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 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Lins Asian Bistro | $400 | 3--2026019159 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Buen Cafe | $400 | 3--2026021984 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 2600 | $400 | 3--2026007160 |
| Jun 10, 2026 | Lins Asian Bistro | $400 | 3--2026033738 |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Xing Xing Kitchen | $400 | 3--2026033028 |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Wingstop | $400 | 3--2026033033 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | El Toque Latin Restaurant | $400 | 3--2026013436 |
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 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 18 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 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)
Sofresh
4756 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
27 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Jul 2026Bubbaques
2444 HWY 92 E, Lakeland
25 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Sep 2026Carrabba's Italian Grill
910 3 ST SW, Winter Haven
24 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Sep 2026Longhorn Steakhouse of W. Haven
875 1ST ST SW, Winter Haven
26 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Mar 2026Nutwood
132 AVE B SW, Winter Haven
25 inspections · 113 violations · Last: Apr 2026Gaskins Barbecue & Lobster
1614 TOWN CENTER DR, Lakeland
22 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Aug 2026Downtown Pizza & Sports Bar
219 E MAIN ST STE B, Dundee
23 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Feb 2026Hibachi2u
7870 LAKE WILSON RD, Davenport
22 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Sep 2026Saigon Garden LLC
5937 CYPRESS GARDEN BLVD STE 100, Winter Haven
26 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Aug 2026Denny's #7654
44111 N HWY 27, Davenport
25 inspections · 111 violations · Last: Apr 2026Big Daddy's Barbeque 26
1380 N 1 ST, Winter Haven
29 inspections · 111 violations · Last: Sep 2026Soup'r Cubans
1502 NW 42 ST, Winter Haven
28 inspections · 111 violations · Last: Aug 2026Piper Golf Club
8575 WHITE SHARK BLVD, Champions Gate
24 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Apr 2026Jones Foods LLC
3509 US HWY 98 N, Lakeland
28 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Feb 2026Uncle Nicks Bagels and Subs
6955 OLD HWY 37, Lakeland
31 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Sep 2026Riverside Express Seafood Market
130 E MEMORIAL BLVD, Lakeland
22 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Aug 2026Thai Oishi
1535 TOWN CENTER DR, Lakeland
31 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Sep 2026Palace Italian Restaurant
6120 US 98 N, Lakeland
32 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Sep 2026Gosh! Pan-asian Bistro & Sushi Bar
4742 S FLORIDA AVE UNIT 4, Lakeland
25 inspections · 109 violations · Last: Jul 2026China Park
7120 CYPRESS GARDEN BLVD, Winter Haven
23 inspections · 109 violations · Last: Mar 2026