Mels Kitchen in Lakeland
Last inspected:
4907 Us 98 N, Lakeland, FL 33809Mel's Kitchen in Lakeland has accumulated 71 violations across 19 inspections since 2016, averaging 3.7 violations per inspection, below the Florida statewide average of 5.2. Chemical storage and consumer advisory violations recur across multiple inspections, appearing in at least 6 of the past 8 inspections. The facility has not experienced an emergency closure. A fire safety violation was documented in 2015 for a blocked hallway to the bathroom. The most recent inspection on November 4, 2025 was completed with no further action required.
Summary generated from Florida DBPR public inspection records.
Mels Kitchen in Lakeland: Comparison to Polk County Averages
Mels Kitchen in Lakeland: Fire Safety & Life Safety Violations (1)
— 1 fire violation
— Complaint Full · 46-01-4 · Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Mels Kitchen in Lakeland: Full Inspection History — DBPR (19)
— 3 inspections9 violations · 4 high priority
— Routine - Food· 2 violations · Inspection Completed - No Further Action
— Routine - Food· 3 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (2 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 4 inspections16 violations · 9 high priority
— Routine - Food· 3 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Complaint Full· 6 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Complaint Full· 4 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Complaint Full· 3 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 2 inspections6 violations · 3 high priority
— Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 1 inspection5 violations · 2 high priority
— Complaint Full· 5 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 1 inspection2 violations · 1 high priority
— Routine - Food· 2 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 5 inspections14 violations · 7 high priority
— Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (2 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 3 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Extension given, pending
High Priority Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Basic Violations
— 1 inspection2 violations · 1 high priority
— Routine - Food· 2 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 2 inspections6 violations · 5 high priority
— Complaint Full· 2 violations (2 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Mels Kitchen in Lakeland: Frequently Asked Questions
- When was Mels Kitchen in Lakeland last inspected?
- Mels Kitchen in Lakeland was last inspected by Florida DBPR on November 4, 2025. The result was: Inspection Completed - No Further Action.
- What are the most common violations at Mels Kitchen in Lakeland?
- The most frequently cited violations at Mels Kitchen in Lakeland are: Chemical properly stored, Consumer advisory, Proper ventilation.
- How many health inspections has Mels Kitchen in Lakeland had?
- Mels Kitchen in Lakeland has had 19 inspections on record with Florida DBPR, averaging 3.7 violations per inspection, below the statewide average of 5.2.
- What did the most recent inspection of Mels Kitchen in Lakeland find?
- Mels Kitchen in Lakeland was most recently inspected on November 4, 2025 with 2 violation(s). Disposition: Inspection Completed - No Further Action.
- Has Mels Kitchen in Lakeland ever been shut down?
- No, Mels Kitchen in Lakeland has no emergency closures on record with Florida DBPR.
- What does Florida violation V32 (Proper sanitizing) mean?
- Violation 32 (Proper sanitizing) is classified as a intermediate priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/32.
- What does Florida violation V51 (Premises clean) mean?
- Violation 51 (Premises clean) is classified as a basic priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/51.
- Has Mels Kitchen in Lakeland had any fire safety violations?
- Yes, Mels Kitchen in Lakeland has 1 fire safety violation(s) on record from Florida state fire inspections.
- Has Mels Kitchen in Lakeland operated under other names?
- Yes, this location previously operated as: Americas Best Cuban Sandwich (2015).
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Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Disclaimer: All data reflects official state records at time of publication. Facilities may have since corrected cited violations, resolved enforcement actions, or changed ownership.
Editor: All content reviewed and verified by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with Mels Kitchen. How we collect and verify this data.