Cafe Del Mar
Last inspected: Apr 7, 2026
41
Score
Public records show seven inspections at Cafe Del Mar stretching back to 2023. The most recent report on file is from Apr 7, 2026. A high risk rating points to multiple serious findings at the most recent inspection.
Violation counts have ticked up lately, averaging around nine violations per visit versus roughly five violations earlier in the record.
Across the inspection history, “no paper towels” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.
That's lower than the typical Fort Lauderdale restaurant, which scores around 80. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.
7
Inspections
2
Critical latest
3
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 7, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. pork sausages (90F - Hot Holding); cheese sauce (100F - Hot Holding); gravy (110F), per employee food hot held less than two hours. Employee reheated al containers inn microwave to 167F. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Gloved employee cracked raw shell eggs, washed and dried gloves, then grabbed a clean plate to prepare a different customer order. After manager instructed, employee discarded gloves, washed hands and put in new pair of gloves. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-27-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.
01C-05-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Oyster tag, on line yesterday , employee dated. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
01C-03-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. - -Coffee station- -Cook line- employee provided. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Bathroom facility not clean. Soiled floor in women bathrooms
32-07-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Dishwasher area, above storage of clean glasses. Build up of black like substance.
36-34-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Pizza station- broken flip top.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Walk in freezer-Two boxes of mozzarella fresh cheese, employee moved to shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Plastic cup inside paprika seasoning, employee removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Coffee station- hand wash sink- hot water faucet, not working.
29-08-4
41
Aug 26, 2025
Complaint Full
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
26
Mar 12, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed sandwich station// lox (56F - Cold Holding). Per operator, food not prepped or portioned today; food out of temperature for approximately 1 hour. Operator put food inside cooler to quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. 1) Observed raw chicken stored above raw crab cake inside cooler at cook line. Operator properly stored. 2) Observed raw shell eggs stored above beer kegs inside walk in cooler. Operator properly stored. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Observed grill station// sliced ham (46F - Cooling) since 8:30am, at 9:55am. 48F at 10:20am. Ham is stored inside deep container, overstacked. Operator put foods inside cooler to quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. 1)Observed no paper towels at hand wash sink next to cook line. Operator provided. 2) Observed no soap at hand wash sink next to office. Operator provided. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee water bottle stored on flip top cooler cutting board at cook line. Employee removed. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cases of food stored on floor inside walk in freezer. Operator properly stored. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
55
Oct 7, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed at reach in freezer - Raw Chicken Parmesan (not commercially packaged) stored over bag of fries. Operator stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Observed 7 on duty while no manager present.
53A-05-6
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. Observed at walk in cooler - packages of tuna fish not opened as instructed. Operator removed items from packaging. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
06-09-1
74
Mar 1, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
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. Observed raw tuna, thawed, stored in packaging inside walk in cooler. Operator removed tuna from packaging to allow oxygen flow. **Corrected On-Site**
06-09-1
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed metal containers stored inside flour and rice bins in kitchen. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
90
Jul 28, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over unwashed onions and lobsters inside walk in cooler. Operator properly stored. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed chicken wings (44°F - Cold Holding); raw calamari (44°F - Cold Holding) stored in walk in cooler. Per operator, door was opened during delivery. Operator opened walk in freezer door to quick chill foods. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
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. Observed fresh garlic in oil stored on cook line without time mark. Per operator, food put out for service at 8:00am. Operator put time mark on fresh garlic in oil. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 400ppm). Operator remade and corrected to 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
41-15-5
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed oyster tags stored without last day served date. Reviewed procedures for shellstock tags.
01C-03-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at hand wash sinks hrouhout kitchen. Operator provided. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Raw or undercooked oysters offered and establishment has no consumer advisory sign provided on wall, menu, placard, table tent or by any other written means. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Emailed advisory to operator to be posted.
02A-01-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed multiple co2 tanks unsecured, stored in kitchen. Operator chained tanks. **Corrected On-Site**
51-11-4
Basic - No waste receptacle installed at handwash sink provided with disposable towels. Observed no trash can at hand wash sink next to office, in kitchen. Operator provided. **Corrected On-Site**
33-38-4
37
Jan 19, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
33
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cafe Del Mar last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cafe Del Mar on file is from Apr 7, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cafe Del Mar?
Across the inspection record, “no paper towels” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Cafe Del Mar.
How does Cafe Del Mar compare to other restaurants in Fort Lauderdale?
Cafe Del Mar most recently scored 41 out of 100, which is lower than the Fort Lauderdale average of 80.
Has Cafe Del Mar's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Cafe Del Mar have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Cafe Del Mar 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 Cafe Del Mar inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cafe Del Mar is inspected around two times per year on average.
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