Polk County — Food Safety Records
Polk County, Florida has 1218 food establishments with 20,457 inspections on record. 18 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 87%, above the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 3.3 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Wendys 595 in Davenport, shut down September 8, 2026 for roach activity.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Sweet Cup Cafe 1 in Lakeland on November 19, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.
Polk County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Polk County
87%
Pass Rate
87%
Florida Average
85.7%
Pass Rate
85.7%
Polk County
3.3
Avg Violations / Inspection
3.3
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Polk County
1.48
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.48
Florida Average
1.96
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.96
Polk County Restaurants: Recent Closures (5)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wendys 595 | Davenport | Roach activity | |
| Arabellas Ristorante | Winter Haven | Rodent activity | |
| Neapolitan Italian Eatery | Haines City | Roach activity | |
| Maryland Fried Chicken/rice Bowl | Haines City | Roach & rodent activity | |
| Taqueria Don Gonzalo LLC | Haines City | Roach activity |
Polk County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaxby's | Haines City | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Chile Verde Tex Mex Mexican Restaurant Corp | Winter Haven | 4 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Crab Craze LLC | Winter Haven | 2 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Mi Pueblo Restaurant | Lakeland | 6 | Warning Issued | |
| Tradewinds Restaurant | Davenport | 4 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders | Auburndale | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Taco Califast | Winter Heaven | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| T a Slammers INC | Lakeland | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Il Forno Restaurant & Pizzeria | Lakeland | 5 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Outback Steakhouse | Lakeland | 2 | Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended |
Polk County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 142,959 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 123,005 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 102,740 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 100,864 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 97,732 |
Polk County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2025 | Sweet Cup Cafe 1 | $800 | 3--2025039296 |
| May 4, 2026 | Nutwood | $560 | 3--2025085932 |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Antojitos Navidenos LLC | $440 | 3--2026024491 |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Checkers Haines City | $400 | 3--2025072071 |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Don Criollo Bakery & Restaurant | $400 | 3--2025085999 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Strawberry Hut | $400 | 3--2026019157 |
| Oct 14, 2025 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice | $400 | 3--2025067779 |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Spice Thai Sushi | $400 | 3--2025067755 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Shanghai Chinese Restaurant | $400 | 3--2025089063 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Tantrums Flightside Cafe & Catering | $400 | 3--2026022036 |
Polk County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Other fire safety violation | 37 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 33 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 23 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 18 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 18 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 10 |
Polk County: Notable Restaurants
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice
55 inspections
301 violations
6 closures
Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet
41 inspections
222 violations
6 closures
Orange Bowl Lanes/ Lucky's
45 inspections
171 violations
6 closures
Havana Cafe Delights INC
48 inspections
294 violations
4 closures
Davenport's Sports Bar & Grill
48 inspections
325 violations
1 closures
Taco Califast
26 inspections
86 violations
Polk County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 38 | 1,669 | 2 |
| Subway | 29 | 897 | 0 |
| Wendys | 19 | 1,197 | 2 |
| Taco Bell | 19 | 990 | 0 |
| Burger King | 18 | 597 | 2 |
| Dunkin | 13 | 464 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 12 | 693 | 0 |
| Chipotle | 10 | 321 | 0 |
| Kfc | 8 | 708 | 1 |
| Checkers | 7 | 581 | 3 |
Polk County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Polk County?
- Polk County, Florida has 1218 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Polk County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Polk County is 87%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Polk County this year?
- 18 food establishments in Polk County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Polk County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Polk County are: Consumer advisory, Food contact surfaces, Proper hand/arm washing.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Polk County?
- McDonalds has the most locations in Polk County with 38 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Polk County?
- Wendys 595 in Davenport was shut down on September 8, 2026 for roach activity.
- How does Polk County compare to the Florida state average?
- Polk County has a pass rate of 87%, which is 1.3 percentage points above the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 3.3 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Polk County?
- Food establishments in Polk County have an average of 16.8 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Polk County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Polk County have been assessed $141,020 in fines across 359 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $414 and the largest single fine was $3,000.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Polk County restaurants?
- 139 fire safety violations have been documented across 89 food establishments in Polk County. The most common issue is other fire safety violation.
In the News Polk County
See all 49 stories ↓
Davenport Wendy's Emergency-Closed for Roach Activity, Reopened Same Day
A Wendy's in Davenport was emergency-closed Sept. 8 after inspectors found roach activity, the location's second forced …
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Polk County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,207)
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice 6 closures
3815 FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
55 inspections · 301 violations · Last: Sep 2026Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet 6 closures
2925 HWY 60 E, Lake Wales
41 inspections · 222 violations · Last: Mar 2026Orange Bowl Lanes/ Lucky's 6 closures
4318 US 98 N, Lakeland
45 inspections · 171 violations · Last: Sep 2026Havana Cafe Delights INC 4 closures
155 E MAIN ST, Bartow
48 inspections · 294 violations · Last: May 2026Beef 'o' Brady's 4 closures
4515 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
42 inspections · 229 violations · Last: Aug 2026Spice Thai Sushi 4 closures
3895 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
38 inspections · 194 violations · Last: Sep 2026Fire Hot Pot & BBQ 4 closures
4250 US 98 N, Lakeland
39 inspections · 159 violations · Last: Apr 2026Rositas Mexican Restaurant 4 closures
741 N WABASH AVE, Lakeland
28 inspections · 108 violations · Last: Jul 2026Aria Steakhouse 3 closures
325 W CENTRAL AVE, Winter Haven
36 inspections · 156 violations · Last: Apr 2026Cheng's Panda World LLC 3 closures
6214 US HWY 98 N, Lakeland
29 inspections · 142 violations · Last: May 2026Beef O Bradys 3 closures
102 W POLK ST, Auburndale
32 inspections · 138 violations · Last: Sep 2026Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 3 closures
2344 GRIFFIN RD, Lakeland
29 inspections · 136 violations · Last: Jun 2026China Wok 3 closures
3800 US HIGHWAY 98 N, Lakeland
33 inspections · 105 violations · Last: Jul 2026Hibachi Buffet 2 closures
901 MEMORIAL BLVD, Lakeland
44 inspections · 389 violations · Last: Sep 2026Beef 'o' Brady's 2 closures
540 W CENTRAL AVE, Lake Wales
41 inspections · 339 violations · Last: Jul 2026Moe's Southwest Grill 2 closures
1326 TOWN CENTER DR E, Lakeland
47 inspections · 238 violations · Last: Sep 2026Lings Buffet 2 closures
4320 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
38 inspections · 226 violations · Last: Sep 2026Egg Factory of South Lakeland 2 closures
6960 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
35 inspections · 210 violations · Last: Jul 2026China Garden 2 closures
1527 BARTOW RD, Lakeland
29 inspections · 185 violations · Last: Jul 2026Gators Dockside Highland City 2 closures
5147 US 98 S, Lakeland
29 inspections · 165 violations · Last: Aug 2026