FORT MYERS, FL. State inspectors cited Kelly Greens Golf and Country Club on Kelly Green Boulevard for nine high-severity violations in a single visit during the week of September 26, including toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled near food, shellfish without proper identification records, and no person in charge present or performing duties at the time of inspection.
That last finding matters more than it sounds. The club also drew citations for inadequate handwashing facilities, improper handwashing technique, food in poor condition, and time being used incorrectly as a public health control. Nine high-severity violations in one visit, from a facility with 29 prior inspections on record.
The Violations
Eight Ball Lounge on South US 41 followed with eight high-severity violations, the most alarming of which was a citation for no approved potable water supply. That means the facility was operating without a verified safe water source, which inspectors can use for everything from washing produce to rinsing food-contact surfaces.
Eight Ball also drew citations for food from an unapproved or unknown source, failure to follow parasite destruction procedures, food not cooked to required minimum temperature, and no consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked menu items. Improper handwashing technique and improperly stored toxic chemicals rounded out the list.
Whiskey Creek Dining Room on Whiskey Creek Drive accumulated seven high-severity violations, including food from an unapproved source, no approved potable water supply, and shellfish without adequate identification records. Inspectors also cited the kitchen for food in poor condition, time as a public health control not properly followed, toxic substances improperly stored, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items. Multi-use utensils were not properly cleaned, an intermediate violation that adds a contamination pathway on top of the more serious findings.
El Cheyo Mariscos, Botanas y Tacos on McGregor Boulevard also drew seven high-severity citations, including food from an unapproved source, food not cooked to required minimum temperature, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized, and no written employee health policy. Inspectors noted improper handwashing technique, shellfish without proper identification records, and food in poor condition.
Dona Juana Guatemalan Restaurant 2 on South Tamiami Trail drew seven high-severity violations as well. Inspectors cited no person in charge present or performing duties, no employee health policy, employees not reporting symptoms of illness, improper handwashing technique, food from an unapproved source, food in poor condition, and food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized.
Fiddlesticks Country Club on Canongate Drive collected six high-severity violations, including food from an unapproved source, parasite destruction procedures not followed, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized, toxic substances improperly stored, no employee health policy, and no allergen awareness demonstrated by staff. That last citation is notable: inspectors specifically documented that staff could not demonstrate awareness of food allergens, a gap that has sent people to emergency rooms.
Rib City on North Cleveland Avenue drew five high-severity violations, including food not cooked to required minimum temperature, shellfish without adequate identification records, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improperly stored toxic chemicals, and employees not reporting illness symptoms. An intermediate citation for improper sewage or waste water disposal adds a separate contamination concern.
Sweet Melissa's Restaurant on Summerlin Road also received five high-severity violations: no employee health policy, improper handwashing technique, food from an unapproved source, shellfish without proper identification records, and food not cooked to required minimum temperature.
3 Pepper Burrito on College Parkway drew four high-severity violations, including no employee health policy, employees not reporting illness symptoms, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and improperly stored toxic chemicals. Inspectors also cited the facility for improper sewage disposal and inadequate toilet facilities.
Sensaciones Restaurant on South Cleveland Avenue was cited for four high-severity violations: food from an unapproved source, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, toxic substances improperly stored, and no allergen awareness demonstrated. Single-use items were being reused, an intermediate finding.
Mr Tequila Mexican Restaurant on Colonial Boulevard drew four high-severity citations, including food from an unapproved source, improper handwashing technique, shellfish without proper identification records, and toxic substances improperly stored. Inspectors also noted improper sewage disposal.
Busters Sports Tavern and Family Eatery on McGregor Boulevard drew one high-severity citation for food in poor condition, mislabeled, or adulterated. Clam Bake on South Tamiami Trail was cited for three high-severity violations: employees not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, plus intermediate findings for improper sewage disposal, unclean multi-use utensils, and inadequate toilet facilities.
Burntwood Tavern on South Cleveland Avenue and Jet's Pizza on Reflections Parkway each drew one high-severity violation. Burntwood Tavern was cited for food contact surfaces not properly cleaned. Jet's Pizza was cited for no consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked items, alongside an intermediate finding for improper sewage disposal.
What These Violations Mean
The most alarming single finding this week was the no approved potable water supply citation at both Eight Ball Lounge and Whiskey Creek Dining Room. Non-potable water in a food service environment can carry E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and Legionella. Every step of food prep, every rinsed surface, every washed hand becomes a contamination event when the water source itself is not verified as safe.
Food from unapproved sources, cited at Eight Ball Lounge, Whiskey Creek Dining Room, El Cheyo, Dona Juana, Fiddlesticks, Sweet Melissa's, Sensaciones, and Mr Tequila, carries a specific danger that goes beyond the food itself. If someone gets sick, investigators need to trace the product back to its origin. Unapproved sources have no chain of custody, no USDA or FDA inspection record, and no way to identify a contaminated lot after the fact.
The shellfish traceability violations documented at Kelly Greens, Whiskey Creek, El Cheyo, Rib City, Sweet Melissa's, and Mr Tequila are in the same category. Oysters, clams, and mussels are often consumed raw or barely cooked. Without harvest tags and dealer records on file, there is no way to match a sick customer to a specific source and pull contaminated product from circulation.
Employees not reporting illness symptoms, documented at Dona Juana, Rib City, 3 Pepper Burrito, and Clam Bake, represents the most direct transmission pathway in the building. A single worker with active Norovirus, continuing to handle food without reporting symptoms, can infect dozens of customers before the first complaint is ever filed.
The Longer Record
The inspection histories at several facilities add weight to this week's findings. Busters Sports Tavern carries 35 prior inspections on record, the most of any facility in this week's data, yet still drew a high-severity food condition citation. Sensaciones Restaurant has 34 prior inspections behind it and still lacks allergen awareness documentation and proper food sourcing records.
Whiskey Creek Dining Room has 33 prior inspections on record and this week was cited for seven high-severity violations including both an unapproved water supply and an unapproved food source. Fiddlesticks Country Club, with 30 prior inspections, still has no written employee health policy and no allergen awareness program in place.
Kelly Greens, with 29 prior inspections, and Eight Ball Lounge, with 27, both reached the top of this week's violation counts despite long histories of state oversight. Kelly Greens accumulated nine high-severity violations in a single visit, including the absence of a person in charge and improperly stored toxic chemicals.
The newest facility in this week's data stands out in a different way. Dona Juana Guatemalan Restaurant 2 has only two prior inspections on record and already drew seven high-severity violations, including no employee health policy, no person in charge, and employees not reporting illness symptoms. At two inspections in, the facility is already matching violation counts that establishments with three decades of oversight have accumulated in a single week.
