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 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Shs Sarasota | $800 | 7--2025071080 |
| 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 19 | 964 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 19 | 1,007 | 3 |
| Subway | 15 | 633 | 0 |
| Wendys | 10 | 544 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 8 | 588 | 1 |
| First Watch | 6 | 430 | 0 |
| Tropical Smoothie | 6 | 160 | 0 |
| Jersey Mikes | 6 | 382 | 0 |
| Culvers | 5 | 385 | 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?
- McDonalds 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)
Chicanos
1185 US 41 BY PASS, Venice
25 inspections · 241 violations · Last: Jun 2026Made in Italy
117 W VENICE AVE, Venice
32 inspections · 241 violations · Last: Jul 2026Napule Restaurant
7129 TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
25 inspections · 239 violations · Last: Apr 2026Burgundy Square Cafe
227 MIAMI AVE W, Venice
25 inspections · 238 violations · Last: May 2026Spice Indian Cuisine
3550 CLARK RD, Sarasota
19 inspections · 237 violations · Last: Dec 2025Evie Tavern on the Range
4735 BEE RIDGE RD, Sarasota
31 inspections · 236 violations · Last: Jan 2026Stottlemyer's Smokehouse
19 EAST ROAD, Sarasota
28 inspections · 235 violations · Last: Oct 2025American Cafe@grill
60 S INDIANA AVE, Englewood
32 inspections · 232 violations · Last: Jul 2026Ichiban Restaurant
2724 STICKNEY POINTE RD, Sarasota
34 inspections · 231 violations · Last: May 2026Il Pan Main LLC
1995 MAIN ST, Sarasota
28 inspections · 231 violations · Last: Apr 2026Pelican Alley
1009 W ALBEE RD, Nokomis
21 inspections · 231 violations · Last: May 2026Fugu Hibachi Sushi
1151 S TOLEDO BLVD, North Port
26 inspections · 230 violations · Last: Jul 2026Norma Jean Sport's Bar and Grill
1635 US 41 BYPASS S, Venice
24 inspections · 229 violations · Last: May 2026Artur's Restaurant
70 N INDIANA AVE, Englewood
34 inspections · 229 violations · Last: May 2026Angelo's Italian Market
850 PINEBROOK RD, Venice
30 inspections · 229 violations · Last: Jun 2026Tortas Locas & Bakery
2594 12 ST STE A, Sarasota
32 inspections · 228 violations · Last: Feb 2026Ginza
5428 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota
29 inspections · 228 violations · Last: Apr 2026Brazilian Steakhouse
3230 CLARK RD, Sarasota
28 inspections · 228 violations · Last: Jun 2026Latitudes
220 SANDS POINT RD, Longboat Key
31 inspections · 228 violations · Last: Feb 20261592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails
1592 MAIN ST, Sarasota
32 inspections · 225 violations · Last: Jul 2026