Sarasota County — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS
Sarasota County, Florida has 2143 food establishments with 20,619 inspections on record. 9 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 91%, above the state average of 85.9%. Inspections average 4.8 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Cilantro Grill in Sarasota, shut down May 12, 2026 for roach activity.
Largest fine: $1,600 assessed to Green Zebra Cafe in Sarasota on February 23, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated June 2026.
Most-Inspected Facilities
| Business | City | Inspections | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fafa INC China Buffet | North Port | 48 | 607 | 3 |
| Valenti Restaurant | Venice | 32 | 391 | 3 |
| T J Carney's | Venice | 29 | 328 | 3 |
| Fuzzy 55 Restaurant | Sarasota | 35 | 296 | 2 |
| F.l.a. Deli | Sarasota | 36 | 275 | 2 |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Sarasota County
91%
Pass Rate
91%
Florida Average
85.9%
Pass Rate
85.9%
Sarasota County
4.8
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.8
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Sarasota County
0.42
Closures per 100 Facilities
0.42
Florida Average
1.35
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.35
Sarasota County Restaurants: Recent Closures (2)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro Grill | Sarasota | Roach activity | |
| Fafa INC China Buffet | North Port | Roach activity |
Sarasota County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Chefs Market & Bistro | Sarasota | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Two Chefs Market & Bistro | Sarasota | 7 (3 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Schnitzel Kitchen | Sarasota | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| La Dolce Vita | Sarasota | 3 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Brazilian Steakhouse | Sarasota | 4 | Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended | |
| Wendy's | Venice | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Red Clasico Sarssota | Sarasota | 22 (3 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Tuscany Nokomis | Nokomis | 4 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Samba Brazilian Steakhouse | Sarasota | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| T J Carney's | Venice | 6 | 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 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Florence and the Spice Boys | $800 | 7--2025091992 |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Geckos Grill & Pub | $800 | 7--2025060650 |
| Oct 21, 2025 | Phillippi Creek Villag Oys Bar | $800 | 7--2025071290 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Paradise Grill | $800 | 7--2025056989 |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Chipotle Mexican Grill #1040 | $800 | 7--2025069758 |
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 Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records
In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Sarasota County has 1,025 FDACS-regulated facilities with 2,042 inspections on record and 476 stop-sale orders issued.
Sarasota County FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders
A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.
| Date | Facility | City | Product | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwik Stop | Sarasota | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… | |
| Wld B 4919 LLC | Bradenton | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling Comments: To request a Food Safety In… |
Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →
Sarasota County FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations
Browse all FDACS violation codes →
Sarasota County Retail Food Chains (FDACS)
| Chain | Locations | Stop-Sale Orders | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | 34 | 84 | 2,422 |
| Starbucks | 31 | 77 | 1,170 |
| Publix | 19 | 30 | 875 |
| Wawa | 17 | 14 | 430 |
| Aldi | 14 | 2 | 310 |
| Walgreens | 14 | 1 | 743 |
| CVS | 14 | 9 | 882 |
| Dollar General | 12 | 57 | 2,871 |
Sarasota County: Notable Restaurants
Fafa INC China Buffet
48 inspections
607 violations
3 closures
Valenti Restaurant
32 inspections
391 violations
3 closures
T J Carney's
29 inspections
328 violations
3 closures
Denny's
49 inspections
382 violations
Veronica Fish and Oyster
39 inspections
195 violations
Two Chefs Market & Bistro
12 inspections
55 violations
Sarasota County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkin | 19 | 1,005 | 3 |
| McDonalds | 19 | 961 | 0 |
| Subway | 15 | 631 | 0 |
| Wendys | 10 | 537 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 8 | 585 | 1 |
| Tropical Smoothie | 6 | 158 | 0 |
| Jersey Mikes | 6 | 373 | 0 |
| First Watch | 6 | 424 | 0 |
| Burger King | 5 | 382 | 0 |
| Culvers | 5 | 382 | 0 |
Sarasota County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Sarasota County?
- Sarasota County, Florida has 2143 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 85.9%.
- 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?
- Cilantro Grill in Sarasota was shut down on May 12, 2026 for roach activity.
- How does Sarasota County compare to the Florida state average?
- Sarasota County has a pass rate of 91%, which is 5.1 percentage points above the state average of 85.9%. The average violations per inspection is 4.8 compared to the state average of 4.66.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Sarasota County?
- Food establishments in Sarasota County have an average of 9.6 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 $235,120 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.
- Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Sarasota County inspected?
- Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Sarasota County, Florida has 1,025 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 2,042 inspections on record.
- How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Sarasota County?
- FDACS has issued 476 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Sarasota County, including 104 in 2026. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.
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Sarasota County Restaurants & Food Establishments (2,125)
Flavios Brick Oven
5239 OCEAN BLVD STE A, Sarasota
23 inspections · 223 violations · Last: Nov 2025Bocca Lupo Coal Fired Pizza
4301 AIDAN LANE, North Port
24 inspections · 222 violations · Last: Aug 2025Walts Fish Market South
4144 S TAMIAMI TRL, Sarasota
23 inspections · 220 violations · Last: May 2026Miguels French Continental
6631 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, Sarasota
21 inspections · 220 violations · Last: Feb 2026Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar Grill
1894 STICKNEY POINT RD, Sarasota
24 inspections · 219 violations · Last: Jun 2026Fugu Hibachi Sushi
1151 S TOLEDO BLVD, North Port
25 inspections · 218 violations · Last: Sep 2025Boca Kitchen Bar and Market
19 S LEMON AVE, Sarasota
36 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Apr 20261592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails
1592 MAIN ST, Sarasota
31 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Dec 2025Asaro's Pizzaria & Italian Restaurant
3999 BEE RIDGE RD EXTENSION, Sarasota
28 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Feb 2026Paya Thai Curry
1055 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, Venice
27 inspections · 216 violations · Last: Jun 2026Junior and Rosie's CafÉ
264 N INDIANA AVE, Englewood
23 inspections · 216 violations · Last: May 2026Original Word of Mouth Venice
1740 E VENICE AVE #1, Venice
27 inspections · 216 violations · Last: May 2026Columbia Restaurant
411 ST ARMAND CIRCLE, Sarasota
29 inspections · 215 violations · Last: Mar 2026China Taste
3800 S TAMIAMI TRL STE 26A, Sarasota
25 inspections · 214 violations · Last: Mar 2026Fox 400 LLC
400 N LEMON AVE, Sarasota
32 inspections · 212 violations · Last: Mar 2026Brewburgers
370 COMMERCIAL CT, Venice
27 inspections · 212 violations · Last: Dec 2025Chart House
201 GULF OF MEXICO DR, Longboat Key
24 inspections · 212 violations · Last: Apr 2026Sushioo Japanese & Asian Cusine
14415 TAMIAMI TRL, North Port
21 inspections · 211 violations · Last: May 2026Bamboo Garden
5010 CLARK RD, Sarasota
30 inspections · 210 violations · Last: Dec 2025Drunken Poet Cafe
1572 MAIN STREET, Sarasota
31 inspections · 210 violations · Last: Mar 2026