Cafe Del Hidalgo
Last inspected: Mar 5, 2026
67
Score
Across the available record, Cafe Del Hidalgo has 10 inspections on file, the first dated 2022. Cafe Del Hidalgo was last inspected on Mar 5, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around seven violations to closer to four violations per visit.
“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing six times across the record.
That's lower than the typical St. Augustine restaurant, which scores around 81. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 5, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 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. Dish machine tested at 10ppm. Owner changed sanitizer bottle. After priming several times if tested at 50Ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
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. Milk in front cooler opened yesterday not dated. Person in charge dated. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets on far back reach in cooler are torn.
14-11-5
Basic - In-use wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Towels under cutting boards. Person in charge removed towels **Corrected On-Site**
21-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on far back reach in cooler are soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
67
Oct 16, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed container in stand up reach in cooler filled with pastrami with a date mark of 9/25. Person in charge stated he cut pastrami two days prior to inspection but did not change the label. Person in charge added correct date mark. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-01-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. See stop sale. Observed no time mark on half n half and milk on counter. Person in charge added time mark. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed employee washing milk shake metal cup in hand washing station. Discussed with person in charge and employee placed cup in triple sink. **Corrective Action Taken**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed clear spray bottle filled with purple liquid missing label. Person in charge added label. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed one(1) dead roach stuck to glue trap above computer. Person in charge disposed of glue trap. **Corrective Action Taken**
35A-03-4
Basic - Objectionable odors in bathroom or other areas of the establishment. Observed objectionable odor coming from grease trap/floor drain when dish machine is in use.
36-64-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in freezer, reach in cooler gaskets heavily soiled with black/green mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed interior of microwave soiled with food debris.
22-08-4
50
Mar 5, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Mar 3, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
52
Sep 10, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two live flying insects at front counter food prep area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed raw chicken sitting on ready to eat sliced deli meats. Person in charge placed raw chicken on bottom of reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food prep table that flat crepe oven sits on soiled with grease and food debris.
22-02-4
Basic - Employee eating while preparing food. Observed employee eating launch on prep table by gelato cooler. Person in charge told employee to remove launch from food area. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-01-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed multiple floor tiles cracked and chipped by ice cream machine.
36-17-5
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Observed scoop inside bulk sugar container with handle touching sugar. Person in charge removed handle from sugar. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Light shield damaged/in disrepair. Observed light shield in food prep area cracked. **Repeat Violation**
38-01-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed small reach in freezer near ice cream maker with gaskets heavily soiled with black/green mold like substance. Observed make line cooler gaskets soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
52
Apr 9, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Insects, Rodents, and Animals Not Present
FL-38
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
52
Dec 21, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 23, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flying insects in kitchen near ice cream maker.
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. Provided written procedures and discussed with person in charge.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed multiple cutting boards on sand which make line stained with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Observed no current food manager certification onsite. Discussed with person in charge. **Warning**
53A-01-7
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. Observed no proof of food handler training for employees. One card expired 10/2022 no other training available. **Warning**
53B-01-5
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. Provided employee reporting agreement and discussed with person in charge. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed chemical spray bottle filled with blue liquid on prep table near deli slicer missing label.
41-17-4
Basic - Light shield damaged/in disrepair. Observed light shields above triple sink cracked.
38-01-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on large door reach in cooler and flip-top cooler soiled with black/green mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Observed old labels on clean food containers stack above triple sink.
16-46-4
41
Apr 5, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 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. 1/2&1/2 not dated. Person in charge dated. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. On table. Person in charge labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice plate has black/mold like substance on it. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets in kitchen reach in cooler are dirty. Also shelf in reach in cooler is dirty. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Wet rags under cutting boards. Person in charge removed all rags. **Corrected On-Site**
21-04-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop handle in crepe mix. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives/spatula stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Spatula under sandwich press. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
64
Aug 15, 2022
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. Raw shell egg above ready to eat bread in reach in cooler near flip-top cooler. Discussed with person in charge. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Black/green mold like substance on ice machine deflector plate at coffee bar.
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Ceiling paint has peeled by ice cream machine in kitchen. Surface is absorbent and not smooth.
36-37-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on flip-top cooler, double door reach in cooler, double door reach in freezer, mini refrigerator at coffee bar soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cafe Del Hidalgo last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cafe Del Hidalgo on file is from Mar 5, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cafe Del Hidalgo?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Cafe Del Hidalgo.
How does Cafe Del Hidalgo compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Cafe Del Hidalgo most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Cafe Del Hidalgo's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Cafe Del Hidalgo have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Cafe Del Hidalgo 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 Cafe Del Hidalgo inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cafe Del Hidalgo is inspected around three times per year on average.
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