Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue
Last inspected: Mar 3, 2026
55
Score
Going back to 2022, Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue has 17 inspections in the public record. The newest entry in the record is dated Mar 3, 2026. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around four violations per visit lately, up from roughly zero violations before.
When inspectors have written things up, “water with a temperature” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.
The city-wide average sits at 78, which Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue's 55 doesn't quite reach. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
17
Inspections
1
Critical latest
4
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 3, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Large storage pans washed, rinsed not sanitized before storage.
22-45-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Restroom hand washing sink, 78F.
27-16-4
Intermediate - Establishment curing food without an approved Process Waiver from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Prague powder used for curing and production of sausages. **Warning**
03G-41-2
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper hand towels at restroom hand washing sink.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Prague powder used for curing and production of sausages. **Warning**
03G-50-1
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. Dumpster in parking lot.
33-11-4
55
Dec 4, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 25, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee handled bottle of quaternary sanitizer and proceeded to prepare ribs without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-16-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. No proof of current employee training. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Ceiling tile next to office.
36-36-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Unisex bathroom in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
32-12-6
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Shelves in reach-in cooler across from prep table cracked and rusty.
14-11-5
Basic - Faucet/handle missing at plumbing fixture. Hot water handle for bathroom.
29-09-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of rub on shelf next to three compartment sink. Employee added label to container. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
61
May 7, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed: the uni-sex restroom lacks a covered receptacle.
32-12-6
95
Oct 29, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jul 23, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 23, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One live fly in kitchen area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Splitter added with two hoses attached with no devices located before hoses.
29-34-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Trash can in front of sink and bin on top of sink. All were moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-09-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Mop in bucket. Flipped over. **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
64
Apr 24, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Mac and cheese with beef 118F, Manager moved all items to flat top grill and will reheated on a hot water bath to 165F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over canned/bottled drinks. Raw shell eggs stored above soda cans, also raw beef above water bottles, Manager moved all. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-11-5
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At inspection time, water heater and pump turned off due to generator capacity ( manager is not able to run at the same time the water and the Hot holding cabinet). Manager turned on water pump and heather, water reached 85F. **Corrected On-Site**
27-16-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available. No copy available at inspection time.
51-18-6
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk Container with white substance not labeled, manager labeled sugar. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
61
Mar 20, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
86
Mar 19, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Live rodent present. Observed one live rodent on a glue trap under triple sink at the prep area. Employee removed the glue trap. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-19-4
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed 35 rodent droppings on floor at the bathroom. Near back door, observed nine rodent droppings around shelves with gloves. At the office area observed eight rodent droppings on floor under desk area. Employee vacuumed all the droppings. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-04-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. For one female employee on site picture available, not the original certification.
53B-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Sink next to triple sink blocked by mop bucket, employee moved. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in coolers interior soiled, Employee started cleaning **Corrective Action Taken**
22-16-4
Basic - Drain cover(s) missing. At the mop sink, Employee placed it back. **Corrected On-Site**
29-18-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Reach-in cooler at the prep area, observed Employee food stored above customers food, manager moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-49-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor throughout establishment soiled, employee started cleaning **Corrective Action Taken**
36-73-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At the employee bathroom, no sign, no soap available. **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. At arriving time, front door not attached to door frame, and kept opened, Employee fixed during inspection
35B-05-4
45
Dec 8, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 7, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
FL-28
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
70
Jul 25, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Drink and goldfish on shelf over pork in reach in cooler
08B-49-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Sink in restroom has no hand sign.
31B-04-4
90
May 16, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 3 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
67
Feb 22, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 8, 2022
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 16, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler: milk 48F. Butter 48F. Stop sale issued.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef stored over can soda in reach in cooler. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Butter and milk in reach in cooler. Also, stop sale issued on cheese sauce in reused container of milk with open handle.
01B-02-5
Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Reach in cooler has an ambient temperature of 60F. All Time/Tempurature Control for Safety food in unit 48F and above. Unit is very full, May be preventing air flow. All items were moved from unit.
14-74-7
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Opened drink on shelf over banana pudding. Manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Milk jug with open handle reused for cheese sauce. Stop sale issued for sauce.
25-32-4
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue on file is from Mar 3, 2026. The public record contains 17 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue?
Across the inspection record, “water with a temperature” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue.
How does Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly zero earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue 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 Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue is inspected around five times per year on average.
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