FORT MYERS, FL. Pho Bowl on Metro Parkway drew eight high-severity violations during the week of August 16, the most of any Fort Myers restaurant inspected that week, with inspectors citing food from unapproved or unknown sources, no allergen awareness demonstrated by staff, inadequate shell stock records, and food contact surfaces that were not properly cleaned or sanitized.
The restaurant at 12951 Metro Pkwy also had no employee health policy in place, an employee who was not reporting illness symptoms, and improper handwashing technique observed among staff. That combination, three separate breakdowns in the same inspection, puts it among the most concerning findings in Lee County this week.
What Inspectors Found
Three restaurants tied for the second-highest count this week, each drawing seven high-severity violations. Fortune Cookie on Palm Beach Blvd was cited for no employee health policy, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, no allergen awareness, and failure to follow required procedures for specialized food processes. Inspectors also noted inadequate cooling and cold holding equipment as an intermediate violation.
Nick and Stellas Pizza Perfecto on McGregor Blvd had its own seven high-severity citations, including food from an unapproved or unknown source, food not cooked to the required minimum temperature, inadequate handwashing facilities, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Inspectors also found no employee health policy and inadequate shell stock records.
Sandbar and Grille on South Cleveland Ave matched that count with seven high-severity violations. The person in charge was not present or not performing duties. Inspectors also cited no employee health policy, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, inadequate handwashing facilities, food from an unapproved source, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods.
Blazewing Spot on Fowler St drew six high-severity violations. The person in charge was absent or not performing duties there as well. Inspectors also found an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, food from an unapproved source, no consumer advisory, and no allergen awareness. Single-use items were being improperly reused.
Jax Diner on Tamiami Trail was cited for five high-severity violations, including failure to follow parasite destruction procedures for fish, inadequate shell stock records, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, no consumer advisory, and no allergen awareness. An intermediate violation for improper sewage or wastewater disposal was also on the report.
Auto Inn Tavern and Restaurant on South Cleveland Ave also drew five high-severity violations. The person in charge was not present. Inspectors found inadequate handwashing facilities, improper handwashing technique, food from an unapproved source, and food not cooked to the required minimum temperature.
Cibo on McGregor Blvd rounded out the five-violation tier. Inspectors cited food from an unapproved source, inadequate shell stock records, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, food not cooked to the required minimum temperature, and toxic substances improperly identified, stored, or used.
Mizuki Japanese Cuisine on Alico Mission Way drew four high-severity violations, including food from an unapproved source, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, and time not properly used as a public health control. Sweet Tomatoes on South Tamiami Trail also drew four high-severity citations, including no person in charge present, no employee health policy, food not cooked to the required minimum temperature, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Improper sewage disposal and inadequate cooling equipment were also cited.
Iguana Mia on South Cleveland Ave was cited for four high-severity violations, including improper handwashing technique, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, no consumer advisory, and toxic substances improperly identified or stored. Saigon Paris Bistro on South Cleveland Ave drew three high-severity violations, including no employee health policy, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, and toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled.
Bahama Breeze on South Tamiami Trail drew three high-severity violations, two of them involving toxic substances, with inspectors citing both improperly stored or labeled toxic chemicals and toxic substances improperly identified, stored, or used, alongside no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Homewood Suites Dining Room on Big Pineway drew three high-severity citations, including no employee health policy, food from an unapproved source, and no allergen awareness demonstrated.
Miller's Fort Myers Ale House on Kernel Circle had the lowest count among this week's flagged facilities, with two high-severity violations: failure to follow parasite destruction procedures and improperly cleaned food contact surfaces.
What These Violations Mean
The most frequently cited violation this week was improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, appearing at nine of the fifteen facilities, including Pho Bowl, Fortune Cookie, Nick and Stellas, Sandbar and Grille, Jax Diner, Cibo, Mizuki, and Saigon Paris Bistro. Cutting boards, prep tables, and slicers that are not properly sanitized transfer bacteria directly onto ready-to-eat food. There is no cooking step after that point to kill what gets deposited.
Seven facilities, including Pho Bowl, Fortune Cookie, Sandbar and Grille, Blazewing Spot, and Auto Inn Tavern, were cited for food from unapproved or unknown sources. Food that bypasses licensed suppliers and USDA or FDA inspection has no traceability. If a customer gets sick, investigators cannot identify where the food came from or who else received it from the same supply.
The employee illness reporting failures at Pho Bowl, Fortune Cookie, Sandbar and Grille, Blazewing Spot, Mizuki, and Iguana Mia carry a specific risk that is distinct from equipment or sourcing problems. Norovirus spreads person to person through food handling and requires an extremely small dose to cause illness. A single sick employee working a full shift without reporting symptoms can expose dozens of customers.
Toxic substance violations at Cibo, Iguana Mia, Saigon Paris Bistro, and Bahama Breeze are not a housekeeping issue. Cleaning chemicals stored near or above food, or in unlabeled containers, create a direct path to chemical contamination of food. The risk is acute, not gradual.
The Longer Record
Iguana Mia has the longest inspection history of any facility cited this week, with 41 prior inspections on record, and still drew four high-severity violations in August 2026. Saigon Paris Bistro has 34 prior inspections and was cited this week for improperly cleaned surfaces, no health policy, and toxic chemical storage. Sandbar and Grille has 35 prior inspections and this week had no person in charge present and food from an unapproved source.
Pho Bowl and Nick and Stellas each have 32 prior inspections. Fortune Cookie has 31. All three drew seven or more high-severity violations this week. The volume of prior inspections at these facilities makes this week's findings harder to attribute to unfamiliarity with the standards.
The newest facility in this week's group tells a different kind of story. Sweet Tomatoes has only 2 prior inspections on record and already drew four high-severity violations, including improper sewage disposal and no person in charge. Auto Inn Tavern has 7 prior inspections and drew five high-severity violations this week, including food not cooked to the required minimum temperature and food from an unapproved source.
Blazewing Spot, with 23 prior inspections, is a middle-tenure facility that was cited this week for six high-severity violations including single-use items being reused and no allergen awareness. Whether its record shows improvement or deterioration over those 23 inspections, state records do not indicate.
