Bella Brava
Last inspected: Nov 19, 2025
61
Score
Bella Brava has been inspected eight times since 2022. On Nov 19, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around 11 violations to closer to five violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded six times.
Bella Brava's latest score of 61 falls below the St. Petersburg average of 77. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
3
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 19, 2025
Complaint Full
3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Clan opener blade with dried food debris. Soda gun nozzles soiled in bar area.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Missing at hand sink across from fryers on cook line. Chef put a stack of paper towels at the hand sink. Missing at hand sink across from soda syrup boxes in salad station area. Missing a5 hand sink in pizza preparation area in front dinning room. Dispenser was stocked.**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Of purple liquid substance stored under three compartment sink. Employee labeled as degreaser. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Salad station reach in deli cooler.
29-49-6
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior soiled with dried food debris in double door cooler across from walk in cooler.
22-16-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Bottom oven interior spiked with grease build up of convection oven on cook line.
22-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Box of fryer pile stored on floor under hand sink across from fryers on the cook line. Item was moved. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
61
Sep 22, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Person in charge ran the chlorine dish machine a few times and the chlorine tested at 0 PPM. The machine was primed to allow the chemical to run through the line and the chlorine is now testing at 50 PPM. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with dried food debris. Can opener sent to the dish machine to be washed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Dough mixer bar stored inside hand sink next to mixer in front counter area. Item was removed out of hand sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Missing at handwashing sink at he end of cook line near pizza oven. Missing at handwashing sink in front counter area near mixer. Paper towels stocked at both stations. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
64
Apr 28, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
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. Mortadella.
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Bar
31B-04-4
Basic - Torn gasket pizza area.
14-11-5
74
Sep 13, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Copper or copper alloys in contact with foods with a pH below 6. Copper mugs used for Moscow Mules with a pH below 6 used in bar area. **Repeat Violation**
14-02-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw beef over raw clams in walk in freezer not all commercially packaged. Chef stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-17-6
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Employee touched ready to eat food to be serve to customers with bare hands. Inspector advised Chef to reheat above 145 F and restart cooling process. **Corrective Action Taken**
09-01-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled bottle of sanitizer behind bar. Manager labeled. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Employee ate food in a food prep area.
12B-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee keys and cell phone on prep table at pasta station. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water by dish machine area.
36-22-4
Basic - Presetting of unwrapped silverware and/or tableware outdoors.
24-01-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go boxes stored behind bar not inverted for protection. Manager inverted. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
45
Feb 9, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Copper or copper alloys in contact with foods with a pH below 6. Copper cups used to make Moscow Mules with a ph below 6.
14-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink behind bar used as a dump sink. Manager set up correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Butter held on time at server station with no written plan. Inspector emailed Time as a Public Health Control.
03F-10-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Glass cleaner behind bar not labeled. Manager labeled. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Mold like substance in ice machine near walk in cooler.
22-20-5
Basic - Dishmachine not washing/rinsing properly. Must wash, rinse and sanitize all dishware, equipment and utensils in three-compartment sink until dishmachine is functioning properly. Dish machine behind bar not sanitizing properly. Establishment is using high temperature dish machine in kitchen.
16-55-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bread stored on floor of walk in freezer. Manager stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees at bar sink. **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
50
Nov 6, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 6 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On steam well across from cook top: pomodoro sauce with fresh garlic and oil (77F - Hot Holding); cheese sauce (47F - Hot Holding); mushroom soup (74F - Hot Holding) Manager had employee reheat items on cooktop. Items reached 180 F. Items are now being hot held at 142 F. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly in bar area not landing on food or food contact surfaces. **Repeat Violation**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener on prep table in salad preparation station had built up food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink across from ware washing area in kitchen is blocked by roll cart with food on it. Manager moved toll cart. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand wash sink in pasta preparation area. Manager replaced. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap at hand wash sink in pasta preparation area. Manager replaced soap. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Bottle of bleach and water outside of walk in cooler not properly labeled. Employee labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Water softener not maintained according to manufacturer's instructions. Water softener filters in hallway between kitchen and walk in cooler dated 03/26/2021.
29-31-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee wallet and keys on prep table next to hand wash sink across from cook line. Employee stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Employee cooking burger on grill with silver bracelet on wrist.
13-07-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Handle of scoop for sugar in pasta preparation area touching the sugar. Manager washed hands, put on gloves and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-01-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No hand wash sign at hand wash sink at end of cook line across from fryers.
31B-04-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Grey cutting board on cook line across from grill top has grooved cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage on prep table across from cook line next to hand wash sink. Employee stored properly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
29
Mar 27, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter on cook line: butter (117F - Hot Holding) Manager placed on cooktop on reheated to 165 F for one second. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer used to sanitize clean in place equipment not at proper minimum strength. Do not use equipment not properly sanitized. Quaternary sanitizer bucket at 0 ppm quaternary. Manager corrected to 200 ppm quaternary. **Corrected On-Site**
22-53-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee engaged in food preparation by donning gloves and no hand wash.
12A-07-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly in mop sink in rear storage area not landing on food or food contact surfaces. 6 live flies behind bar area not landing on food or food contact surfaces. **Repeat Violation**
35A-02-6
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.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener has built up food debris.
22-02-4
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. Forms are not completed.
11-26-1
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Ice scoop handle touching ice in rear storage area. Manager stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs stored on oven handle. Manager stored properly. **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cooking oil stored on the floor. Manager stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage on food prep table, employee removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice bucket by ice machine not inverted for protection. Manager stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Squeeze bottles on cook line not labeled with common name. Oil, chili oil and honey.
02D-01-5
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go boxes on cook line not inverted for protection. Manager inverted. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has mold like substance.
22-20-5
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
26
Aug 22, 2022
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 4 major violations. 21 minor violations.
View 31 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine is reading 0 ppm chlorine. Manager set up three-compartment sink at 100 ppm chlorine. **Warning**
22-49-4
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Two cans of peeled tomatoes dented. 12 lbs and 20 ounces **Warning**
01B-01-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Hose bibb on mop sink lacking vacuum breaker. Employee put vacuum breaker on hose bibb. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
29-34-4
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. Server brought in dirty dishes from table and took plated food out to the table. Employee put on gloves with no hand wash and began working with food. **Warning**
12A-02-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly by soda bags in salad prep station area. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee touched trash in trash bag and did not remove gloves and wash hands. Advised Manager who made employee remove gloves and wash hands. **Warning**
12A-29-4
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. **Warning**
11-07-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Slicer guard and blade last used 8/21. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in pizza prep area is blocked by dough mixer and ladder. Employee removed ladder. Still not entirely accessible. **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Paper towels at hand wash sink near pizza oven are not located near hand wash sink. **Warning**
31B-02-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Oven in kitchen next to cook line has built up food debris. **Warning**
22-08-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Top of dish machine has built up food and lime scale debris. **Warning**
16-21-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl used as flour scoop in kitchen. Bowl used to dispense sugar does not have handle. **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Ceiling area in upstairs dry goods storage area is in disrepair. **Warning**
36-32-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling tiles in kitchen have built up grease debris. **Warning**
36-34-5
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered receptacle in employee only bathroom upstairs. **Warning**
32-12-5
Basic - Damaged/spoiled/recalled food not properly segregated. Two cans of peeled tomatoes dented. 12 lbs and 20 ounces. **Warning**
08B-20-4
Basic - Dumpster overflowing garbage. **Warning**
33-14-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage on prep table near hand wash sink. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee put on hat. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Wet nesting in pans in ware washing area. **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Water bottles stored on the floor in upstairs storage area. **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Food stored outside. Parmesan cheese stored in cheese grader outside on service table not covered or monitored. **Warning**
08B-42-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knives stored under printer in kitchen across from pizza oven. **Warning**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs on oven handle in kitchen. Manager relocated. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-20-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No hand wash sign in either men's or women's restroom. **Warning**
31B-04-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. To go containers stored outside near patio tables. Plates stored outside are not inverted or covered for protection. Napkins with silverware not protected. All items have dirt and leaves debris. To go containers stored in the floor in upstairs storage area. **Warning**
25-05-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall area soiled in ware washing area of kitchen. **Warning**
36-27-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On prep table near hand wash sink, wet wash cloth not stored in sanitizing solution. **Warning**
21-12-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of sugar in salad prep station area not labeled. **Warning**
02D-01-5
10
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Bella Brava last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Bella Brava on file is from Nov 19, 2025. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Bella Brava?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Bella Brava.
How does Bella Brava compare to other restaurants in St. Petersburg?
Bella Brava most recently scored 61 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Petersburg average of 77.
Has Bella Brava's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Bella Brava have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly 11 earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Bella Brava 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 Bella Brava inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Bella Brava is inspected around two times per year on average.
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