Ball and Chain

1513 Sw 8Th Street, Miami, FL 33135
Bar / Pub
Last inspected: Dec 15, 2025
95
Score
Low Risk

Inspectors have visited Ball and Chain nine times, with records going back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Dec 15, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.

Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near three violations per visit.

“In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.

Restaurants in Miami average 74, so Ball and Chain is doing better than most peers. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 15, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Main kitchen. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
95
Jul 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Bar area: soda nozzles soiled. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Clean utensils stored between equipment and wall. Bar area: knives stored between the prep sink and ice bin. **Corrected On-Site**
24-14-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water at the bar area. **Corrective Action Taken**
36-22-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. In the bar area. **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
78
Jan 3, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Discussed with the operator and provided the form. Observed employees on duty trained and signed. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.
22-20-5
Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Bottom shelf of a prep table by the to the kitchen with torn foil on the bottom shelf.
14-20-4
82
Oct 7, 2024
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ware wash area: clean spoons and utensils stored with the handle down. Discussed with the operator the proper method. Observed the operator store the spoons correctly. **Repeat Violation**
24-05-4
Basic - Clean wiping cloth supply not properly stored. Observed sanitizer bucket stored on the floor in the kitchen. Operator stored bucket properly. **Corrected On-Site**
21-19-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed reach in cooler next to prep table with gaskets torn.
14-11-5
86
Apr 4, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
58
Nov 27, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 15, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 7 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 18 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed under prep table: raw burger patties (56F - Cold Holding), as per operator stored over night. Operator discarded.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed under prep table: burger patty (56F - Cold Holding), as per operator stored over night inside the reach in cooler. Operator discarded.
01B-02-5
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. Emailed form to operator. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed interior of 2nd ice machine soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand washing sink next to the stove obstructed by table.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Observed the current layout of the establishment does not match the approved plans by the Division. The establishment has been remodeled by the same owner. Observed in the kitchen the prep sink next to the handwashing sink has been removed, the mop sink has been removed from the kitchen and relocated outside through the patio nearby the room of liquor storage room, there is a full bar outside in the back of the building with a dishwasher, 3 ice bins with spray gun hoses, a hand washing sink, inside bar area: dump sink, glass dishwasher, and ice bin added in the space by the glass storage.
51-16-7
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Emailed form to operator. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Observed no quaternary chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
16-37-1
Intermediate - Observed the establishment menu with burgers and skirt steak to the desire if the customer does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory.
02B-01-5
Basic - Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty drawer or rack. Observed clean knives stored in a dirty container by the cooking station.
24-06-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed reach in cooler in front of stove with ambient temperature of 50F. As per operator, has a work order and placed items on ice.
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floors throughout the kitchen and ice machine room soiled.
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in cooler in front of the stove with gaskets soiled, and interior with debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Observed ice bucket stored on floor in the ice machine room.
10-14-5
Basic - Observed ice scoop handle in contact with ice in the bar area. **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - Observed in-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
Basic - Observed in-use utensil as tongs, knives and bar spoon stored in standing water in room temperature in the bar area. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured. Kitchen and outside bar area, tanks not secured.
51-11-4
23
Feb 14, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Oven door. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood with dust/grease build up.
23-03-4
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Kitchen, bucket with quaternary sanitizer solution stored on the floor by the cook line. **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Kitchen: 1 unsecured helium tank stored on the floor by the reach in cooler.
51-11-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ware wash area: clean spoons and utensils stored with the handle down. Discussed with the operator the proper method. Observed the operator store the spoons correctly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
24-05-4
70
Jul 13, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. **Corrected On-Site**
02B-02-5
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed food debris underneath kitchen working tables.
36-73-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Observed missing ambient thermometer inside cooler next to Main door.
05-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed dusty top surface of all kitchen shelves throughout.
23-03-4
74

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ball and Chain last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Ball and Chain on file is from Dec 15, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Ball and Chain?

Across the inspection record, “in-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Ball and Chain.

How does Ball and Chain compare to other restaurants in Miami?

Ball and Chain most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Miami average of 74.

Has Ball and Chain's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Ball and Chain have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Ball and Chain 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 Ball and Chain inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Ball and Chain is inspected around three times per year on average.