Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar
Last inspected: Mar 16, 2026
82
Score
Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar has been inspected nine times since 2022. Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar was last inspected on Mar 16, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around six violations to closer to nine violations.
When inspectors have written things up, “food stored on floor” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.
Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar's latest score of 82 sits above the Tampa average of 79. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 16, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Expired 12/2025 **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-03-16: No proof available at time of inspection. Operator stated he has completed the training for all employees and will send certificates later today once he received them. **Admin Complaint**
53B-05-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed on multiple tiles and vents throughout kitchen **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-03-16: **Time Extended**
36-34-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets torn on flip top cooler at cookline **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-03-16: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
82
Jan 14, 2026
Routine - Food
4 major violations. 13 minor violations.
View 17 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. Open milk gallon in walk in cooler. **Warning**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink blocked by rolling cart at cookline. Operator moved cart **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed brush and drain pipe stored in bar hand sink. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Expired 12/2025 **Warning**
53B-05-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone on package of tortillas in pan at cookline. Operator removed phone **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Metal 1/6 pans on clean dish shelf. Operator separated to dry **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets torn on flip top cooler at cookline **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Fryer oil on floor in prep area. Operator placed on shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Operator placed correctly **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-08-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. 3 tongs stored on oven door handles. Operator removed. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-20-4
Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Spoons in silverware caddy at expo. Operator placed handle up. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
24-18-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Multiple unwashed produce items stored over milk and sour cream in walk in cooler. Operator moved RTE to upper shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-17-4
Basic - Waste line missing at soda gun holster. Operator replaced drain line **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
29-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Operator cleaned **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed on multiple tiles and vents throughout kitchen **Warning**
36-34-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. On warmer prep surface. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Pink/purple mug with no lid, no straw on food prep surface. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-12-5
35
Jun 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed stained cutting boards being used on the prep table.
22-02-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed water stained ceiling tiles near the expo area. Observed dust soiled ceiling in the dining area. Observed missing, soiled and water stained ceiling tiles by the entrance of the kitchen. Observed dust stained ceiling tiles above the cook line.
36-34-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed several cases of tortillas and drinks being stored on the floor in the walk in cooler. Manager corrected storage. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees near the entrance of the kitchen.
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the shelves in the walk in cooler and freezer being soiled with build up food debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler and freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
14-17-4
70
Mar 18, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Employee wash hands with gloves on to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee wash hands with gloves on. **Warning**
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Yecid Cardenas exam date 9/19/19 expired 9/19/24 **Warning**
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun in bar area. Employee wash, rinsed, and sanitized **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-02-4
70
Apr 3, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 14 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
18
Nov 8, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cheese (44F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler on cookline Corrective action observed employee move to walkin cooler **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. Observed raw chicken stored behind raw shrimp in reachin cooler on cookline Corrected -observed employee place chicken in front of raw shrimp **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed a push cart blocking hand sink in cookline Corrected observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Clean linens stored on floor. Observed stored on floor in dry storage room Corrected -observed employee place on shelf **Corrected On-Site**
21-17-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed missing at hand sink in dish area
31B-04-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed Togo cups stored on floor in dry storage room adjacent to mop sink Corrected observed employee place items on a crate **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed 4- pairs of tongs stored on oven handles
10-20-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed a container of oil stored on floor on cookline
08B-47-4
52
Jun 8, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
58
Oct 31, 2022
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the soda gun with debris inside the gun.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.Observed all training expired.
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed an unlabeled spray bottle. Employee removed the bottle and labeled it. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed styrofoam swat cups stored on the floor. Manager put upon shelves. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
25-05-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tongs stored on the oven door handle.
10-20-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed onions and tortillas stored on the floor. Manager had employee put on shelves. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed heavy debris on the cook's line.
36-73-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed many of the cutting boards with excessive grooves on the cutting boards.
14-09-4
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar on file is from Mar 16, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar?
Across the inspection record, “food stored on floor” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar.
How does Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is higher than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar 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 Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cantina Mexican Grill and Bar is inspected around three times per year on average.
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