Blue Dog Craft Barbecue

502 E Main St, Lakeland, FL 33801

American

Last inspected: Apr 7, 2026

Score

Low Risk

The health department has logged 13 inspections at Blue Dog Craft Barbecue, the earliest from 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Apr 7, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near two violations per visit across recent inspections.

Looking across the full record, “food stored on floor” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.

That falls roughly in the middle of the pack for Lakeland restaurants. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 7, 2026

Routine - Food

1 critical violation.

View 1 violation

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Currently Open and Operating to customers **Admin Complaint**

50-17-3

Nov 18, 2025

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.

View 4 violations

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw ribs stored over ready to eat blueberries, in walk in freezer. Operator rearranged shelving, ribs moved on bottom shelf away from ready to eat blue berries. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

08A-05-6

Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in unisex bathroom.

32-12-6

Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer on rear wall.

14-69-4

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Grease and dust observed on hood vents.

23-03-4

Apr 8, 2025

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.

View 3 violations

High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Operator removed garbage bags from over bread in walk in freezer.

14-31-5

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Employee removed pork chop from over shredded cheese in reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**

08A-05-6

Basic - Grease receptacle/dumpster not on proper pad/nonabsorbent surface. **Repeat Violation**

33-23-4

Mar 4, 2025

Routine - Food

1 critical violation.

View 1 violation

Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed

FL-50

Nov 4, 2024

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

High Priority - Raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat raw animal food, such as hamburgers, steak and sushi covered under a consumer advisory. Raw Chicken over cooked hamburgers in walk in freezer. Employee removed cooked hamburgers. **Corrected On-Site**

08A-16-5

Basic - Food stored on floor. Box of French fries and bags of ice on floor of walk in freezer. Employee removed all items off floor. **Corrected On-Site**

08B-38-4

Basic - Grease receptacle/dumpster not on proper pad/nonabsorbent surface. Dumpster not on pad.

33-23-4

Aug 19, 2024

Routine - Food

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. To go boxes stored on floor.

25-05-4

Mar 15, 2024

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 1 major violation.

View 2 violations

Hands Clean and Properly Washed

FL-08

Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature

FL-16

Jan 26, 2024

Routine - Food

No violations found.

100

Nov 7, 2023

Routine - Food

No violations found.

100

Oct 20, 2023

Routine - Food

2 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 4 violations

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. Provided form to operator. **Corrected On-Site**

11-27-4

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed for quaternary.

16-37-1

Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed debris under equipment, operator swept under equipment. **Corrected On-Site**

36-73-4

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed container of oil on floor in dry storage area, employee removed oil from floor. **Corrected On-Site**

08B-38-4

Jun 6, 2023

Routine - Food

No violations found.

100

May 16, 2023

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 1 major violation.

View 2 violations

Food Obtained from Approved Sources

FL-11

Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed

FL-50

Nov 8, 2022

Routine - Food

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Basic - Food stored on floor. Several product on the floor inside the walk in freezer.

08B-38-4

Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Grease build up on the exterior of the cooking equipment in the outside bbq pit room.

23-03-4

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Beverage on the prep table in the kitchen.

12B-07-4

Show all 13 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Blue Dog Craft Barbecue last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Blue Dog Craft Barbecue on file is from Apr 7, 2026. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Blue Dog Craft Barbecue?

Across the inspection record, “food stored on floor” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Blue Dog Craft Barbecue.

How does Blue Dog Craft Barbecue compare to other restaurants in Lakeland?

Blue Dog Craft Barbecue most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is about the same as the Lakeland average of 86.

Has Blue Dog Craft Barbecue's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Blue Dog Craft Barbecue have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Blue Dog Craft Barbecue 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 Blue Dog Craft Barbecue inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Blue Dog Craft Barbecue is inspected around four times per year on average.

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→ All locations in Lakeland → American restaurants in Florida → American restaurants in Lakeland