TAMPA, FL. Buddy's Juice Bar on South Howard Avenue had been open long enough to accumulate exactly two prior inspections when state inspectors walked in during the week of September 7 and found five high-severity violations, including food sourced from unapproved or unknown suppliers, food in poor condition or adulterated, toxic substances improperly stored or used, no allergen awareness demonstrated by staff, and no written employee health policy on the premises.
That combination, at a place with almost no inspection history, was among the most concentrated clusters of serious violations documented across fifteen Tampa restaurants during the week of September 7 through September 13, 2026.
The Violations
Mi Tierra Latina on West Hillsborough Avenue led the week with seven high-severity violations, more than any other facility inspected. Inspectors cited the restaurant for toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized, improper handwashing technique, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, time used as a public health control without proper procedures, and no person in charge present or performing duties.
Mr and Mrs Crab on Sheldon Road drew six high-severity violations, including inadequate shell stock identification records, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, improperly sanitized food contact surfaces, improper handwashing technique, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, and no person in charge. The shellfish traceability failure is notable at a restaurant whose menu centers on seafood.
Checkers on East Fletcher Avenue also received six high-severity citations. Inspectors found no employee health policy, no consumer advisory, inadequate shell stock identification, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, time-as-public-health-control procedures not followed, and no person in charge on site.
Steak n Shake on East Hillsborough Avenue was cited for five high-severity violations, including toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, no consumer advisory, employee illness not reported, improper handwashing technique, and no person in charge. Inspectors also flagged inadequate cooling equipment as an intermediate violation, a finding that compounds the concern about temperature control.
Bella Brava Midtown on Gramercy Lane received five high-severity citations, among them food not cooked to the required minimum temperature, no allergen awareness demonstrated by staff, no consumer advisory, time-as-public-health-control procedures not properly followed, and no written employee health policy. An intermediate violation for improper sewage or wastewater disposal was also documented.
Sweetwater Franchise Group on North Dale Mabry Highway was cited for food from an unapproved or unknown source, improperly sanitized food contact surfaces, improper handwashing technique, no consumer advisory, and an employee not reporting illness symptoms. An intermediate violation for improper sewage or wastewater disposal was noted as well.
Curry Leaves at Westshore Plaza drew five high-severity violations, including toxic chemicals improperly stored, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improper handwashing technique, no consumer advisory, and no written employee health policy.
Mity Nice Cafe on Benjamin Road was cited for inadequate shell stock identification, toxic chemicals improperly stored, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improper handwashing technique, and no consumer advisory.
The Cuban Sandwich Shop on North Florida Avenue received five high-severity violations: food from an unapproved or unknown source, time-as-public-health-control procedures not followed, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, and no consumer advisory.
Copper Indian Restaurant on Countryway Boulevard was cited for inadequate handwashing facilities, improper handwashing technique, no consumer advisory, inadequate shell stock identification, and no person in charge. The handwashing infrastructure failure paired with the technique violation means proper hand hygiene was not possible even if attempted.
Wagamama on Water Street drew five high-severity violations, including no person in charge, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, inadequate shell stock identification records, time-as-public-health-control procedures not followed, and no consumer advisory.
New York New York Pizza Westchase on Sheldon Road was cited for parasite destruction procedures not followed, inadequate shell stock identification, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improper handwashing technique, and no consumer advisory. The parasite destruction citation is significant at a pizza restaurant, which raises questions about raw fish handling.
India's Grill on West Kennedy Boulevard received five high-severity violations, including food from an unapproved or unknown source, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improper handwashing technique, no employee health policy, and no consumer advisory.
Gao Restaurant on North Himes Avenue was cited for four high-severity violations, including toxic chemicals improperly stored, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, improper handwashing technique, and no consumer advisory, alongside four intermediate violations.
What These Violations Mean
The most common single violation across this week's inspections was the absence of a consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Fourteen of the fifteen facilities were cited for it. Without that disclosure on a menu, a customer who is elderly, pregnant, immunocompromised, or managing a chronic illness has no way to make an informed choice about the risk they are accepting. That is not a paperwork issue. It is the only mechanism that stands between a vulnerable diner and a dish that was never intended to be fully cooked.
Food from unapproved or unknown sources, documented at Sweetwater Franchise Group, The Cuban Sandwich Shop, India's Grill, and Buddy's Juice Bar, means inspectors could not verify that the food in those kitchens passed through any federally regulated inspection point. If a customer gets sick and an investigation begins, there is no supply chain to trace. The illness may never be sourced.
Inadequate shell stock identification records, cited at Mr and Mrs Crab, Checkers, Mity Nice Cafe, Copper Indian Restaurant, Wagamama, and New York New York Pizza Westchase, creates the same traceability gap specifically for shellfish. Oysters, clams, and mussels consumed raw or lightly cooked are among the highest-risk foods in any kitchen. The tag system exists so that when a cluster of Vibrio or norovirus cases points to a single harvest lot, investigators can pull the product before more people get sick. Without the records, that window closes.
Bella Brava Midtown's citation for food not cooked to the required minimum temperature is in a different category from paperwork failures. Salmonella in poultry survives below 165 degrees Fahrenheit. There is no advisory or disclosure that corrects undercooked chicken after it leaves the kitchen.
The Longer Record
Several of this week's facilities are not newcomers to the inspection process. Checkers on East Fletcher has 30 prior inspections on record and still drew six high-severity violations this week, including no person in charge and no employee health policy. Steak n Shake on East Hillsborough has 38 prior inspections, the longest history of any facility in this week's data, and was still cited for five high-severity violations including improperly stored chemicals and no consumer advisory. Mity Nice Cafe on Benjamin Road has 32 prior inspections and returned five high-severity citations this week, including a chemical storage violation and a shellfish traceability failure. India's Grill on West Kennedy also carries 32 prior inspections.
Mi Tierra Latina, the week's top violator with seven high-severity citations, has 29 prior inspections on record. New York New York Pizza Westchase also shows 29. Both facilities have been through the inspection process enough times that the violations documented this week, including parasite destruction failures at the pizza location, represent a pattern rather than a first encounter with the rules.
At the other end of the spectrum, Buddy's Juice Bar on South Howard had only two prior inspections when this week's visit found five high-severity violations across food sourcing, product condition, chemical storage, allergen awareness, and employee health policy. Copper Indian Restaurant on Countryway Boulevard had five prior inspections and drew five high-severity citations, including a finding that its handwashing facilities were inadequate, meaning the physical infrastructure for basic hygiene was not in place. Bella Brava Midtown, with 12 prior inspections, was cited for undercooked food alongside sewage disposal and toilet facility violations.
Sweetwater Franchise Group on North Dale Mabry, with 24 inspections behind it, is still sourcing food from suppliers inspectors could not verify. That violation was documented this week alongside improper sewage disposal and equipment in poor repair.
