Sarasota County — Food Safety Records
Sarasota County, Florida has 1150 food establishments with 20,890 inspections on record. 9 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 91%, above the state average of 85.8%. Inspections average 4.8 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Italiano's in Venice, shut down August 3, 2026 for roach activity.
Largest fine: $1,600 assessed to Green Zebra Cafe in Sarasota on February 23, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Sarasota County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Sarasota County
91%
Pass Rate
91%
Florida Average
85.8%
Pass Rate
85.8%
Sarasota County
4.8
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.8
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Sarasota County
0.78
Closures per 100 Facilities
0.78
Florida Average
2
Closures per 100 Facilities
2
Sarasota County Restaurants: Recent Closures (1)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italiano's | Venice | Roach activity |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village Cafe | Sarasota | 2 (1 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay | Sarasota | 4 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Daiquiri Deck | Sarasota | 5 (3 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Hub Baja Grill | Sarasota | 4 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Kacey's Seafood & More | Sarasota | 4 (4 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Der Dutchman Restaurant | Sarasota | 6 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Yummmies Donuts and BBQ | Venice | 4 (1 high) | Call Back - Extension given, pending | |
| Wicked Cantina | Sarasota | 5 (4 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Bocca Lupo Coal Fired Pizza | Venice | 4 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Little Saigon Bistro Vietnamese Cuisine | Sarasota | 7 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 156,089 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 145,535 |
| 31 | Clean multi-use utensils | 136,752 |
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 121,538 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 107,136 |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2026 | Green Zebra Cafe | $1,600 | 7--2025071275 |
| Oct 21, 2025 | Green Zebra Cafe | $1,600 | 7--2025047454 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Art Ovation Hotel | $1,600 | 7--2026009824 |
| Nov 25, 2025 | China Kitchen | $1,600 | 7--2025060114 |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Super Buffet | $1,200 | 7--2025062465 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Florence and the Spice Boys | $800 | 7--2025091992 |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Geckos Grill & Pub | $800 | 7--2025060650 |
| Oct 21, 2025 | Phillippi Creek Villag Oys Bar | $800 | 7--2025071290 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Paradise Grill | $800 | 7--2025056989 |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Fafa INC China Buffet | $800 | 7--2026032453 |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Exit blocked or locked | 157 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 67 |
| Other fire safety violation | 58 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 52 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 22 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 11 |
Sarasota County: Notable Restaurants
Fafa INC China Buffet
48 inspections
607 violations
3 closures
Valenti Restaurant
33 inspections
410 violations
3 closures
T J Carney's
29 inspections
328 violations
3 closures
Denny's
49 inspections
382 violations
Steak N Shake
40 inspections
306 violations
1 closures
China King
2 inspections
4 violations
Sarasota County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkin | 19 | 1,007 | 3 |
| McDonalds | 19 | 964 | 0 |
| Subway | 15 | 633 | 0 |
| Wendys | 10 | 544 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 8 | 588 | 1 |
| Tropical Smoothie | 6 | 160 | 0 |
| Jersey Mikes | 6 | 382 | 0 |
| First Watch | 6 | 430 | 0 |
| Burger King | 5 | 386 | 0 |
| Panera Bread | 5 | 472 | 0 |
Sarasota County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Sarasota County?
- Sarasota County, Florida has 1150 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Sarasota County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Sarasota County is 91%. The Florida state average is 85.8%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Sarasota County this year?
- 9 food establishments in Sarasota County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Sarasota County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Sarasota County are: Proper hand/arm washing, Food contact surfaces, Clean multi-use utensils.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Sarasota County?
- Dunkin has the most locations in Sarasota County with 19 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Sarasota County?
- Italiano's in Venice was shut down on August 3, 2026 for roach activity.
- How does Sarasota County compare to the Florida state average?
- Sarasota County has a pass rate of 91%, which is 5.2 percentage points above the state average of 85.8%. The average violations per inspection is 4.8 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Sarasota County?
- Food establishments in Sarasota County have an average of 18.2 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Sarasota County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Sarasota County have been assessed $233,150 in fines across 641 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $371 and the largest single fine was $3,800.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Sarasota County restaurants?
- 367 fire safety violations have been documented across 219 food establishments in Sarasota County. The most common issue is exit blocked or locked.
In the News Sarasota County
See all 72 stories ↓
Venice Restaurant Stayed Open With 7 High-Severity Violations, Including Sick Worker Policy
Darrell's Restaurant in Venice logged 7 high-severity violations July 29, including no employee illness policy, with ins…
Stories You May Have Missed
- Venice Restaurant Stayed Open With 7 High-Severity Violations, Including Sick Worker Policy
- Venice Bakery Logged 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- North Port Greek Restaurant Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota's China Garden Logged 6 High-Severity Violations in July, Stayed Open
- North Port Sushi Restaurant Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Venice Bakery Stayed Open After 6 High-Severity Violations, Including Unknown Food Sources
- China Palace Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations in July, Stayed Open
- Venice Italian Restaurant Logged 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota Korean BBQ Cited for 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota County's Worst Week: 9 of 15 Restaurants Failed on High-Severity Violations
- Sarasota County Restaurant Inspections: 8 High-Severity Violations at One Osprey Tiki Bar
- Casey Key Fish House Had 8 High-Severity Violations in July and Stayed Open
- Two Sarasota Restaurants on Main Street Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations in One Week
- Two Sarasota Restaurants Cited for Illness-Reporting Failures, Unsanitized Surfaces in July Inspections
- Sarasota County's Worst Week: Eight High-Severity Violations at One Venice Restaurant
Sarasota County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,135)
Blue Tequila
14525 TAMIAMI TRL 5,6,7, North Port
24 inspections · 165 violations · Last: Aug 2026Tarpon Point Grill & Marina
121 PLAYMORE DR, Venice
21 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Jun 2026Glory Days Grill
8253 COOPER CREEK BLVD, University Park
21 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Aug 2026Nikki's Greek Cafe
6584 SUPERIOR AVE, Sarasota
35 inspections · 162 violations · Last: Dec 2025Libby's Neighborhood Brasserie
1917 S OSPREY AVE, Sarasota
26 inspections · 161 violations · Last: May 2026Millie's Cafe
3900 CLARK RD UNIT N, Sarasota
25 inspections · 161 violations · Last: Jan 2026Mi Pueblo
4436 BEE RIDGE RD, Sarasota
26 inspections · 161 violations · Last: Jan 2026Waffle House #635
5737 CLARK RD, Sarasota
30 inspections · 160 violations · Last: Oct 2025Casey Key Resorts - Restaurant
1660 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, Osprey
19 inspections · 159 violations · Last: Jul 2026Grillsmith 108
6240 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, Sarasota
18 inspections · 159 violations · Last: May 2026Ihop Restaurant
4000 TAMIAMI TRAIL, Sarasota
21 inspections · 159 violations · Last: Dec 2025Harry Tello Hareri LLC
3981 CATTLEMEN RD, Sarasota
28 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Mar 2026Burger King 17535
1071 S TOLEDO BLADE BLVD, North Port
29 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Aug 2026Daruma
4910 S TAMIAMI TRL #5147-122, Sarasota
16 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Jun 2026La Mexicana Taqueria
1303 N WASHINGTON BVD STE E, Sarasota
24 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Jul 2026Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
6224 N LOCKWOOD RIDGE RD, Sarasota
31 inspections · 157 violations · Last: May 2026Sahara Cafe
1121 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
25 inspections · 156 violations · Last: Apr 2026Djonisi's Restaurant
4940 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota
21 inspections · 155 violations · Last: Nov 2025Costello's Neighborhood Pizza Srq
6574 SUPERIOR AVE, Sarasota
19 inspections · 155 violations · Last: Dec 2025Bob Evans Restaurant 467
4312 TAMIAMI TRAIL SOUTH, Venice
28 inspections · 155 violations · Last: Jun 2026