Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant
Last inspected: Mar 4, 2026
70
Score
Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant has been inspected seven times since 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Mar 4, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around four violations lately and about nine violations before that.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
Restaurants in New Port Richey average 78, so Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
3
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 4, 2026
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
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/. Sydnee S. expired 10/5/2025.
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. The can opener is soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine test strips expired.
16-37-1
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. The hood filters are soiled with grease, and the tray under the stone holders on the stove is soiled with grease and food debris.
23-03-4
70
May 5, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Bucket on cook line > 200ppm, operator added water, 50 ppm, **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-27-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. cooked onions and peppers (118F - Hot Holding) made approximately 1 hour ago, operator put back on griil to heat, 170 f. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On cutting board on cook line, moved to bucket **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
70
Jan 3, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. On cook line > 200 ppm, corrected to 50 pm **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board at lift top on cook line stained **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Beer cooler in bar.
22-16-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. In walk in cooler - bucket of sour cream, operator moved to shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
70
Apr 22, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Buckets on cook line and by soda machine > 200 ppm, corrected to 50 ppm **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In lift top cooler on cook line - spinach (46F - Cold Holding); , moved to walk in cooler recheck 45F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by an unapproved provider. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. National Registry for one employee, others expired.
53B-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards stained, on cook line Interior of reach in cooler at wait station
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Ice in hand wash sink by soda station **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. For chlorine **Repeat Violation**
16-37-1
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage next to tea urn. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. In bar, inspector provided sign.
31B-04-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Too many towels in bucket, not in sanitizer, stored over clean water pitchers at wait station **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
43
Nov 27, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Cook took dirty dishes to triple sink, went back to kitchen and put on gloves, moved stack of clean plates. Discussed with manager on duty .
12A-13-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Cook left kitchen, went back to cook line, put on gloves to prepare food. No hand wash.
12A-07-5
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. One 6 lb 6 oz can salsa ready tomatoes, dented on seam **Repeat Violation**
01B-01-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Host rinsed towel in sink, discussed with manager on duty . **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Jose S. expired 11/1/23
53A-01-7
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No chlorine test kit for dish machine, manager order during inspection **Corrective Action Taken**
16-37-1
Intermediate - Wash solution in spray-type chemical warewasher less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Gauge reads 98F, thermoworks thermometer reds high temperature of 91F. Operator called repair company **Corrective Action Taken**
16-53-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Frame around doors of 2 door cooler
23-03-4
Basic - Damaged/spoiled/recalled food not properly segregated. One 6 lb 6 oz can salsa ready tomatoes, dented on seam **Repeat Violation**
08B-20-4
39
Jun 1, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
32
Nov 8, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink in server area next to soda machine has food debris in the drain **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-08: **Time Extended**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. Hand sink has been moved to next to prep sink from walk in cooler wall, mop sink has been removed and added out back of establishment **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-08: **Time Extended**
51-16-7
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Waste line missing at soda gun holster. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-08: **Time Extended**
29-17-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. In bar area and cook line **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-08: **Time Extended**
36-73-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Cut in the inner door of reach in cooler on cook line **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-08: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant on file is from Mar 4, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant.
How does Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant compare to other restaurants in New Port Richey?
Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the New Port Richey average of 78.
Has Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant 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 Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant is inspected around two times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants