4000 Ponce Cafe
Last inspected: Feb 9, 2026
74
Score
Going back to 2022, 4000 Ponce Cafe has nine inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Feb 9, 2026. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near four violations per visit across recent inspections.
“Time/temperature control for safety food” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing six times across the record.
4000 Ponce Cafe's latest score of 74 sits above the Coral Gables average of 68. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 9, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at hot box empanadas (109F - Hot Holding); ham croquette (98F - Hot Holding) as per operator for less than 2 hours. Employee increased heat to reheat items. **Repeat Violation**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Observed expired for Lazard Leon on 1/1/2026.
53B-14-5
Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Observed in container of tuna salad in reach in cooler.
10-06-5
74
Sep 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at hot box empanadas (112F - Hot Holding). As per employee for 1 hour. Employee increased heat. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand sink blocked by storage cart. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee placed hair net. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
74
Mar 17, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed at reach in cooler raw shelled eggs stored over sliced tomatoes. **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at hot box empanadas (101F - Hot Holding). As per employee for 1 hour. Employee increased heat. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Employee provided. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
55
Sep 27, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed at reach in cooler shelled eggs stored over tequenos and tuna salad.
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at crock pot spaghetti (119F - Hot Holding). As per employee about 2 hours. Employee began to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed at hand wash sink. Operator provided. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand sink blocked by rolling cart. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
58
Apr 12, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at hot box empanadas (119F - Hot Holding). As per operator for about 2 hours. Operator reheated empanadas to 168F during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Observed displayed license dated 10/01/2023.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee preparing food and coffees with no hair restraint. Employee placed hair restraint. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed in both the women's and men's bathrooms.
31B-04-4
74
Jan 18, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-01-18: **Time Extended**
50-17-3
86
Dec 4, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed raw shell eggs stored above sliced ham located in the low boy reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine strips available at the time of the inspection. **Warning**
16-37-1
Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Observed for the tuna salad,located in the prep reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-06-5
64
Mar 27, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot box: empanadas (114F - Hot Holding); croquettes (112F - Hot Holding)as per operator about an hr ago, operator reheated to 178F for further hot holding. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed small bowl used to dispense bacon crumbles, located in the prep reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
70
Jul 29, 2022
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was 4000 Ponce Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at 4000 Ponce Cafe on file is from Feb 9, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at 4000 Ponce Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at 4000 Ponce Cafe.
How does 4000 Ponce Cafe compare to other restaurants in Coral Gables?
4000 Ponce Cafe most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is higher than the Coral Gables average of 68.
Has 4000 Ponce Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at 4000 Ponce Cafe have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at 4000 Ponce Cafe means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is 4000 Ponce Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, 4000 Ponce Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
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