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 |
| Mar 30, 2026 | El Kiosko 38 Puerto Rican Food | $400 | 3--2026013473 |
| Jan 29, 2026 | Global Foody Lovers | $400 | 3--2025090862 |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Market Cafe | $400 | 3--2025070984 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar | $400 | 3--2025088986 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | Buffet City | $400 | 3--2025081155 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Lins Asian Bistro | $400 | 3--2026019159 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Buen Cafe | $400 | 3--2026021984 |
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)
Beef O'brady's
4810 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
28 inspections · 176 violations · Last: Sep 20251st Street Diner
106 AVE I SE, Winter Haven
25 inspections · 174 violations · Last: Feb 2026Chinese to Go
45689 US HWY 27, Davenport
28 inspections · 171 violations · Last: Sep 2026Chen's Duck and Dumplings
5125 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
20 inspections · 170 violations · Last: Aug 2026Thailicious27
101 AMBERSWEET WAY, Davenport
30 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Aug 2026Sizzling Grill
21400 US HWY 27, Lake Wales
25 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Mar 2026Denny's
894 CYPRESS GARDENS BLVD, Winter Haven
30 inspections · 168 violations · Last: Jul 2026Lake Wales Family Restaurant
109 SR 60 W, Lake Wales
23 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Feb 2026Azul Tequila Mexican Cuisine 2
4541 MACEY LN, Lake Wales
25 inspections · 165 violations · Last: Sep 2026China Park
46 MAXCY PLAZA CIR, Haines City
27 inspections · 165 violations · Last: May 2026Stonegate Golf Club - the Grill @ Stonegate
404 VILLAGE DR, Poinciana
35 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Apr 2026Eddie's Restaurant
1524 3 ST SW, Winter Haven
24 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Aug 2026Pho Tan
2920 S COMBEE RD, Lakeland
37 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Sep 2026All Star Grill
2019 SR 60 E, Lake Wales
21 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Feb 2026Margarita's Cocina Mexicana
45653 HWY 27, Davenport
34 inspections · 162 violations · Last: May 2026Egg Factory
1533 S COMBEE RD, Lakeland
22 inspections · 160 violations · Last: Sep 2026Beijing
3005 CYPRESS GARDEN RD, Winter Haven
26 inspections · 159 violations · Last: Aug 2026Pizzeria Valdiano
1610 TOWN CENTER DR, Lakeland
29 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Sep 2026China Chen Lakeland INC
2614 US HWY 92 E, Lakeland
25 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Mar 2026Burger 21 Lakeland
1601 TOWN CENTER DR SPACE H102, Lakeland
29 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Mar 2026