LAKE COUNTY, FL. A Clermont burrito chain and a Mount Dora bistro each drew 11 high-severity violations during the week of October 9, leading a Lake County inspection cycle in which 12 of 28 facilities recorded two or more serious citations in a single visit.
The Top Offenders
Tijuana Flats Burrito Company on Highway 50 in Clermont accumulated 18 violations in total, including citations for food in poor condition, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, parasite destruction procedures not followed, and inadequate shellfish traceability records. Inspectors also cited the location for an employee not reporting symptoms of illness and for having no employee health policy in place.
The food not cooked to required minimum temperature citation stands out. Undercooking is a direct pathway for pathogens like Salmonella to survive and reach a customer's plate.
Salt and Ember on North Alexander Street in Mount Dora matched Tijuana Flats at 11 high-severity violations. Inspectors cited the restaurant for food from an unapproved or unknown source, parasite destruction procedures not followed, inadequate shellfish traceability records, and food contact surfaces not properly cleaned. The location also had no employee health policy and no person in charge present or performing duties during the inspection.
Persis Indian Grill on East Highway 50 in Clermont drew 10 high-severity violations. Among them: toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, toxic substances improperly identified, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, and time as a public health control not properly used. Inspectors also cited the location for no person in charge and improper handwashing technique.
Denny's number 6613 on Citrus Boulevard in Leesburg recorded 7 high-severity violations, including one that stands apart from the others in this week's data: no approved potable water supply. Inspectors also cited the location for improper sewage or wastewater disposal, toxic chemicals improperly stored, time as a public health control not properly used, and food contact surfaces not properly cleaned.
Olive Garden number 1171 on US 441 in Leesburg drew 6 high-severity violations and zero intermediate ones. The location was cited for parasite destruction procedures not followed, toxic chemicals improperly stored, toxic substances improperly identified, time as a public health control not properly used, and improper handwashing technique.
Goblin Market on Donnelly Street in Mount Dora was cited for five high-severity violations, including no employee health policy, parasite destruction procedures not followed, time as a public health control not properly used, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, and toxic chemicals improperly stored.
Lakeside West Dining Room on Lake Port Boulevard in Leesburg drew five high-severity violations including food from an unapproved or unknown source, food in poor condition, inadequate shellfish traceability records, and no consumer advisory. Inspectors also cited the location for improper sewage disposal and inadequate ventilation.
Wendy's number 12321 on SR 70 in Groveland accumulated five high-severity violations alongside three intermediate ones. The high-severity list included parasite destruction procedures not followed, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, toxic chemicals improperly stored, no consumer advisory, and required procedures for specialized processes not followed. Inspectors also cited the location for improper sewage disposal and inadequate toilet facilities.
Jersey Mike's Subs on South Highway 27 in Clermont drew four high-severity violations including no employee health policy, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, no consumer advisory, and toxic chemicals improperly stored.
Harbor Hills Country Club on Lake Griffin Road in Lady Lake was cited for four high-severity violations including food not cooked to required minimum temperature, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improper handwashing technique, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods.
Oakwood Smokehouse and Grill on South Highway 27/441 in Lady Lake drew four high-severity violations including no person in charge, an employee not reporting symptoms of illness, no consumer advisory, and toxic chemicals improperly stored.
Dunkin Donuts number 214 on East Burleigh Boulevard in Eustis rounded out the twelve worst performers with four high-severity violations including inadequate shellfish traceability records, parasite destruction procedures not followed, no consumer advisory, and no allergen awareness demonstrated.
What These Violations Mean
The most alarming pattern across Lake County this week is the concentration of illness-transmission violations: no employee health policy at Tijuana Flats, Salt and Ember, Goblin Market, and Jersey Mike's, combined with employees not reporting symptoms of illness at Tijuana Flats, Salt and Ember, Persis Indian Grill, Denny's, and Oakwood Smokehouse. These two violations work together. Without a written policy, workers have no framework for knowing when to stay home. Without a reporting requirement, a worker with Norovirus has no obligation to disclose symptoms before handling food.
The potable water citation at Denny's in Leesburg is in a category of its own. Non-potable water in a food establishment can carry E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and Legionella, contaminants that enter food through rinsing, cooking, and ice production. That citation appeared alongside an improper sewage disposal finding at the same location, a combination that represents a facility with infrastructure failures at both the water-in and waste-out ends of the operation.
Parasite destruction failures appeared at six facilities this week: Tijuana Flats, Salt and Ember, Olive Garden, Goblin Market, Wendy's, and Dunkin Donuts. When fish, pork, or wild game is served without proper freezing or cooking protocols, parasites including Anisakis and Trichinella can survive and infect customers. The violation is particularly notable at Dunkin Donuts, where shellfish traceability failures also appeared, a combination that suggests the location may be handling higher-risk proteins without adequate controls.
Toxic chemical storage violations appeared at seven of the twelve worst performers this week, including Persis Indian Grill, Denny's, Olive Garden, Goblin Market, Wendy's, Jersey Mike's, and Oakwood Smokehouse. Improperly stored or unlabeled chemicals near food prep areas create a direct contamination pathway. Mislabeled containers are among the most common causes of acute chemical poisoning in food service settings.
The Longer Record
The data does not include prior inspection counts for the facilities in this week's Lake County report, which limits the ability to place this week's findings in a longer historical context. What the record does show is a cluster of serious violations concentrated at locations that span the county's geography, from Clermont in the south to Leesburg and Eustis in the north, and across facility types ranging from fast-casual chains to a country club dining room and a senior living facility.
The presence of Lakeside West Dining Room on this week's list carries particular weight. The facility serves a residential population, and its citations for food from an unapproved source, food in poor condition, and improper sewage disposal describe a set of conditions that would be serious in any setting and are more acute in one where diners may include elderly residents with compromised immune systems.
Salt and Ember's food-from-unapproved-source citation means inspectors could not confirm that the food came through a USDA or FDA-regulated supply chain. If a customer became ill after eating there, tracing the source back to a specific supplier would be difficult or impossible without those records.
Dunkin Donuts in Eustis drew a no-allergen-awareness citation, a finding that does not appear at any other location in this week's data. Food allergies affect tens of millions of Americans, and a staff that cannot identify allergens in menu items is a direct risk to customers who rely on that information to make safe choices.
