Columbia Restaurant
Last inspected: Dec 8, 2025
78
Score
The health department has logged 10 inspections at Columbia Restaurant, the earliest from 2022. On Dec 8, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near five violations per visit.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded nine times in the inspection record.
Columbia Restaurant scores about where you'd expect for a Tampa restaurant. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cooked black beans in walk in cooler. Operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer ice build up.
14-69-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on reach in cooler in bar. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
78
May 7, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 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. Dishwasher tested o ppm of chlorine. Had a discussion with operator about using the three compartment sink until dishwasher is sanitizing and working properly. Restaurant has 2 dishwasher.
22-41-4
High Priority - Employee used tobacco, ate, or drank then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee put food in his mouth and did not wash hands his hands. Chef spoke with employee handwashing washed his hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-05-4
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 opened and held longer then 24 hours has no date markings, chef added proper date to milk. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer.
16-33-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Some tags don't have dates.
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on cooks line has stains.
22-02-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water inside reach in cooler on cooks line.
29-49-6
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee not using a hair restraint on cooks line. Employee put on hair restraint **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - Employee eating while preparing food. Employee eating while working on cooks line.
12B-01-4
43
Dec 16, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-12-16: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table at silverware station. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-12-16: Employee drink on dish drying rack in dish area. Operator removed. **Time Extended** **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Metal pans on dish drying rack. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-12-16: **Time Extended**
24-08-4
82
Dec 5, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
64
Mar 18, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-18: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Clear plastic lids **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-18: **Time Extended** **Corrective Action Taken**
14-38-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning of clear containers on dish drying rack. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-18: **Time Extended**
16-46-4
82
Mar 8, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Hot water sanitizing dishmachine final rinse not reaching proper temperature at manifold. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. Final rinse temp 150 F, . **Warning**
22-56-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Clear plastic lids **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-38-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on dish drying rack over in kitchen. Operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning of clear containers on dish drying rack. **Warning**
16-46-4
70
Nov 13, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-13: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Broken lid of container holding cooked meat in walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-13: **Time Extended**
14-38-4
86
Nov 9, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 5 live flies in service bar area. Operator cleaned and eliminated 2 flies. **Corrective Action Taken** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold holding: cooked beef 54 F,
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cold holding: cooked beef 54 F,
01B-02-5
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 2 live roaches on floor in kitchen in Salad area. Operator cleaned and eliminated at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Admin Complaint**
35A-05-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Peas in handwash sink in kitchen near cooks line. Operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee coffee on prep table in kitchen. Operator relocated at t8me of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Broken lid of container holding cooked meat in walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
14-38-4
41
Jun 28, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw squid. Operator relocated at time of inspection.
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Wiping cloth in handwash sink operator removed at the time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning on clear containers on dish drying rack.
16-46-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Sangria in walk in cooler near dry storage room.
08B-12-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Stored in handwash sink. Operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
Basic - Employee food container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee Dunkin and food on bar top.
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee bag on bar top.
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-04-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Salad container that holds bulk lettuce.
14-38-4
50
Nov 29, 2022
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Set up triple sink **Corrected On-Site**
22-45-4
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Server handling bread, management spoke to employee **Corrective Action Taken**
09-01-4
High Priority - Displayed food not properly protected from contamination. Cut fruits , pitchers of beverages, bar area **Repeat Violation**
08B-02-4
High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. **Corrected On-Site**
22-49-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. **Repeat Violation**
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards, can opener **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Wearing watch **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
13-07-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-04-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Storage room , catering trays. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
33
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Columbia Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Columbia Restaurant on file is from Dec 8, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Columbia Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited nine times, more than any other issue at Columbia Restaurant.
How does Columbia Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Columbia Restaurant most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is about the same as the Tampa average of 79.
Has Columbia Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Columbia Restaurant have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Columbia Restaurant 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 Columbia Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Columbia Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants