Sarasota County — Food Safety Records
Sarasota County, Florida has 1190 food establishments with 21,315 inspections on record. 10 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 91%, above the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 4.7 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Michelles Brown Bag Cafe LLC in Sarasota, shut down September 17, 2026 for rodent activity.
Largest fine: $1,600 assessed to Green Zebra Cafe in Sarasota on February 23, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.
Sarasota County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Sarasota County
91%
Pass Rate
91%
Florida Average
85.7%
Pass Rate
85.7%
Sarasota County
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Sarasota County
0.84
Closures per 100 Facilities
0.84
Florida Average
1.96
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.96
Sarasota County Restaurants: Recent Closures (3)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelles Brown Bag Cafe LLC | Sarasota | Rodent activity | |
| Marcos Pizza 8552 | Nokomis | Rodent activity | |
| Italiano's | Venice | Roach activity |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelican Alley | Nokomis | 6 (2 high) | Emergency Order Callback Complied | |
| Obee's Soup Salad & Subs | Venice | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Panera Bread #1342 | Sarasota | 3 | Warning Issued | |
| Cafe Barbosso | Sarasota | 2 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club | Venice | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Dockside Waterfront Grill | Venice | 8 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Blue Pineapple | Sarasota | 2 (2 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Food + Beer | Venice | 18 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Ikoi Sushi Hibachi | North Port | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Joys Kouzine | Venice | 0 | Call Back - Complied |
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 |
| Nov 25, 2025 | China Kitchen | $1,600 | 7--2025060114 |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Art Ovation Hotel | $1,600 | 7--2026009824 |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Chipotle Mexican Grill #1040 | $800 | 7--2025069758 |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Fafa INC China Buffet | $800 | 7--2026032453 |
| Oct 21, 2025 | Phillippi Creek Villag Oys Bar | $800 | 7--2025071290 |
| Oct 8, 2025 | Deep Lagoon Seafood and Oyster House | $800 | 7--2025067407 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Metro Diner | $800 | 7--2026011794 |
| Oct 2, 2025 | Valenti Restaurant | $800 | 7--2025066763 |
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
Venice Vibes
20 inspections
69 violations
Sarasota County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkin | 19 | 1,012 | 3 |
| McDonalds | 19 | 967 | 0 |
| Subway | 15 | 640 | 0 |
| Wendys | 10 | 553 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 8 | 592 | 1 |
| Tropical Smoothie | 6 | 160 | 0 |
| Jersey Mikes | 6 | 387 | 0 |
| First Watch | 6 | 438 | 0 |
| Burger King | 5 | 392 | 0 |
| Culvers | 5 | 385 | 0 |
Sarasota County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Sarasota County?
- Sarasota County, Florida has 1190 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 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Sarasota County this year?
- 10 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?
- Michelles Brown Bag Cafe LLC in Sarasota was shut down on September 17, 2026 for rodent activity.
- How does Sarasota County compare to the Florida state average?
- Sarasota County has a pass rate of 91%, which is 5.3 percentage points above the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 4.7 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 17.9 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 $234,950 in fines across 648 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $370 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 92 stories ↓
Sarasota Ceviche Restaurant Logged 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
El Ceviche in Sarasota racked up 6 high-severity violations in one inspection, including no allergen awareness and impro…
Stories You May Have Missed
- Sarasota Ceviche Restaurant Logged 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Venice Airport Cafe Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota Restaurant Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Geckos Grill & Pub in Sarasota Logged 8 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Canton Chinese in Venice Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Nokomis Marco's Pizza Emergency-Closed for Rodent Activity, Reopened Same Day
- Sarasota French Restaurant Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota's Olive Eats Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota Peruvian Grill Logged 9 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- North Port Restaurant Stayed Open With 6 High-Severity Violations, Including No Illness Policy
- North Port Pizzeria Racked Up 11 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sarasota Cafe Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations in August and Stayed Open
- China Wokery in North Port Logged 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Englewood Cafe Served Raw Shellfish With No Traceability, Stayed Open
- Englewood Restaurant Stayed Open After Racking Up 9 High-Severity Violations
Sarasota County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,182)
Another Broken Egg Cafe
140 AVENIDA MESSINA, Siesta Key
31 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Aug 2026Green Zebra Cafe
476 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota
26 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Sep 2026Boca Royale Country Club
1601 ENGLEWOOD RD, Englewood
25 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Aug 2026Kacey's Seafood & More
4904 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota
20 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Aug 2026Ricos Pizza
322 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota
23 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Jul 2026Casa Masa
5214 OCEAN BLVD, Sarasota
27 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Aug 2026Cafe Bagel
1811 S TAMIAMI TRL, Venice
24 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Jul 2026California Pizza Kitchen
192 N CATTLEMEN RD #1, Sarasota
23 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Sep 2026Cork & Kale
6231 LAKE OSPREY DR, Sarasota
21 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Oct 2025Panera Bread #6228
6589 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
25 inspections · 130 violations · Last: Sep 2026Armandos Cocina Mexicana
2385 12 ST, Sarasota
24 inspections · 130 violations · Last: Sep 2026Pink Tequila
1163 N TOLEDO BLVD, North Port
23 inspections · 130 violations · Last: Jul 2026Grandpa's Market & Deli
2700 STICKNEY POINT RD, Sarasota
20 inspections · 129 violations · Last: Apr 2026Madfish Grill
4059 CATTLEMEN RD, Sarasota
23 inspections · 129 violations · Last: Sep 2026Fresh Mozzarella Pizzeria
2289 RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota
21 inspections · 129 violations · Last: Sep 2026Culvers
5648 TUSCOLA BLVD, North Port
26 inspections · 129 violations · Last: Aug 2026O'leary's
5 BAYFRONT DR, Sarasota
25 inspections · 129 violations · Last: Sep 2026Florence and the Spice Boys
4990 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
18 inspections · 128 violations · Last: Sep 2026Bonefish Grill
3971 S TAMIAMI TR, Sarasota
20 inspections · 128 violations · Last: Apr 2026Chicago Beef Company
6569 SUPERIOR AVE, Sarasota
21 inspections · 128 violations · Last: Dec 2025