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 Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota on March 11, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11, 2026 | Art Ovation Hotel | $1,600 | 7--2026009824 |
| Nov 25, 2025 | China Kitchen | $1,600 | 7--2025060114 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Green Zebra Cafe | $1,600 | 7--2025071275 |
| Oct 21, 2025 | Green Zebra Cafe | $1,600 | 7--2025047454 |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Super Buffet | $1,200 | 7--2025062465 |
| Oct 2, 2025 | Valenti Restaurant | $800 | 7--2025066763 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Cilantro Grill | $800 | 7--2026034052 |
| Aug 28, 2025 | Brewburgers | $800 | 7--2025059019 |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Geckos Grill & Pub | $800 | 7--2025060650 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Florence and the Spice Boys | $800 | 7--2025091992 |
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 |
| Culvers | 5 | 385 | 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)
Dunkin #362984 1 closure
6 N TAMIAMI TRL, Osprey
10 inspections · 41 violations · Last: Apr 2026Dunkin Donuts 1 closure
12184 MERCADO DR, Venice
12 inspections · 31 violations · Last: Jul 2025Al's Ice Cream Shoppe 1 closure
2357 S TAMIAMI TRAIL UNIT 12, Venice
10 inspections · 27 violations · Last: Jul 2025Mirabella's/coastal Cafe
2300 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, Nokomis
34 inspections · 412 violations · Last: Jun 2026Casey Key Fish House & Tiki
801 BLACKBURN POINT RD, Osprey
34 inspections · 404 violations · Last: Jul 2026New China
1083 TAMIAMI TRL N, Nokomis
27 inspections · 385 violations · Last: Dec 2025Denny's
3701 BEE RIDGE RD, Sarasota
49 inspections · 382 violations · Last: Oct 2025Rice House
14287 TAMIAMI TRL 7B, North Port
32 inspections · 379 violations · Last: Aug 2026Mad Moe's Pub & Grill
106 N TAMIAMI TRL, Osprey
31 inspections · 337 violations · Last: Apr 2026Super Buffet
5471 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota
32 inspections · 337 violations · Last: Jan 2026Mirabella's/coastal Cafe
2300 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, Nokomis
36 inspections · 330 violations · Last: May 2026Yummy House Sarasota
1737 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
26 inspections · 327 violations · Last: May 2026Asaro's of Venice
2454 LAUREL RD E, North Venice
24 inspections · 321 violations · Last: Apr 2026Stefano's Family Restaurant
401 S INDIANA AVE, Englewood
29 inspections · 313 violations · Last: Apr 2026Venezia
373 ST ARMANDS CIR, Sarasota
37 inspections · 310 violations · Last: Jul 2026Captain Eddie's Seafood
107 COLONIA LN E, Nokomis
30 inspections · 302 violations · Last: Jul 2026Paradise Grill
1097 TAMIAMI TRL N, Nokomis
33 inspections · 301 violations · Last: Dec 2025Demetrios Pizza & Grill LLC
3180 UNIVERSITY PKWY, Sarasota
26 inspections · 296 violations · Last: Mar 2026Mattison's 41
7275 SOUTH TAMIAMI TRAIL, Sarasota
20 inspections · 290 violations · Last: Jun 2026Toasted Mango Cafe
6621 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, Sarasota
27 inspections · 288 violations · Last: Dec 2025