Jacksonville Restaurant Inspections: 2 Emergency Closures and 6 Perfect Scores This Week (Oct. 30 to Nov. 5)

State inspectors ordered two Jacksonville-area restaurants to close for emergency fixes during the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, and only six businesses got a perfect inspection on a first visit, according to Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) records.

One of the two had passed a follow-up inspection as of the latest state data. Sweet Mama's has now had two emergency closure orders since August.

Here's everything inspectors found last week in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and nearby towns.

The week by the numbers

Most inspections were in Jacksonville (122) and St. Augustine (19). The rest were in Fernandina Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Fleming Island, St. Johns, Middleburg, Yulee and other nearby towns.

How the 90 first-visit inspections ended

The two emergency closures

An emergency order is the strongest step an inspector can take on the spot. The business has to stop serving the public until it fixes the problems and passes a call-back inspection.

The state data we use doesn't list the specific violations behind emergency orders. You can see each business's full inspection history on its Jax Times page: Sweet Mama's and Pepper's Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar (Fernandina).

The six perfect inspections

Only six businesses had zero violations on a first-visit routine inspection last week, about 1 in 15. A perfect inspection is rare in Florida.

A note on "zero violations" lists: many follow-up visits also show zero violations, because the restaurant fixed what the inspector found the first time. We don't count those here. This list only includes first visits, so it's a fair comparison.

The most violations on a routine inspection

A high violation count doesn't always mean a restaurant is unsafe right now. Many violations are fixed on the spot, and a follow-up visit often finds them resolved.

How this week compares with last week

The state posts some inspections several days after they happen, so the latest week's totals may still grow. The rates (the share with a high-priority violation and the average number of violations) are a better comparison than the totals.

By area

With only a handful of inspections in some areas, one or two can swing those numbers, so watch the trend over several weeks rather than any single one.

New restaurants licensed this week

Before a restaurant can open, or when it changes owners, a state inspector does a licensing inspection. These 17 passed last week:

A new license doesn't always mean a brand-new restaurant. The state also does a licensing inspection when an existing restaurant gets a new owner.

What the violations mean

Florida doesn't give restaurants a letter grade or a 0-to-100 score. Inspectors record each problem as one of three types:

• High-priority: problems that could directly contribute to foodborne illness or injury, such as food held at unsafe temperatures or signs of pests.
• Intermediate: problems that could lead to high-priority risks if they aren't fixed, such as missing required food-safety training or paperwork.
• Basic: best-practice and maintenance issues, such as dirty floors or a missing thermometer.

Each inspection then ends with an official result. "Inspection Completed - No Further Action" is the most common. A warning comes with a call-back visit, an administrative complaint can lead to fines, and an emergency order closes the business until it passes a call-back inspection.

How to check any restaurant

Every inspection in this story comes from our free Jacksonville restaurant inspection lookup. You can search any restaurant or food truck by name or ZIP code, see its full history and follow it to get an email when it's inspected again.

See the newest results any time on our new inspections page.

Common questions

How often are Florida restaurants inspected?
The state inspects licensed restaurants on a regular schedule, and more often when a restaurant has had problems. Inspectors also come out when someone files a complaint.

Can I file a complaint about a restaurant?
Yes. You can file a complaint with DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants online at myfloridalicense.com. An inspector may visit as a result.

Why does this roundup end on Saturday?
State inspection records take a few days to appear online. This roundup covers Friday, Oct. 30 through Thursday, Nov. 5, the most recent full week available.

We publish this roundup every week. Know a restaurant that deserves a shout-out? Tell us at [email protected].