Temporary Closures Due to Pest Activity and Health Violations
Last week, state inspectors temporarily closed nine restaurants across Palm Beach and Broward counties after identifying conditions that posed elevated health risks. The closures were primarily due to pest activity, including roaches, rodents, and flies, as well as other violations such as lack of proper dishwashing facilities and unsafe food temperatures.
Among the closed establishments were Shanghai 818 in Boca Raton, Deck 84 in Delray Beach, and Pizzapiez in Deerfield Beach. All nine restaurants were allowed to reopen within about a day after correcting the cited issues.
Details on Specific Closures
Shanghai 818, located at 7860 Glades Road in Boca Raton, was closed on the afternoon of September 16 due to roach and rodent activity. Inspectors documented 11 high-priority, four intermediate, and seven basic violations, including multiple instances of food held at unsafe temperatures and cross-contamination. Although a first callback the following day still found four high-priority violations, a second inspection later that day cleared the restaurant to reopen at 3:18 p.m. on September 17.
Deck 84 at 840 E. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach was closed on September 17 for roach and rodent activity. The inspection recorded six high-priority, two intermediate, and three basic violations, with pest activity cited four times. The restaurant reopened the next afternoon.
Pizzapiez at 614 SE 10th Street in Deerfield Beach was closed on September 15 due to rodent activity. The inspection found two high-priority, two intermediate, and eight basic violations. The restaurant reopened the following day.
Two dining operations at the Fountains Country Club in Lake Worth—the Main Dining Room and The Pub—were closed on September 17 over rodent activity. Each had two high-priority violations documented during complaint inspections and both reopened the next morning.
In West Palm Beach, Rivales Taqueria and Craft Bar at 106 N. Olive Avenue was closed on September 14 because it lacked facilities for washing dishes and utensils. The inspection documented five high-priority, six intermediate, and 11 basic violations. The restaurant reopened the next morning.
In Broward County, CT Cantina and Taqueria in Dania Beach was closed on September 16 due to fly activity, with seven high-priority, three intermediate, and four basic violations. Au Bon Gout Take Out Restaurant in Pompano Beach was closed on September 15 for rodent activity, with four high-priority, three intermediate, and eight basic violations. Both reopened the next day.
Vale Food Company in Fort Lauderdale was closed on the morning of September 15 over fly activity, with one high-priority, two intermediate, and four basic violations, and was cleared to reopen that afternoon.
Inspection Trends and Violations
Beyond the closures, inspectors conducted initial visits to 375 establishments across Palm Beach and Broward counties last week. Of these, 95 were cited with three or more high-priority violations. The most common issues were cross-contamination and food held at unsafe temperatures, each cited at more than 135 establishments.
Boca Raton accounted for a significant portion of the violations, with 27 of the 95 establishments cited for multiple high-priority violations. Notably, Narbona at 5250 Town Center Circle had the highest count with 12 high-priority violations during a routine inspection on September 16. Other Boca Raton establishments with high counts included Tap 42, Houston’s, Boca Raton Marriott, and Saquella Cafe.
Outside Boca Raton, Bageland and More in Coral Springs and Oyako Sushi in Boynton Beach also received multiple high-priority violation citations.
Understanding Emergency Closures
Emergency closures are temporary measures taken when inspectors find conditions that pose an elevated risk to the public or employees. These closures are not disciplinary actions but require businesses to remain closed until the issues are resolved.
All nine restaurants closed last week were able to address the violations promptly and reopen within about a day.
Source: Original report