TAMPA, FL. Anchor Bar on East Davis Boulevard racked up nine high-severity violations in a single inspection during the week of September 21, the most of any facility among 15 Tampa restaurants cited for serious food safety failures that week, according to state records.
The violations at Anchor Bar were not minor. Inspectors documented food sourced from unapproved or unknown suppliers, inadequate shellfish identification records, food contact surfaces that were not properly cleaned or sanitized, and toxic chemicals stored or labeled improperly. Two separate chemical storage violations appeared on the same report: one for improperly stored or labeled toxic chemicals, and a second for toxic substances improperly identified, stored, or used. An employee was cited for not reporting symptoms of illness, and the facility had no consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods.
The Violations
Lolis 2 on West Hillsborough Avenue followed with seven high-severity violations, including the absence of any written employee health policy, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, and food from an unapproved or unknown source. Inspectors also cited improper handwashing technique, missing shellfish identification records, no allergen awareness demonstrated, and required procedures for specialized food processes not followed.
Sushi Alive on Race Track Road drew six high-severity violations. Among them: no person in charge present or performing duties, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, inadequate handwashing, improper handwashing technique, missing shellfish records, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Inspectors also noted improper sewage or wastewater disposal and improperly cleaned multi-use utensils.
Jin China on East Adamo Drive was cited for six high-severity violations, including toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, missing shellfish records, no consumer advisory, improper handwashing technique, and required procedures for specialized processes not followed.
Westshore Pizza on Causeway Boulevard also reached six high-severity violations. Inspectors found food not cooked to the required minimum temperature, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, no consumer advisory, missing shellfish records, and two chemical storage violations: toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled, and toxic substances improperly identified, stored, or used.
Tikka Masalaa on West Hillsborough had five high-severity violations, including no written employee health policy, improper handwashing technique, no consumer advisory, improperly stored toxic chemicals, and no allergen awareness demonstrated. Inspectors also cited inadequate cooling or cold holding equipment, a finding that points directly to temperature failures in the kitchen.
China Restaurant on Race Track Road was cited for five high-severity violations, including parasite destruction procedures not followed, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and no consumer advisory.
Isekai Sushi Cafe on Gunn Highway drew five high-severity violations, including food in poor condition, mislabeled, or adulterated, parasite destruction procedures not followed, missing shellfish records, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, and no consumer advisory. The facility also had improper sewage or wastewater disposal.
Tony's BBQ Restaurant on West Waters Avenue was cited for five high-severity violations: no employee health policy, an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, missing shellfish records, and no consumer advisory.
Donofrio's Pizza and Pasta Co. on Race Track Road had four high-severity violations, including no person in charge present or performing duties, improper handwashing technique, missing shellfish records, and no consumer advisory. Inspectors also documented improper sewage or wastewater disposal.
Nicki's Omelette and Grill on West Hillsborough Avenue was cited for four high-severity violations, including required procedures for specialized processes not followed, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, missing shellfish records, and no consumer advisory.
Sweet Krunch Korean Fried Chicken on East 7th Avenue drew four high-severity violations: food from an unapproved or unknown source, improper handwashing technique, missing shellfish records, and no consumer advisory.
Bahia Churrascaria on Gunn Highway was cited for one high-severity violation: no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, a notable gap for a Brazilian steakhouse where undercooked meats are central to the menu.
Bella's Italian Cafe on South Howard Street had one high-severity violation for food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized, alongside intermediate violations for improper sewage or wastewater disposal and inadequate ventilation and lighting.
Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits on East Hillsborough Avenue was cited for one high-severity violation involving food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized.
What These Violations Mean
The most alarming pattern this week is the concentration of illness-reporting failures. At Anchor Bar, Lolis 2, Sushi Alive, China Restaurant, Isekai Sushi Cafe, and Tony's BBQ, inspectors cited employees for not reporting symptoms of illness. Lolis 2 and Tony's BBQ also lacked any written employee health policy at all. Norovirus, which causes the majority of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States, spreads almost exclusively through infected food workers who continue handling food while symptomatic. A sick employee without a policy requiring them to report symptoms is not a paperwork problem. It is a direct transmission route.
The shellfish traceability violations at Anchor Bar, Lolis 2, Sushi Alive, Jin China, Westshore Pizza, Isekai Sushi Cafe, Tony's BBQ, Sweet Krunch, Donofrio's, and Nicki's are a separate but serious concern. Shellfish, including oysters, clams, and mussels, are frequently consumed raw or lightly cooked. Without proper shell stock identification tags and records, there is no way to trace a contaminated batch back to its harvest location if customers become ill. That traceability gap is exactly what allows a shellfish-linked outbreak to grow before investigators can identify the source.
The parasite destruction failures at China Restaurant and Isekai Sushi Cafe carry specific risk for sushi and raw fish consumers. Proper freezing protocols kill parasites such as Anisakis before fish is served raw. Without documentation that those protocols were followed, there is no verification that the fish reaching the plate was safe.
The dual chemical storage violations at Anchor Bar, Jin China, and Westshore Pizza represent a different category of danger entirely. Improperly stored or unlabeled cleaning chemicals near food preparation areas can cause acute poisoning through direct contamination of food or food contact surfaces, not through gradual exposure, but through a single incident.
The Longer Record
Lolis 2 has accumulated 41 prior inspections on record, the highest of any facility cited this week. Seven high-severity violations on the 42nd inspection, including no health policy and food from unapproved sources, raises a straightforward question: what did the prior 41 inspections produce, and in which categories did violations recur.
Tikka Masalaa has 40 prior inspections on record and drew five high-severity violations this week, including no employee health policy and inadequate cooling equipment. A facility with that inspection history that still lacks a written illness policy is not a new operation learning the rules.
Popeyes on East Hillsborough has 37 prior inspections on record and produced only one high-severity violation this week. That is a different trajectory than most facilities on this list.
Jin China and Donofrio's each have 30 prior inspections on record. Both drew violations this week for missing shellfish records and no consumer advisory, categories that require deliberate policy decisions, not just maintenance lapses.
Sweet Krunch Korean Fried Chicken has only five prior inspections on record, making it among the newest operations on this list. Its four high-severity violations this week, including food from an unapproved source, put it on a concerning early trajectory.
Isekai Sushi Cafe has 12 prior inspections on record and drew five high-severity violations, including food in poor condition or adulterated and parasite destruction procedures not followed. For a sushi operation in its early inspection history, both of those findings go to the core of what the menu requires getting right.
Donofrio's inspection this week also documented improper sewage or wastewater disposal alongside the absence of a person in charge, a pairing that illustrates what CDC data shows: facilities without active managerial control accumulate cascading failures across multiple categories at once.
