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 |
| Dunkin | 1 | 13 | 347 |
| Walgreens | 1 | 1 | 743 |
| Citgo | 1 | 41 | 143 |
| Dollar Tree | 1 | 9 | 1,084 |
| Family Dollar | 1 | 316 | 950 |
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 |
| Wendys | 2 | 203 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 2 | 139 | 0 |
| Subway | 2 | 59 | 0 |
| Burger King | 1 | 26 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 1 | 42 | 0 |
| Ihop | 1 | 88 | 0 |
| Pizza Hut | 1 | 81 | 0 |
| Bob Evans | 1 | 131 | 0 |
| Dairy Queen | 1 | 84 | 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)
Melanie's Seafood Company
120 E PARK AVE, Lake Wales
26 inspections · 94 violations · Last: Dec 2025Lucky Wok
23809 US HIGHWAY 27 N, Lake Wales
21 inspections · 90 violations · Last: Dec 2025L'incontro
35 SR 60 W, Lake Wales
24 inspections · 90 violations · Last: Mar 2026Hungry Howies#102
2014 SAM WALTON WAY, Lake Wales
20 inspections · 89 violations · Last: Aug 2025Ihop #36-235
2850 RIDGE WAY, Lake Wales
20 inspections · 88 violations · Last: Feb 2026Mountain Lake Club D R
2300 N SCENIC HWY, Lake Wales
21 inspections · 87 violations · Last: Feb 2026Taco Bell #15937
1942 E HWY 60, Lake Wales
21 inspections · 87 violations · Last: Jan 2026Sodexo America, LLC at Florida's Natural
650 N HWY 27, Lake Wales
20 inspections · 85 violations · Last: Oct 2025Dairy Queen
24171 US HWY 27, Lake Wales
19 inspections · 84 violations · Last: Dec 2025Pizza Hut #4679
190 SR 60 E, Lake Wales
15 inspections · 81 violations · Last: Jul 2025Ximena's Tacos 2
343 CENTRAL AVE W, Lake Wales
17 inspections · 77 violations · Last: Jan 2026Market Cafe
20 N MARKET ST, Lake Wales
22 inspections · 74 violations · Last: Feb 2026Locorrito
218 E HWY 60, Lake Wales
24 inspections · 73 violations · Last: Feb 2026Wendy's 8843
4521 MACEY LN, Lake Wales
25 inspections · 70 violations · Last: Sep 2025La Chilanguita LLC
224 S 1 ST, Lake Wales
23 inspections · 68 violations · Last: Jan 2026Hibachi Express
2010 SAM WALTON WAY, Lake Wales
18 inspections · 63 violations · Last: Oct 2025Colony House Pool House
2300 N SCENIC HWY, Lake Wales
22 inspections · 63 violations · Last: Feb 2026McDonald's Restaurant
416 WEST CENTRAL AVE, Lake Wales
14 inspections · 61 violations · Last: Oct 2025Blue Palmetto Cafe
1151 TOWER BLVD, Lake Wales
21 inspections · 59 violations · Last: Feb 2026Phase III
118 E CRYSTAL AVE, Lake Wales
23 inspections · 54 violations · Last: Jan 2026