Lake Wales — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS

Overview

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.

142Facilities
1,293Total Inspections
0Closures 2026
90.9%Pass Rate
3.4Avg Violations

Most-Inspected Facilities

BusinessInspectionsViolationsClosures
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 90.9% Pass Rate 90.9%
Florida Average 86% Pass Rate 86%
Lake Wales 3.4 Avg Violations / Inspection 3.4
Florida Average 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Lake Wales 0 Closures per 100 Facilities 0
Florida Average 1.37 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.37

Lake Wales Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)

DateBusinessViolationsResult
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

Lake Wales Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines

39Actions on Record
$14,910Total Fines
$403Avg Fine
$1,100Largest Fine
12Facilities Fined

Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)

DateBusinessFineCase
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

10Fire Violations
5Facilities Cited

Most Common Fire Safety Issues

IssueCitations
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.

66Retail Facilities
121FDACS Inspections
9Stop-Sale Orders

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.

DateFacilityProductReason
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)

ChainLocationsStop-Sale OrdersCitations
Dollar General 4 57 2,871
Publix 2 30 875
Aldi 2 2 310
Starbucks 1 77 1,170
Circle K 1 102 1,574
Dunkin 1 13 347
Walgreens 1 1 743
Citgo 1 41 143

All Florida retail food chains →

About FDACS Retail Food Inspections →

Lake Wales: Notable Restaurants

Lake Wales: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)

ChainLocationsViolationsClosures
McDonalds 3 155 0
Wendys 2 203 0
Taco Bell 2 139 0
Subway 2 59 0
Bob Evans 1 131 0
Dairy Queen 1 84 0
Hungry Howies 1 89 0
Panera Bread 1 2 0
Chipotle 1 1 0
Holiday Inn 1 27 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.

In the News Lake Wales

Lake Wales Restaurants & Food Establishments (140)

McDonalds's East Lake Wales

1978 EAST STATE ROAD 60, Lake Wales

11 inspections · 54 violations · Last: Oct 2025

Taco Bell 0375

24186 HWY 27, Lake Wales

21 inspections · 52 violations · Last: Dec 2025

Lake Wales Bowl LLC

451 EAGLE RIDGE DR STE 442, Lake Wales

12 inspections · 48 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Tasty Wings & Ramen

112 HWY 60 E, Lake Wales

10 inspections · 46 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Als Place

1530 N SCENIC HWY, Lake Wales

25 inspections · 45 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Dunkin Donuts

24195 US HWY 27, Lake Wales

13 inspections · 42 violations · Last: Aug 2025

McDonald's Thompson Nursery

2500 RIDGE WAY, Lake Wales

11 inspections · 40 violations · Last: Oct 2025

Sushi Bento

24169 US 27, Lake Wales

13 inspections · 38 violations · Last: Dec 2025

Eggs Up Brunch

19301 HWY 27, Lake Wales

10 inspections · 35 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Subway #29725

1450 CHALET SUVANNE RD, Lake Wales

15 inspections · 34 violations · Last: Jul 2025

Payless Dining and Bar

16905 US HWY 27, Lake Wales

12 inspections · 33 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Holiday Inn Express

2953 RIDGE WAY, Lake Wales

12 inspections · 27 violations · Last: Jul 2025

Burger King #22451

100 SR 60 E, Lake Wales

12 inspections · 26 violations · Last: May 2026

Freshwater Tavern & Grill LLC

14143 CAMP MACK RD, Lake Wales

13 inspections · 25 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Gspot and Holshotz LLC

3825 N SCENIC HWY, Lake Wales

22 inspections · 25 violations · Last: Jan 2026

Masterpiece Gardens Family Confernce Center

3900 GREAT MASTERPIECE RD, Lake Wales

20 inspections · 25 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Subway 13311

1382 HWY 60 E, Lake Wales

10 inspections · 25 violations · Last: Jul 2025

Hampton Inn & Suites

22900 SR 27, Lake Wales

12 inspections · 23 violations · Last: Aug 2025

Brake Burger Garage

206 E HWY 60, Lake Wales

10 inspections · 21 violations · Last: Jan 2026

El Pilon Loko Bar & Grill

823 EAGLE RIDGE DR UNIT 600, Lake Wales

6 inspections · 20 violations · Last: Feb 2026