Lake Wales — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS
Lake Wales, Florida has 142 food establishments with 1,293 inspections on record. The pass rate is 90.9%, above the state average of 86%. Inspections average 3.4 violations per visit.
Largest fine: $400 assessed to Market Cafe in Lake Wales on December 15, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated May 2026.
Most-Inspected Facilities
| Business | Inspections | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet | 41 | 222 | 6 |
| Beef 'o' Brady's | 40 | 330 | 2 |
| Vinny's Smoke-n-grill | 26 | 130 | 2 |
| Woodys BBQ | 23 | 171 | 1 |
| Cherry Pocket Steak N Seafood Shak | 33 | 168 | 1 |
Lake Wales Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Lake Wales Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King #22451 | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Crazy Fish Seafood Shack | 5 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Cherry Pocket Steak N Seafood Shak | 4 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Kentucky Fried Chicken | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Lake Wales Cheese Shoppe and Deli | 1 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Holy Cannoli Italian-american Kitchen | 0 | Call Back - Complied |
Lake Wales Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 9,367 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 9,118 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 9,110 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 6,453 |
| 31 | Clean multi-use utensils | 6,155 |
Lake Wales Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2025 | Market Cafe | $400 | 3--2025070984 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet | $200 | 3--2025086699 |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Ranch Taproom and Coffeehouse | $200 | 3--2025069707 |
| Oct 29, 2025 | El Buen Taco LLC | $160 | 3--2025065306 |
Lake Wales Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Other fire safety violation | 4 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 4 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 2 |
Lake Wales Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records
In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Lake Wales has 66 FDACS-regulated facilities with 121 inspections on record and 9 stop-sale orders issued.
Lake Wales FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders
A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.
| Date | Facility | Product | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkin-donuts-345745-191167 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro… | |
| Dunkin-donuts-345745-191167 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro… | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Sanitary Operations | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Sanitary Operations | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Sanitary Operations | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Sanitary Operations | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Sanitary Operations | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Sanitary Operations | |
| Terry-vending-services-INC-ven6300129 | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Sanitary Operations |
Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →
Lake Wales FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations
Browse all FDACS violation codes →
Lake Wales Retail Food Chains (FDACS)
| Chain | Locations | Stop-Sale Orders | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General | 4 | 57 | 2,871 |
| Publix | 2 | 30 | 875 |
| Aldi | 2 | 2 | 310 |
| Circle K | 1 | 102 | 1,574 |
| Dunkin | 1 | 13 | 347 |
| Walgreens | 1 | 1 | 743 |
| Citgo | 1 | 41 | 143 |
| Dollar Tree | 1 | 9 | 1,084 |
Lake Wales: Notable Restaurants
Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet
Beef 'o' Brady's
Vinny's Smoke-n-grill
Cherry Pocket Steak N Seafood Shak
Crazy Fish Seafood Shack
Burger King #22451
Lake Wales: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 3 | 155 | 0 |
| Subway | 2 | 59 | 0 |
| Wendys | 2 | 203 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 2 | 139 | 0 |
| Kfc | 1 | 133 | 0 |
| Chilis | 1 | 115 | 0 |
| Hampton Inn | 1 | 23 | 0 |
| Ihop | 1 | 88 | 0 |
| Pizza Hut | 1 | 81 | 0 |
| Burger King | 1 | 26 | 0 |
Lake Wales Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Lake Wales?
- Lake Wales, Florida has 142 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Lake Wales?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Lake Wales is 90.9%. The Florida state average is 86%.
- What are the most common health violations in Lake Wales?
- The most frequently cited violations in Lake Wales are: Consumer advisory, Proper hand/arm washing, Food contact surfaces.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Lake Wales?
- McDonalds has the most locations in Lake Wales with 3 establishments.
- How does Lake Wales compare to the Florida state average?
- Lake Wales has a pass rate of 90.9%, which is 4.9 percentage points above the state average of 86%. The average violations per inspection is 3.4 compared to the state average of 4.67.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Lake Wales?
- Food establishments in Lake Wales have an average of 9.1 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Lake Wales been assessed?
- Food establishments in Lake Wales have been assessed $14,910 in fines across 39 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $403 and the largest single fine was $1,100.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Lake Wales restaurants?
- 10 fire safety violations have been documented across 5 food establishments in Lake Wales. The most common issue is other fire safety violation.
- Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Lake Wales inspected?
- Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Lake Wales, Florida has 66 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 121 inspections on record.
- How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Lake Wales?
- FDACS has issued 9 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Lake Wales. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.
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Lake Wales Restaurants & Food Establishments (140)
Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet 6 closures
2925 HWY 60 E, Lake Wales
41 inspections · 222 violations · Last: Mar 2026Beef 'o' Brady's 2 closures
540 W CENTRAL AVE, Lake Wales
40 inspections · 330 violations · Last: Jan 2026Vinny's Smoke-n-grill 2 closures
3155 CANAL RD, Lake Wales
26 inspections · 130 violations · Last: Mar 2026Woodys BBQ 1 closure
51 S US HWY 27, Lake Wales
23 inspections · 171 violations · Last: Jan 2026Cherry Pocket Steak N Seafood Shak 1 closure
3100 CANAL RD LOT 45, Lake Wales
33 inspections · 168 violations · Last: Apr 2026Crazy Fish Seafood Shack 1 closure
802 HENRY ST, Lake Wales
31 inspections · 137 violations · Last: May 2026Kua Lao 1 closure
114 W CENTRAL AVE, Lake Wales
20 inspections · 61 violations · Last: Feb 2026Sizzling Grill
21400 US HWY 27, Lake Wales
25 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Mar 2026Lake Wales Family Restaurant
109 SR 60 W, Lake Wales
23 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Feb 2026All Star Grill
2019 SR 60 E, Lake Wales
21 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Feb 2026Azul Tequila Mexican Cuisine 2
4541 MACEY LN, Lake Wales
24 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Mar 2026China Wok
116 STATE RD 60 E, Lake Wales
23 inspections · 147 violations · Last: Feb 2026Route 60 Diner
7448 HWY 60, Lake Wales
31 inspections · 140 violations · Last: Feb 2026Wendy's 7918
2002 HWY 60 E, Lake Wales
24 inspections · 133 violations · Last: Dec 2025Kentucky Fried Chicken
885 US HWY 60 W, Lake Wales
27 inspections · 133 violations · Last: Apr 2026Bob Evans Restaurant 544
23269 HWY 27, Lake Wales
24 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Jan 2026Jay- Bee's Restaurant
8625 HWY 60 E, Lake Wales
26 inspections · 122 violations · Last: Mar 2026China Garden
2008 SR 60 E, Lake Wales
22 inspections · 121 violations · Last: Feb 2026Chili's Grill & Bar
23535 HWY 27 & THOMPSON NURSERY RD, Lake Wales
22 inspections · 115 violations · Last: Mar 2026Los Potosinos Restaurant Y Tienda LLC
19001 US 27, Lake Wales
24 inspections · 103 violations · Last: Mar 2026