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 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | Buffet City | $400 | 3--2025081155 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar | $400 | 3--2025088986 |
| 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 |
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)
Britt's Cafe
3662 HARDEN BLVD, Lakeland
22 inspections · 96 violations · Last: Sep 20264 Lakes Grill
990 LA QUINTA BLVD, Winter Haven
21 inspections · 96 violations · Last: May 2026Marco's Pizza 8367
5321 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
23 inspections · 96 violations · Last: Oct 2025Tijuana Flats Burrito Company
4796 SOUTH FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
27 inspections · 96 violations · Last: Jul 2026International House of Pancakes - #36-136
1915 CYPRESS GARDENS BLVD, Winter Haven
25 inspections · 96 violations · Last: Sep 2026First Wok
35898 N US HWY 27, Haines City
22 inspections · 96 violations · Last: Feb 2026Chili's Grill & Bar #216
3980 US 98 N, Lakeland
23 inspections · 96 violations · Last: May 2026Sonnys BBQ 106
595 N BROADWAY AVE, Bartow
24 inspections · 95 violations · Last: Dec 2025Sumo
629 US HWY 17-92 W, Haines City
23 inspections · 95 violations · Last: Sep 2026Cob and Pen
1221 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
25 inspections · 95 violations · Last: Sep 2026Longhorn Steakhouse #5407
3392 US 98 N, Lakeland
24 inspections · 95 violations · Last: Mar 2026Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro
205 E MAIN ST, Lakeland
24 inspections · 95 violations · Last: May 2026Dalat Town
3615 FLORIDA AVE SOUTH #940, Lakeland
18 inspections · 94 violations · Last: Sep 2026Melanie's Seafood Company
120 E PARK AVE, Lake Wales
26 inspections · 94 violations · Last: Dec 2025Waffle House #2312
1530 NORTH BROADWAY AVENUE, Bartow
21 inspections · 94 violations · Last: Jul 2026Zarza Restaurant Latin Food & Grill
4848 CLEVELAND HEIGHTS BLVD, Lakeland
24 inspections · 94 violations · Last: Aug 2026Panera Bread #884
4208 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
19 inspections · 94 violations · Last: Jul 2026Mi Isla BBQ
2300 DEER CREEK COMMERCE LN STE 300, Davenport
26 inspections · 93 violations · Last: Sep 2025Il Forno Italian Restaurant
6617 N SOCRUM LOOP RD, Lakeland
27 inspections · 93 violations · Last: Aug 2026Thai Chilli Pepper
3123 US HWY 98 N, Lakeland
23 inspections · 93 violations · Last: Feb 2026