Shake
170 SW COMMERCE DR, Lake City
32 inspections · 186 violations · Last: Aug 2026Ruby Tuesday
245 SW COMMERCE DR, Lake City
31 inspections · 186 violations · Last: Aug 2026Country Skillit #2
3445 E US HWY 90, Lake City
28 inspections · 185 violations · Last: Feb 2026