TAMPA, FL. Anchor Bar on East Davis Boulevard drew nine high-severity violations in a single inspection during the week of September 22, including food sourced from an unapproved or unknown supplier, improper storage of toxic chemicals near food, and a failure to maintain shell stock identification records for shellfish served to customers.
That violation count led all 15 Tampa-area facilities cited for high-severity findings this week.
The Violations
Anchor Bar's nine high-severity violations also included an employee not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, no consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked menu items, and a second chemicals citation for toxic substances improperly identified or used.
Otsuka Ramen on North Dale Mabry Highway was cited for eight high-severity violations, including no person in charge present or performing duties during the inspection, inadequate handwashing facilities, food not cooked to required minimum temperature, and improperly stored toxic chemicals.
Inspectors also noted that Otsuka Ramen employees were not reporting illness symptoms and that food contact surfaces were not properly cleaned or sanitized.
Sushi Alive on Race Track Road drew six high-severity violations, among them inadequate shell stock identification records, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, and both inadequate handwashing by employees and improper handwashing technique cited in the same visit. Inspectors also documented improper sewage or wastewater disposal as an intermediate violation.
Jin China on East Adamo Drive was cited for six high-severity violations including inadequate shell stock records, improperly stored toxic chemicals, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and a failure to follow required procedures for specialized food processes.
Bella's Italian Cafe on South Howard Street was the only Tampa facility emergency-closed this week. State records show inspectors ordered the restaurant shut on September 23 for roach and fly activity. Bella's drew one high-severity violation for improperly cleaned food contact surfaces and two intermediate violations, including improper sewage or wastewater disposal.
Pisco Bar and Restaurant on North Armenia Avenue was cited for five high-severity violations, including no employee health policy, no allergen awareness demonstrated by staff, and inadequate shell stock identification records. Inspectors also documented single-use items being improperly reused, an intermediate violation.
Tikka Masalaa on West Hillsborough Avenue drew five high-severity violations including no employee health policy, improper handwashing technique, no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods, improperly stored toxic chemicals, and no allergen awareness. Inspectors also cited inadequate cooling and cold holding equipment as an intermediate violation.
UptownJoes New York Diner on North Ashley Drive was cited for five high-severity violations, including no person in charge present, no employee health policy, inadequate shell stock records, and no allergen awareness. Improperly maintained toilet facilities were also noted.
China Restaurant on Race Track Road drew five high-severity violations, including a citation for parasite destruction procedures not followed, food contact surfaces not properly cleaned, and employees not reporting illness symptoms. The parasite destruction finding means the facility is serving fish without verifying it has been frozen to the temperatures and duration required to kill parasites including Anisakis and tapeworm.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company Westchase on Monroe's Business Park was cited for five high-severity violations, including no person in charge present, inadequate handwashing facilities, inadequate shell stock records, and improperly cleaned food contact surfaces. Improper sewage or wastewater disposal was also documented as an intermediate violation.
Tony's BBQ Restaurant on West Waters Avenue drew five high-severity violations including no employee health policy, employees not reporting illness symptoms, improper handwashing technique, inadequate shell stock records, and no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods.
Cuban Foodies on West Hillsborough Avenue was cited for four high-severity violations, among them food not cooked to required minimum temperature and employees not reporting illness symptoms. Inspectors also noted improperly cleaned food contact surfaces and no consumer advisory.
Nicki's Omelette and Grill on West Hillsborough Avenue drew four high-severity violations including inadequate shell stock records, improperly cleaned food contact surfaces, no consumer advisory, and failure to follow required procedures for specialized food processes.
Bahia Churrascaria on Gunn Highway and Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits at 2201 East Hillsborough Avenue each drew a single high-severity violation. Bahia Churrascaria was cited for no consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods. Popeyes was cited for food contact surfaces not properly cleaned or sanitized.
What These Violations Mean
The most alarming pattern across this week's inspections is the cluster of illness-reporting and employee health policy failures. At Anchor Bar, Otsuka Ramen, Sushi Alive, China Restaurant, Tony's BBQ, and Cuban Foodies, inspectors found that employees were not reporting illness symptoms. At Pisco Bar, Tikka Masalaa, UptownJoes, and Tony's BBQ, no written employee health policy existed at all. Norovirus spreads through a single infected food handler touching ready-to-eat food, and it can sicken dozens of customers before anyone identifies the source.
The food from unapproved source violation at Anchor Bar carries a separate and serious risk. When a restaurant sources food outside the regulated supply chain, there is no traceability. If a customer becomes ill, there is no way to identify the supplier, recall the product, or determine how many other facilities received the same shipment.
Parasite destruction procedures not followed, cited at China Restaurant, is a violation that speaks directly to the safety of raw or undercooked fish on the menu. Proper freezing protocols, required before serving fish raw or lightly cooked, exist specifically to kill organisms like Anisakis that survive in fish tissue and cause severe gastrointestinal illness in humans.
Inadequate shell stock identification records, cited at Anchor Bar, Sushi Alive, Jin China, Pisco Bar, UptownJoes, Tampa Bay Brewing Company Westchase, Tony's BBQ, and Nicki's Omelette and Grill, means that shellfish, which are often served raw or lightly cooked and carry elevated risk of Vibrio and norovirus, cannot be traced to their harvest location or date if a customer reports illness.
The Longer Record
Pisco Bar and Restaurant carries the longest inspection history of any facility in this week's roundup, with 49 prior inspections on record. Despite that accumulated oversight, this week's visit produced five high-severity violations, including failures in allergen awareness and employee health policy. A facility with 49 inspections behind it is not a new operation learning the rules.
Tikka Masalaa has 40 prior inspections on record and drew five high-severity violations this week, including inadequate cooling equipment and no allergen awareness. UptownJoes New York Diner, with 39 prior inspections, was cited for five high-severity violations including no person in charge and no employee health policy.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company Westchase has 36 prior inspections on record. This week's five high-severity findings, including inadequate handwashing facilities and improper sewage disposal, suggest infrastructure problems that have persisted through repeated oversight visits.
Cuban Foodies has the shortest inspection history in this week's roundup at 19 prior inspections, and it is already accumulating serious citations, including food not cooked to minimum temperature and employees not reporting illness symptoms. Bahia Churrascaria, with 11 prior inspections, is the newest facility in the group and drew a high-severity violation on this visit.
The Longer Record at Bella's
Bella's Italian Cafe, the only facility emergency-closed this week, has 24 prior inspections on record. The September 23 closure for roach and fly activity came alongside a high-severity finding for improperly cleaned food contact surfaces and an intermediate violation for improper sewage disposal. Whether pest control has been completed and the facility has been cleared to reopen had not been confirmed in state records as of the time of publication.
