Dirty Dining of the Day – Cheddar’s Casual Cafe in Tamarac

• Sharon Aron Baron
• 11 years ago

Restaurant inspection results have revealed one popular Tamarac restaurant failing their inspection with 32 violations.

According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, Cheddar’s Casual Cafe received 20 critical violations, which if not corrected, are more likely to contribute directly to food contamination or illness.

Cheddar’s, located at at 7951 W. Commercial Boulevard was founded in Arlington, TX in 1979 and now has over 80 franchised locations around the country.  They have great food and it’s a shame that their recent inspection on November 6 has produced so many violations that would result in risks to the public.  Let’s hope that they clear these up and get a clean bill of health on the next inspection.

Here are their violations including those that were corrected onsite:

1. Observed live gnats in kitchen.
2.  No thermometer provided to measure temperature of food product.
3. Observed potentially hazardous food thawed in an improper manner. Beef in sink.
4. Potentially hazardous food thawed in an improper manner. Spinach in sink. Corrected On Site.
5. Observed improper vertical separation of raw animal foods and ready-to-eat foods.
6. Raw beef stored over fish on cook line.
7. Observed uncovered food in holding unit/dry storage area.
8. Apple pie in freezer.
9. Observed uncovered food in holding unit/dry storage area.
10. Salad mix in walkin cooler.
11. Observed uncovered food in holding unit/dry storage area.
12. Parmesan cheese in walk in cooler.
13. Observed uncovered food in holding unit/dry storage area. Garnishes at bar.
14. Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. (Dishwasher)
15. Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. (Cooks)
16. Observed improper use of bowl/plastic food container or other container with no handle used to dispense ready-to-eat food, to scoop bread crumbs and black pepper.
17. Observed bare hand contact of ready-to-eat food by employees and establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure in effect. Garnishes at bar.
18. Observed in-use utensil used with moist food not stored in running water of sufficient velocity.
19. Observed employee switch from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. (Cooks.)
20. Observed food employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands and the establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Cooks on line.
21. Observed gaskets/seals on cold holding unit in poor repair. Reach in cooler at salad station.
22. Observed cutting board grooved/pitted and no longer cleanable.
23. Hood filters are not tight-fitting and firmly held in place – leaving open spaces. For reporting purposes only.
24. Observed mop/service sink in disrepair.
25. Mop sink has missing tiles.
26. Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
27. Observed encrusted, soiled material on slicer.
28. Observed interior of reach-in freezer soiled with accumulation of food residue. Ice cream.
29. Observed build-up of mold-like substance on surface of nonfood-contact surface.Walkin cooler door and curtains.
30. Observed build-up of food debris, dust or dirt on nonfood-contact surface. Dish machine.
31. Observed water draining onto floor surface, from salad reach-in cooler.
32. Waste line missing at soda gun holster.
33. Covered waste receptacle not provided in women’s bathroom.
34. Lack of toilet tissue at each toilet. Corrected On Site.
35. Observed attached equipment soiled with accumulated dust. A/C vents throughout.
36. No copy of latest inspection report. Corrected On Site.
37. Manager lacking proof of Food Manager Certification. This violation must be corrected by : 1-7-2013.