Sarasota County — Food Safety Records
Sarasota County, Florida has 1149 food establishments with 20,877 inspections on record. 9 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 91%, above the state average of 85.7%. 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
85.7%
Pass Rate
85.7%
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
2.02
Closures per 100 Facilities
2.02
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epicure | Sarasota | 3 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Gilligans Island Bar & Grill | Sarasota | 5 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Sun Garden Cafe | Sarasota | 7 (1 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Yummmies Donuts and BBQ | Venice | 24 (6 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Waverly | Englewood | 3 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Art Ovation Hotel | Sarasota | 1 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 902 | Sarasota | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Dubz BBQ | North Port | 5 (1 high) | Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended | |
| Il Panificio's Siesta | Sarasota | 8 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Burger King 17535 | North Port | 3 (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 |
| Oct 21, 2025 | Phillippi Creek Villag Oys Bar | $800 | 7--2025071290 |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Chipotle Mexican Grill #1040 | $800 | 7--2025069758 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Paradise Grill | $800 | 7--2025056989 |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Fafa INC China Buffet | $800 | 7--2026032453 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Metro Diner | $800 | 7--2026011794 |
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
Theduo
6 inspections
2 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 | 541 | 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 |
| Culvers | 5 | 385 | 0 |
Sarasota County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Sarasota County?
- Sarasota County, Florida has 1149 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?
- 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 5.3 percentage points above the state average of 85.7%. 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 (1,134)
Casey Key Resorts 2 closures
1660 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, Osprey
22 inspections · 117 violations · Last: Apr 2026Sarasota Jungle Gdn INC 2 closures
3701 BAYSHORE RD, Sarasota
22 inspections · 91 violations · Last: Aug 2024Michelles Brown Bag Cafe LLC 2 closures
630 S ORANGE AVE STE 101, Sarasota
21 inspections · 62 violations · Last: Mar 2026Italian Grill 1 closure
8620 S TAMIAMI TR, Sarasota
36 inspections · 334 violations · Last: Nov 2025Phillippi Creek Villag Oys Bar 1 closure
5353 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
35 inspections · 334 violations · Last: May 2026Steak N Shake 1 closure
4297 CATTLEMEN RD, Sarasota
40 inspections · 306 violations · Last: Jul 2026Hot Diggity Dog 1 closure
5666 SWIFT RD, Sarasota
28 inspections · 301 violations · Last: Apr 2026Patches Restaurant 1 closure
501 E VENICE AVE, Venice
34 inspections · 297 violations · Last: Jul 2026China Chef 1 closure
1131 S TOLEDO BLADE BLVD #86, North Port
29 inspections · 287 violations · Last: Apr 2026Briandi's Restaurant LLC 1 closure
202 TAMIAMI TRL S, Nokomis
25 inspections · 281 violations · Last: May 2026Piesanos 1 closure
14919 TAMIAMI TRL, North Port
34 inspections · 279 violations · Last: Aug 2026Beef O Brady's 1 closure
1037 SUMTER BLVD, North Port
34 inspections · 254 violations · Last: Jul 2026Red Plum Sushi and Hibachi 1 closure
7119 S TAMIAMI TRAIL STE F, Sarasota
23 inspections · 227 violations · Last: May 2026Yoder's Restaurant 1 closure
3434 BAHIA VISTA ST, Sarasota
24 inspections · 225 violations · Last: Jan 2026Mademoiselle Paris 1 closure
1766 MAIN ST, Sarasota
34 inspections · 218 violations · Last: Apr 2026Goichi's Sushi Cafe 1 closure
4563 BEE RIDGE RD, Sarasota
26 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Mar 2026Shaner's Pizza 1 closure
6500 SUPERIOR AVE, Sarasota
27 inspections · 216 violations · Last: Apr 2026Epicure 1 closure
1298 N PALM AVE, Sarasota
30 inspections · 211 violations · Last: Aug 2026Simons Coffee House 1 closure
5900 S TAMIAMI TRAIL UNIT H, Sarasota
23 inspections · 201 violations · Last: Apr 2026Peruvian Grill 1 closure
3131 CLARK RD UNIT 103, Sarasota
19 inspections · 199 violations · Last: Feb 2026