FORT MYERS, FL. A bar on South US 41 was serving food and drinks without an approved potable water supply last week, one of eight high-severity violations inspectors documented at Eight Ball Lounge at 14500 S US 41 during the week of September 24, 2026.
The same inspection found food from unapproved or unknown sources on the premises, parasite destruction procedures not followed, and food not cooked to required minimum temperatures. Toxic chemicals were improperly stored or labeled. Employees were washing hands inadequately, and in the wrong technique. There was no consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods.
Eight Ball Lounge recorded the highest high-severity violation count of any facility inspected in Fort Myers that week. Fourteen other restaurants also drew high-severity citations.
The Violations
Labadie Bar Restaurant and Bakery at 3580 Evans Ave drew seven high-severity violations, tied for second-highest of the week. Inspectors found no person in charge present or performing duties, an employee not reporting symptoms of illness, improper handwashing technique, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, food not cooked to required minimum temperatures, no allergen awareness demonstrated, and required procedures for specialized processes not followed.
Whiskey Creek Dining Room at 1449 Whiskey Creek Dr also recorded seven high-severity violations. The list included food from unapproved or unknown sources, food in poor condition or adulterated, inadequate shell stock identification, improper use of time as a public health control, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, toxic substances improperly stored, and no approved potable water supply. Multi-use utensils were also not properly cleaned.
Rib City at 13181 N Cleveland Ave received five high-severity citations, among them an employee not reporting illness symptoms, inadequate shell stock identification, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, food not cooked to required minimum temperatures, and toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled. Inspectors also flagged improper sewage or wastewater disposal.
Sweet Melissa's Restaurant at 16230 Summerlin Rd drew five high-severity violations including no employee health policy, improper handwashing technique, food from unapproved sources, inadequate shell stock identification, and food not cooked to required minimum temperatures. The facility has only nine prior inspections on record.
Burntwood Tavern at 13499 S Cleveland Ave was cited for an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, and no allergen awareness demonstrated.
FK Your Diet at 19630 S Tamiami Trl received five high-severity violations: improper handwashing technique, inadequate shell stock identification, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, no allergen awareness demonstrated, and required procedures for specialized processes not followed.
3 Pepper Burrito at 8595 College Pkwy was cited for no employee health policy, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and toxic chemicals improperly stored. Inspectors also documented improper sewage disposal and inadequate toilet facilities.
Jason's Deli at 13550 Reflection Pkwy drew four high-severity violations: food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, food not cooked to required minimum temperatures, toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, and no allergen awareness demonstrated.
Mr Tequila Mexican Restaurant at 4420 Colonial Blvd received four high-severity citations including improper handwashing technique, food from unapproved sources, inadequate shell stock identification, and toxic substances improperly stored. Improper sewage disposal was also noted.
Hideaway Rest and Lounge at 5670 Trailwinds Dr was cited for no person in charge present, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, and toxic substances improperly stored. Multi-use utensils were not properly cleaned.
Cubans Be Like Restaurant and Cafe at 13300 S Cleveland Ave drew three high-severity violations: an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, and food contact surfaces not properly cleaned.
Dunkin at 11609 S Cleveland Ave received three high-severity citations, including parasite destruction procedures not followed, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and toxic chemicals improperly stored. Inadequate ventilation was also flagged.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 1791 Boyscout Dr was cited for food from unapproved sources, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and time as a public health control not properly used.
Tropical Creole Restaurant at 3440 Fowler St recorded the lowest count of the week, one high-severity violation for food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, along with multi-use utensils not properly cleaned.
What These Violations Mean
The water supply violation at Eight Ball Lounge and Whiskey Creek Dining Room is among the most acutely dangerous findings in this week's data. Non-potable water used in a food establishment can carry E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Legionella, pathogens that cause illness ranging from severe gastrointestinal distress to respiratory disease. Every surface washed, every dish rinsed, every hand cleaned with that water becomes a potential contamination point.
Food from unapproved or unknown sources, documented at Eight Ball Lounge, Whiskey Creek Dining Room, Sweet Melissa's Restaurant, Mr Tequila Mexican Restaurant, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, creates a traceability gap that matters most when someone gets sick. USDA and FDA inspections exist to catch Listeria, Salmonella, and other pathogens before food reaches a kitchen. When a facility sources food outside that system, there is no paper trail to follow if an outbreak occurs.
The illness reporting failures at Labadie, Rib City, Burntwood Tavern, 3 Pepper Burrito, Hideaway Rest and Lounge, and Cubans Be Like are a direct outbreak pathway. Norovirus, the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, spreads through a single infected food worker handling ready-to-eat food. Without a written health policy, and without employees required to report symptoms, there is no mechanism to pull a sick worker off the line before customers are exposed.
Shellfish traceability violations at Rib City, Sweet Melissa's, FK Your Diet, and Mr Tequila represent a different but equally serious gap. Oysters, clams, and mussels are high-risk foods that are often consumed raw or lightly cooked. Without shell stock tags on file, there is no way to trace a contaminated batch back to its harvest bed if a customer falls ill with Vibrio or hepatitis A.
The Longer Record
Tropical Creole Restaurant has 48 prior inspections on record, the most of any facility in this week's data, and still drew a high-severity citation for unsanitized food contact surfaces. Forty-eight inspections represent years of regulatory contact. The same category of violation appearing at that stage of a facility's history is a pattern, not an anomaly.
Whiskey Creek Dining Room has 33 prior inspections on record and produced seven high-severity violations this week, including no approved water supply and food from unapproved sources. Both are foundational food safety failures, not technical paperwork errors.
FK Your Diet has 30 prior inspections on record. Jason's Deli has 29. Rib City has 28. All three drew multiple high-severity violations this week, including failures in food handling temperatures, chemical storage, and allergen awareness. None of these are first-time facilities encountering the inspection process for the first time.
Sweet Melissa's Restaurant has only nine prior inspections on record, making it one of the newer facilities in this group. It drew five high-severity violations, including no employee health policy and food from unapproved sources. Mr Tequila Mexican Restaurant has five prior inspections, the fewest in the dataset, and still produced four high-severity citations, including food from an unapproved source and improper sewage disposal.
Eight Ball Lounge has 27 prior inspections on record. This week's inspection produced eight high-severity violations across food sourcing, water safety, parasite control, cooking temperatures, chemical storage, handwashing, and consumer notification. Whether any of those categories appeared in prior inspections is not reflected in this week's data.
