Sarasota — Food Safety Records

Overview

Sarasota, Florida has 802 food establishments with 14,614 inspections on record. 3 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 90.5%, 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 February 23, 2026.

Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.

802Facilities
14,614Inspections
3Closures 2026
90.5%Pass Rate
4.7Avg Violations

Sarasota Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages

Sarasota 90.5% Pass Rate 90.5%
Florida Average 85.7% Pass Rate 85.7%
Sarasota 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Florida Average 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Sarasota 0.37 Closures per 100 Facilities 0.37
Florida Average 1.96 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.96

Sarasota Restaurants: Recent Closures (1)

DateBusinessReason
Michelles Brown Bag Cafe LLC Rodent activity

Sarasota Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)

DateBusinessViolationsResult
Panera Bread #1342 3 Warning Issued
Cafe Barbosso 2 Call Back - Complied
Blue Pineapple 2 (2 high) Administrative complaint recommended
Five Star Pizza (sarasota) 4 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Cafe Barbosso 6 (2 high) Warning Issued
Asian Kitchen 3 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Chick-fil-a 'pelican Plaza' Fsu #4072 2 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Bohemios Wine & Beer 1 Call Back - Complied
Samurai Japanese Fusion 10 (2 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Raining Berries 2 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Sarasota Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations

Sarasota Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines

597Actions on Record
$226,370Total Fines
$384Avg Fine
$4,800Largest Fine
290Facilities Fined

Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)

DateBusinessFineCase
Feb 23, 2026 Green Zebra Cafe $1,600 7--2025071275
Mar 11, 2026 Art Ovation Hotel $1,600 7--2026009824
Nov 25, 2025 China Kitchen $1,600 7--2025060114
Oct 21, 2025 Green Zebra Cafe $1,600 7--2025047454
Oct 21, 2025 Phillippi Creek Villag Oys Bar $800 7--2025071290
Oct 23, 2025 Chipotle Mexican Grill #1040 $800 7--2025069758
Mar 4, 2026 Florence and the Spice Boys $800 7--2025091992
Jun 24, 2026 Cilantro Grill $800 7--2026034052
Jan 22, 2026 Shs Sarasota $800 7--2025071080
Sep 29, 2025 Red Clasico Sarssota $600 7--2025067782

Sarasota Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations

270Fire Violations
164Facilities Cited

Most Common Fire Safety Issues

IssueCitations
Exit blocked or locked 92
Fire extinguisher in red zone 64
Other fire safety violation 49
Propane tank stored inside building 47
Missing boiler certificate/report 10
Cooking without hood suppression 8

Sarasota: Notable Restaurants

Sarasota: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)

ChainLocationsViolationsClosures
McDonalds 12 626 0
Subway 12 461 0
Dunkin 9 611 0
Taco Bell 5 474 1
First Watch 4 310 0
Tropical Smoothie 4 102 0
Panera Bread 4 412 0
Chick-fil-a 4 219 0
Jersey Mikes 4 350 0
Wendys 4 404 1

Sarasota Restaurant Inspections: FAQ

How many restaurants are in Sarasota?
Sarasota, Florida has 802 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Sarasota?
The current pass rate for food establishments in Sarasota is 90.5%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
How many restaurants were shut down in Sarasota this year?
3 food establishments in Sarasota have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
What are the most common health violations in Sarasota?
The most frequently cited violations in Sarasota are: Proper hand/arm washing, Food contact surfaces, Clean multi-use utensils.
Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Sarasota?
McDonalds has the most locations in Sarasota with 12 establishments.
What was the most recent restaurant closure in Sarasota?
Michelles Brown Bag Cafe LLC in Sarasota was shut down on September 17, 2026 for rodent activity.
How does Sarasota compare to the Florida state average?
Sarasota has a pass rate of 90.5%, which is 4.8 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?
Food establishments in Sarasota 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 been assessed?
Food establishments in Sarasota have been assessed $226,370 in fines across 597 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $384 and the largest single fine was $4,800.
How many fire safety violations have been found in Sarasota restaurants?
270 fire safety violations have been documented across 164 food establishments in Sarasota. The most common issue is exit blocked or locked.

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Sarasota Restaurants & Food Establishments (794)

Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar

325 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota

27 inspections · 146 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Marina Jacks Rest

2 MARINA PLAZA, Sarasota

24 inspections · 145 violations · Last: Jun 2026

Carrabba's Italian Grill

1940 STICKNEY POINT RD, Sarasota

21 inspections · 144 violations · Last: Apr 2026

China Garden Sarasota INC

2035 BAHIA VISTA ST, Sarasota

19 inspections · 143 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Daruma Japanese Stkhse & Sushi Lge

5459 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota

18 inspections · 142 violations · Last: Nov 2025

Misty Creek Country Club

8954 MISTY CREEK DR, Sarasota

26 inspections · 140 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Blue Dolphin Cafe

470 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota

28 inspections · 140 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Tropical Thai Restaurant

1535 MAIN ST, Sarasota

19 inspections · 137 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Rico's Pizzeria

6547 GATEWAY AVE, Sarasota

22 inspections · 137 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Coco's Bistro

5321 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota

28 inspections · 136 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Basil's Flame Broiled Chicken

4300 BEE RIDGE RD #600, Sarasota

23 inspections · 136 violations · Last: Sep 2026

McDonald's Corp

3901 CATTLEMEN RD, Sarasota

28 inspections · 135 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Fountain Kitchen and Wine Bar

543 S PINEAPPLE AVE, Sarasota

25 inspections · 133 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Schnitzel Kitchen

9521 SUPERIOR AVE UNIT B, Sarasota

18 inspections · 133 violations · Last: Jun 2026

Ricos Pizzeria & Deli

1902 BAY RD, Sarasota

21 inspections · 133 violations · Last: Jan 2026

Sara Bay Country Club INC

7011 WILLOW ST, Sarasota

18 inspections · 133 violations · Last: Jan 2026

Green Zebra Cafe

476 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota

26 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Kacey's Seafood & More

4904 FRUITVILLE RD, Sarasota

20 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Ricos Pizza

322 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, Sarasota

23 inspections · 132 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Casa Masa

5214 OCEAN BLVD, Sarasota

27 inspections · 131 violations · Last: Aug 2026