By Kevin Deutsch
A North Lauderdale Creole food restaurant was briefly shut down this month after state inspectors slapped the business with 17 violations, including an issue with live roaches, inspection records show.
The violations discovered Feb. 10 by Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors at Will’s Cafe Creole Restaurant, 5460 N. State Road 7, Suite 104, included seven “high priority” violations, considered the most severe by the state.
“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found…” the inspectors wrote. “Observed 1 live roach crawling on the floor…2 live roach[es] crawling inside cabinets…1 live roach crawling on the floor at counter…2 live roaches crawling on dining room floor.”
The other high priority violations were for issues that included:
“Food prepared in a private home…[for sale on] front counter…observed container of cashews, peanuts, bread, fried chips, sesame pies being made from home.”
“Stop Sale issued due to food originating from an unapproved source…observed bottles of kremas juice with no warning label and from an unapproved source.”
“Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.”
“Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored…observed chemicals hanging over dry storage foods.”
The 45-seat eatery addressed the violations and reopened the following day, the records show. The business received an extension to deal with one outstanding issue: Its “outer openings not [being] protected with self-closing doors” to protect from bugs and rodents.”
The state regularly conducts inspections of public food service and lodging establishments to ensure compliance with Florida’s sanitation and safety laws.
According to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, each inspection report is a “snapshot” of conditions at the time of the inspection.
“On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection,” according to the agency. “An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. Because conditions can change rapidly, establishments are not graded or rated.”
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