ORLANDO, FL. Viet-Nomz on East Colonial Drive racked up 10 high-severity violations during the week of May 4, the highest single-facility tally among 15 Orlando restaurants cited by state inspectors, with records showing no person in charge present, employees not reporting illness symptoms, food sourced from unapproved suppliers, and shellfish lacking the identification tags required to trace an outbreak back to its harvest bed.
The violations at Viet-Nomz did not stop there. Inspectors also cited the restaurant for food in poor condition, food contact surfaces that were not properly cleaned or sanitized, and food that had not been cooked to the required minimum temperature, a combination that represents nearly every category of acute foodborne illness risk on a single inspection report.
The Violations
Ford's Garage on International Drive drew 9 high-severity violations, including a citation for parasite destruction procedures not followed, meaning fish served there may not have been frozen to the temperatures required to kill Anisakis and tapeworm larvae. Inspectors also found toxic substances improperly stored or identified, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, and inadequate handwashing facilities, the physical infrastructure required for basic hygiene simply not in place.
Sharon's Homestyle Cookin on South Orange Avenue matched Ford's Garage at 9 high-severity violations. The list included food from an unapproved or unknown source, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, toxic substances improperly identified or stored, and, like Viet-Nomz, no person in charge present during the inspection.
Memories of Peru on Crystal Clear Lane was cited for 8 high-severity violations, including two separate chemical-related citations: toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, and toxic substances improperly identified or stored or used. The facility also had inadequate handwashing facilities and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, a significant gap given that Peruvian cuisine commonly features ceviche and other raw fish preparations.
A Aki Sushi and Steakhouse on West Sand Lake Road accumulated 8 high-severity violations, with food sourced from unapproved suppliers, time as a public health control not properly used, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. A sushi restaurant serving raw fish without a consumer advisory leaves customers with no written notice that what they are eating carries elevated risk.
Harry's Pool Side Bar and Grill on International Drive also reached 8 high-severity violations, with no employee health policy in place, food not cooked to required minimum temperature, food from unapproved sources, and inadequate shellfish identification records. Harry's was the only facility among the top six to record zero intermediate violations alongside its eight high-severity citations.
Down the List
Cantina Catrina on South Orange Blossom Trail drew 7 high-severity violations, including food in poor condition, food not cooked to required minimum temperature, and food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized. Inspectors also cited improper hand washing technique and toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled.
Maroush Shawrma and Grill on North Alafaya Trail logged 7 high-severity violations and an intermediate citation for improper sewage or wastewater disposal, meaning fecal contamination of food preparation areas is a documented possibility at this facility. The restaurant was also cited for food in poor condition and inadequate shellfish identification records.
District Gastrobar and Obsidian Lounge at the District on West Church Street had 7 high-severity violations, including parasite destruction procedures not followed and time as a public health control not properly used. The facility also lacked a written employee health policy and had no person in charge present during the inspection.
IHOP on West Colonial Drive was cited for 7 high-severity violations, among them no allergen awareness demonstrated, a violation that carries direct risk for the 32 million Americans with food allergies. The location also failed on parasite destruction procedures, food not cooked to required minimum temperature, and toxic chemicals improperly stored.
Adega Gaucha on Crystal Clear Lane, a Brazilian churrascaria, drew 6 high-severity violations including improper sewage disposal and multi-use utensils not properly cleaned. The facility also had employees not reporting illness symptoms and time as a public health control not properly used.
Kavas Tacos and Tequila on International Drive was cited for 6 high-severity violations alongside improper sewage disposal and multi-use utensils not properly cleaned. Food not cooked to required minimum temperature and time as a public health control not properly used appeared together, a pairing that means food may have spent hours in the bacterial growth zone without reaching the temperatures that kill pathogens.
VanBarry's Public House on South Orange Avenue logged 6 high-severity violations including parasite destruction procedures not followed and inadequate cooling equipment, meaning the facility may lack the physical capacity to hold food at safe temperatures regardless of staff practice.
Mangia on Avalon Park Boulevard East drew 6 high-severity violations, including no allergen awareness demonstrated, inadequate handwashing facilities, and no person in charge present. Inspectors also cited improper sewage disposal and multi-use utensils not properly cleaned.
Portillo's on Palm Parkway rounded out the list with 6 high-severity violations, including parasite destruction procedures not followed and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. The facility also had improper sewage disposal and inadequate toilet facilities cited as intermediate violations.
What These Violations Mean
The single most dangerous category across this week's inspections is the combination of no person in charge and employees not reporting illness symptoms, a pairing found together at Viet-Nomz, Ford's Garage, Sharon's Homestyle Cookin, A Aki Sushi and Steakhouse, Mangia, and Portillo's. When no qualified manager is present, there is no one with the authority or training to send a sick employee home. Norovirus, which causes roughly 20 million illnesses in the United States each year, spreads readily through food handled by symptomatic workers, and a single infected employee can expose every customer served during a shift.
Food from unapproved or unknown sources, cited at Viet-Nomz, Sharon's Homestyle Cookin, Memories of Peru, A Aki Sushi and Steakhouse, Harry's Pool Side Bar and Grill, Cantina Catrina, Maroush, District Gastrobar, Adega Gaucha, and VanBarry's, means inspectors could not confirm those ingredients passed through USDA or FDA-regulated supply chains. If a customer becomes ill, the absence of a traceable source makes it nearly impossible to identify the contaminated product, pull it from circulation, or warn other buyers.
Parasite destruction failures at Ford's Garage, District Gastrobar, IHOP, VanBarry's, and Portillo's are a specific risk tied to raw or undercooked fish. State and federal rules require fish intended for raw consumption to be frozen at specific temperatures for specific durations to kill Anisakis roundworms and tapeworm larvae. When that step is skipped, parasites can survive to infect customers. The risk is highest at facilities, like A Aki Sushi and Steakhouse, that serve raw fish and simultaneously lack a consumer advisory telling diners what they are eating is not fully cooked.
Improper sewage disposal, documented at Maroush, District Gastrobar, Adega Gaucha, Kavas Tacos and Tequila, VanBarry's, Mangia, and Portillo's, is not a paperwork problem. Raw sewage carries E. coli, Hepatitis A, and a range of bacterial pathogens. When wastewater is not properly contained or removed, it can reach food prep surfaces, equipment, and employee hands.
The Longer Record
A Aki Sushi and Steakhouse has the longest inspection history among this week's cited facilities, with 44 prior inspections on record, and still drew 8 high-severity violations in a single week. Viet-Nomz has 36 prior inspections on record and produced the week's highest violation count. Mangia has 31 prior inspections on record. Adega Gaucha has 29. The volume of prior visits at these locations makes this week's findings harder to attribute to a one-time lapse.
Maroush Shawrma and Grill has 21 prior inspections on record, and this week's report included improper sewage disposal alongside food in poor condition and unapproved food sourcing. Harry's Pool Side Bar and Grill, with 20 inspections on record, produced 8 high-severity violations with no intermediate violations at all, meaning every deficiency inspectors found was in the most serious category.
Kavas Tacos and Tequila stands out for the opposite reason. With only 7 prior inspections on record, it is among the newest facilities in this week's group, and it already drew 6 high-severity violations including improper sewage disposal and food not cooked to required minimum temperature.
Portillo's, with 14 prior inspections on record, cited for parasite destruction failures and sewage disposal problems this week, has not yet accumulated the inspection history of the older repeat violators on this list. Whether this week's findings represent a pattern or an aberration is a question the next inspection will answer.