Cracking Crab
Last inspected: Dec 17, 2025
90
Score
The health department has logged 15 inspections at Cracking Crab, the earliest from 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 17, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near two violations per visit.
“Ice buildup in wall-in freezer” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Pensacola restaurant, which scores around 95. The record reflects steady performance over time.
15
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. Manager only able to show one oyster tag from 11/7/25. Per manager, raw oysters are not currently being served this month and others were thrown away.
01C-02-4
90
Sep 12, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
86
Jan 2, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Food stored on floor. Containers for cooked potatoes stored on floor. Margarine and sauce buckets stored on floor in walk-in cooler. Operator corrected storage of all items during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
95
Nov 1, 2024
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Oct 31, 2024
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken, removed from original package, stored over originally packaged cooked scallops in walk/in freezer near kitchen entrance. **Warning**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shrimp, stored in cups, stored on top of cooked crab legs in reach-in cooler. Operator removed crab legs and stored them in walk-in cooler during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken, removed from original package, stored over raw fish and ribs in walk-in freezer. **Warning**
08A-17-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed mold like substance touching ice in ice machine.
01B-13-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed mold like substance touching ice in ice machine. See stop sale.
22-20-5
Basic - Ice buildup in wall-in freezer.
14-69-4
50
Oct 30, 2024
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Oct 29, 2024
Complaint Partial
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 8 live roaches traveling from underneath trash can to nearby reach-in cooler in kitchen across from pot burners. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-29: Upon callback, observed 3 live roaches underneath reach-in cooler. Operator removed reach-in cooler during inspection. **Time Extended**
35A-05-4
86
Sep 17, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken stored in walk-in cooler over cooked crab. Operator corrected storage during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand wash sink in prep area.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Per operator, oyster tags are marked when case is opened, but not marked with last use date. Some tags do not have any date written.
01C-03-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl used as scoop for sugar. Operator removed bowl during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Wooden cutting board has many cut marks and chips throughout surface. Operator disposed of cutting board during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Oysters in walk-in cooler, and several items in walk-in freezer.
08B-38-4
61
Sep 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shrimp stored over sausage in walk-in cooler. Raw chicken stored over cooked crab in walk-in cooler. Operator corrected storage during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap at hand wash sink next to server station. Operator placed soap dispenser at station during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl used for rice. Operator removed bowl during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup in walk-in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
70
Feb 16, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 15, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 4 small flying insects observed around hand sink by server station. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw shrimp and crawfish in walk-in cooler.
08A-20-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Milk for batter at 67f for 10 minutes, oysters at 45f for 2 hours, sliced tomatoes at 47f for 30 minutes, crab at 57f for 10 minutes. Operator moved oysters pan from separate pan and replaced it with direct air flow from reach-in cooler, bringing it to 35f in30 minutes. Operator placed milk in ice, brining it to 42f in 30 minutes. Unable to retemp sliced tomatoes. Crabs had no change after 30 minutes. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Handwash sink located on side of cook line removed. **Warning**
31A-04-4
Intermediate - Nonfood-grade basting brush used in food. No food grade brush used in margarine.
14-14-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Cup with no handle used to scoop rice.
14-01-5
Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Handle of pan in flour not stored above item.
10-01-5
45
Oct 23, 2023
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Oct 11, 2023
Complaint Full
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Oyster tags not marked with last date served.
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. Establishment missing oyster tags.
01C-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. All food handler training expired. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Both walk in coolers have ice build up. Not observed making contact with food.
14-69-4
70
Dec 20, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 22, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 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 Sanitizer not reading proper PPM per inspector and establishment test strips. Establishment has alternate means of sanitizing dish ware setup.
22-41-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup on floor of walk in freezer. No contact with food items observed, manager stated source of ice has been recently fixed. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Boxes of shrimp stored on ground in walk in freezer. Employees stored items on shelves during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cracking Crab last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cracking Crab on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The public record contains 15 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cracking Crab?
Across the inspection record, “ice buildup in wall-in freezer” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Cracking Crab.
How does Cracking Crab compare to other restaurants in Pensacola?
Cracking Crab most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is lower than the Pensacola average of 95.
Has Cracking Crab's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cracking Crab have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Cracking Crab 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 Cracking Crab inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cracking Crab is inspected around five times per year on average.
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