Balas Pizza
Last inspected: Dec 17, 2025
86
Score
Balas Pizza has been inspected seven times since 2022. On Dec 17, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around two violations lately and about six violations before that.
Looking across the full record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
Among St. Johns restaurants, the typical score is 69; Balas Pizza is comfortably above that bar. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
7
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Garlic in oil at 71F. Per operator, garlic was left out for customer orders. Garlic placed in bottom of reach in cooler to chill. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
86
Jun 11, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Soiled ice chute at self serve
22-20-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Soiled exterior of equipment including handles to coolers.
23-24-4
90
Jan 23, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Cleaning wipes in cabinet by restrooms stored above single service lids and ready to eat sauces. Manager removed wipes from cabinet. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom right of pizza flip top reach in cooler.
29-49-6
Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. Cardboard pizza box used to line prep table shelf holding bulk sugar bucket.
14-45-4
78
Mar 1, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. pizza sauce (50F - Cold Holding) on top of container in top section of reach in cooler pizza make table, per employee sauce is taken in and out of cooler for less then 1 hour, sauce placed back in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Individual portions of cheesecake and Tiramisu in standing reach in cooler near front counter, per operator items where taken out of packaging 2 days prior.
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. ground beef (86F - Cooling, after 45F 83F) in covered standing reach in cooler in prep. pizza sauce (46F - Cooling, after 45 minutes 46F) in stacked covered plastic containers in walk in cooler and in stacked covered metal containers in reach in cooler by pizza oven.
03D-15-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Bag of onions and containers of cooking oil on lower shelf of table sitting on ground under front counter and in back prep area.
08B-47-4
67
Jul 11, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In the flip top reach in cooler on the main cook line closest to the pizza oven; sausage (47F - Cold Holding); beef (46F - Cold Holding). Operator states flip top was open during lunch rush and from stocking, operator placed frozen product on food out of temperature to bring back into temperature range. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener on the prep line has old food debris on the blade. Operator cleaned and sanitized the can opener. White cutting board on the shelf over the three compartment sink has build up of food residue staining. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. No bodily fluid clean up kit or written procedures available. Inspector provided written procedures. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Basic - In-use utensil not stored on a clean portion of food preparation or cooking equipment. Pizza paddle stored on top of pizza oven. Operator placed the pizza paddle on a clean tray to allow access for cleaning. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-02-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. At time of inspection frozen sausage thawing at ambient air temperature on the back prep table and in standing water at the three compartment sink. Operator relocated the sausage to refrigeration and to cold running water. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee shirt and hat stored on shelf over thawing sausage in the prep area. Operator relocated the employee items to the lowest shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
61
Dec 21, 2022
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. On the front pizza display case, pizzas held on time as public health control with no time marking for pizzas currently displayed. Operator states all pizzas cooked within the last 30 minutes and has not had the chance to place time marking on the hanging chart. Employee placed time marking on the chart for the pizzas. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener on the prep table opposite the standup reach in cooler in the prep area has old food debris on the blade. Operator removed the can opener and cleaned and sanitized the blade area. Reach in chest freezer has mold like substance spots on the door gasket. Operator cleaned and sanitized the freezer door gaskets. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At time of inspection hot water at cook line hand wash sink turned off, operator turned the hot water back on. Operator states has a maintenance call in for issue with water faucet when hot water is turned on. **Corrected On-Site**
27-16-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage stored on the shelf over the three compartment sink with clean utensils and containers. Operator relocated the employee beverage. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. In the back prep area, employee jacket stored on cans of tomato sauce. Operator relocated the employee jacket to the correct storage location. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the shelf over the three compartment sink, clean plastic containers stacked while wet.
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. In the walk in cooler, container of pizza sauce stored on the floor while cooling down. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use utensil not stored on a clean portion of food preparation or cooking equipment. On the main cook line, pizza paddles stored on top of the pizza oven. Operator placed pizza paddles on a clean sheet tray. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-02-4
55
Sep 13, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. At time of inspection establishment utilizing time as a public health control for pizza by the slice and garlic in oil, no time mark for the items on the product as listed on the written plan. Operator wrote the times down on a chart for the items currently being held on time, all products in the 4 hour window. Inspector assisted in correctly filling out the written plan and instructed operator on correct ways to time mark time/temperature control food for safety held on time. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. In the back prep area, reach in chest freezer next to the standup reach in cooler has mold like substance spots I the freezer door gaskets.
22-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. In the walk in cooler, bulk container of pizza sauce stored on the floor.
08B-38-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. On the metal storage shelf at the entrance to the prep area next to the three compartment sink, plastic containers on shelf not inverted or covered for protection. Operator inverted the plastic containers. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. On the main cook line next to the steam table, plastic portion cup stored in container of parmesan cheese. Employee removed the plastic portion cup. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - In-use utensil not stored on a clean portion of food preparation or cooking equipment. On the main cook line, pizza paddle stored on top of the pizza oven under the hood system.
10-02-4
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. On the storage shelf over the three compartment sink, clean metal container with old food debris on the side of the container. Operator placed the container back into the three compartment sink to be rewashed and sanitized. **Corrective Action Taken**
16-48-4
61
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Balas Pizza last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Balas Pizza on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Balas Pizza?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Balas Pizza.
How does Balas Pizza compare to other restaurants in St. Johns?
Balas Pizza most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is higher than the St. Johns average of 69.
Has Balas Pizza's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Balas Pizza have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Balas Pizza means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Balas Pizza inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Balas Pizza is inspected around two times per year on average.
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