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 October 21, 2025.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Green Zebra Cafe | $1,600 | 7--2025071275 |
| 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 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Florence and the Spice Boys | $800 | 7--2025091992 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Cilantro Grill | $800 | 7--2026034052 |
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
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Sarasota County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,182)
1818 Grill 1 closure
1818 S OSPREY AVE, Sarasota
31 inspections · 149 violations · Last: Sep 2026Sunnyside Cafe 1 closure
4900 N TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
23 inspections · 148 violations · Last: Dec 2025Bitia's Taqueria 1 closure
3436 17 ST, Sarasota
24 inspections · 148 violations · Last: Sep 2026Island House 1 closure
361 GULF OF MEXICO DR, Longboat Key
26 inspections · 141 violations · Last: Apr 2026Five Star Pizza (sarasota) 1 closure
4290 BEE RIDGE RD, Sarasota
28 inspections · 140 violations · Last: Sep 2026Flapjacks Cafe Venice 1 closure
810 E VENICE AVE, Venice
25 inspections · 138 violations · Last: Aug 2026Ritz Carlton Members Club Sarasota 1 closure
1234 BEN FRANKLIN DR, Sarasota
31 inspections · 138 violations · Last: Jul 2026Sharky's on the Pier 1 closure
1600 HARBOR DR S, Venice
26 inspections · 137 violations · Last: Jun 2026Sushi Bay Kitchen&sake Bar 1 closure
3957 CATTLEMEN ROAD, Sarasota
17 inspections · 134 violations · Last: Sep 2026El Ceviche 1 closure
3664 WEBBER ST, Sarasota
25 inspections · 134 violations · Last: Sep 2026Little Saigon Bistro Vietnamese Cuisine 1 closure
2725 BENEVA RD, Sarasota
25 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Aug 2026Chili's Southwest Grill & Bar 1 closure
4289 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, Venice
27 inspections · 130 violations · Last: Jul 2026Brewster's 1 closure
1454 MAIN ST, Sarasota
27 inspections · 129 violations · Last: Jul 2026Tastes of the Philippines 1 closure
1987 RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota
24 inspections · 128 violations · Last: Dec 2025Old Salty Dog (the) 1 closure
5023 OCEAN BLVD, Sarasota
21 inspections · 127 violations · Last: Aug 2026Village Walk Cafe & Market 1 closure
8109 CAMMINARE DRIVE, Sarasota
30 inspections · 126 violations · Last: Dec 2025La Mucca Ballerina 1 closure
1668 MAIN ST, Sarasota
26 inspections · 125 violations · Last: Sep 2026Taco Bell #3061 1 closure
855 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
26 inspections · 120 violations · Last: Sep 2026Cafe on St Armands 1 closure
431 ST ARMANDS CIR, Sarasota
24 inspections · 117 violations · Last: Jul 2026Shogun Japanese Steakhouse 1 closure
1219 S 41 BY-PASS, Venice
17 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Jun 2026