In a report published by the Florida Department of Business and professional Regulation for the week ending September 8, two of eight restaurants in the state closed due to health violations were in Miami. Roach activity, which is the leading cause of restaurant closures in Florida, was observed at Cine Citta Cafe in Surfside and Pasha's in Brickell.
Cine Citta, which is licensed under Clue Citta Cafe, is a beachside seafood restaurant where inspectors observed more than 30 live roaches by the kitchen dishwashing machines. They also saw food contact surfaces that were encrusted with grease and/or soil deposits; improper separation of raw animal foods and ready-to-eat foods; cooler gaskets; accumulated debris in the dishwashing machine and a hot water supply not maintained during peak periods. The restaurant was closed on Sept. 4 and allowed to reopen the next day after resolving every single violation. Representatives at Cine Citta said they are in the process of preparing a statement for the press once management finishes its investigation.
Pasha's Brickell, a Mediterranean restaurant with three locations in Miami, was closed September 7 and allowed to reopen the next day after taking care of six reported violations. More than 10 live roaches were underneath a coffee machine; there was improper horizontal separation of raw animal foods and ready-to-eat foods; no hand washing sign at a sink used by employees in the men's restroom; food was removed from the original container and not identified by the common name; potentially hazardous food was not held at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above; and there was no proof of required employee training provided. Management could not be reached for comment.
The nature, and not the number, of critical violations are what cause a restaurant to be closed. Each of 45,000 licensed food service establishments in Florida are supposed to be inspected twice a year, but the State is operating behind a noticeable backlog. When a restaurant is closed, an inspector visits every 24 hours to make sure the violations are resolved before it is allowed to reopen. Repeated violations can net fines of up to $1,000.
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