Brett's Waterway Cafe
Last inspected: Feb 28, 2025
29
Score
The health department has logged six inspections at Brett's Waterway Cafe, the earliest from 2022. On Feb 28, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A high risk tier suggests the facility had a rough recent inspection, with multiple violations on record.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around nine violations per visit lately, up from roughly four violations before.
When inspectors have written things up, “in-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.
The city-wide average sits at 68, which Brett's Waterway Cafe's 29 doesn't quite reach. Taken together, the history suggests a facility that has struggled with consistency.
6
Inspections
3
Critical latest
0
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 28, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
29
Oct 1, 2024
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 4 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 18 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. In small reach in cooler by dish area, Caesar dressing made nine (9) days prior. Dressing discarded. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-24-5
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. Dish machine tested 0ppm. Manager contacted service company. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
22-41-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Two live flies observed in dining area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Operator unable to provide documentation that aquacultured fish has been raised in a controlled environment and fed formulated feed. No proof for salmon that establishment allows to be served undercooked. Manager called distributor to obtain letter. Letter received. **Corrected On-Site**
01D-08-5
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. Server placed soiled dishes in dish area, wiped hands on cloth in pass through area, and immediately handled clean plates from pass through window without washing hands. Manager coached employee on proper hand washing procedures. Employee washed hands correctly. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-02-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In walk in cooler, two cases of thawed ROP mahi mahi not removed from sealed packages. See stop sale.
01B-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In small reach in cooler at bar, cream topping 57F. Cream placed in cooler approximately 1.5 hours prior. Cream moved to walk in cooler to cool. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-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. No written plan available. Inspector emailed Form 5030-104 (Clean Up Instructions for Vomitting/Diarrhea). **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior ice machine in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Establishment serves multiple items undercooked (burgers, salmon, steak) but does not have a consumer advisory. Inspector emailed advisory. **Corrective Action Taken**
02B-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In small reach in cooler by dish area, ranch dressing prepared four (4) days prior. Ranch dated. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License displayed expired 06/01/2024.
50-09-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Wall by ice machine.
36-24-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. In back kitchen area, knife stored behind utility pipe along wall. Knife removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Two sets of tongs on oven handle on cook line. Tongs moved and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact equipment exposed to splash/spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. In back kitchen area, black reach in freezer is rusted.
14-47-4
Basic - Toilet/urinal not flushing/functioning properly. Toilet in women's restroom.
32-23-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In walk in cooler, two cases of thawed ROP mahi mahi not removed from sealed packages. See stop sale.
06-09-1
17
Mar 18, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 2, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 8, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 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.
11-26-1
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. Milks in walk ins
02C-03-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Person drink over prep cooler, moved **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Containers of soup on floor of walk in cooler, moved to shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
Basic - Ice bucket/shovel stored on floor between uses. Next to ice machine, moved **Corrected On-Site**
10-14-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Between cooler and prep table. Moved **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. On oven doors, moved **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
64
Sep 14, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 6-1-22. Operator paid at time of inspection **Corrected On-Site**
50-17-2
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked pork belly, rice, grits, In walk in cooler
02C-02-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife stored between cooler and prep table, moved **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Personal drinks on prep areas moved **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Around door and at bottom area of door
14-69-4
67
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Brett's Waterway Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Brett's Waterway Cafe on file is from Feb 28, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Brett's Waterway Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “in-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Brett's Waterway Cafe.
How does Brett's Waterway Cafe compare to other restaurants in Fernandina Beach?
Brett's Waterway Cafe most recently scored 29 out of 100, which is lower than the Fernandina Beach average of 68.
Has Brett's Waterway Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Brett's Waterway Cafe have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Brett's Waterway Cafe means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is Brett's Waterway Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Brett's Waterway Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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