Cuban Restaurant El Tropical
Last inspected: Aug 22, 2024
33
Score
Going back to 2022, Cuban Restaurant El Tropical has six inspections in the public record. The newest entry in the record is dated Aug 22, 2024. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around seven violations compared to roughly 10 violations earlier on.
Across the inspection history, “accumulation of black/green mold-like substance” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Cuban Restaurant El Tropical's latest score of 33 falls below the Cape Coral average of 77. Taken together, the history suggests a facility that has struggled with consistency.
6
Inspections
4
Critical latest
2
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 22, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed ground beef and pork skins not date marked in stand up reach-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
02C-01-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed pork tamales (122F - Hot Holding) in steam table. The cook reheated the pork tamales on stove top. See Reheat Temperature. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed cook touching pants and shirts while on cook line preparing food. Educated cook on properly washing hands. The cook washed hands after we discussed about touching cloths while engaging in food preparation. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-28-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed raw shrimp over ready to eat ground in stand up reach-in cooler in kitchen. The operator moved the raw shrimp on bottom shelf in stand up reach-in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Printed out Employee Reporting Form HR 5030-203 for Manager. The operator filled out form during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled under 3 compartment sink.
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. **Repeat Violation**
36-32-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. **Repeat Violation**
35B-01-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board.
21-04-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. The wall is soiled on cook line.
36-27-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-03-4
33
Feb 14, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-14: **Time Extended**
36-32-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-14: **Time Extended**
35B-01-4
90
Aug 14, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
41
Mar 29, 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. Observed raw beef over raw talipa in stand up reach-in cooler across from cook line. We moved the raw beef to the bottom shelf in reach-in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed chicken and pork not date marked. **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Observed operator wash hands in 3 compartment sink. Educated operator on washing hands in designated hand washing sinks. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. **Repeat Violation**
36-32-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed several reach-in cooler gaskets torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside.
35B-01-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit on steam table.
10-07-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed raw chicken in stand up freezer uncovered.
08B-12-5
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust in dishwashing area.
36-27-5
50
Dec 8, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef over ready to eat plantains in stand up reach-in cooler. **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed raw chicken (48F - Cold Holding); raw fish (49F - Cold Holding); raw steaks (48F - Cold Holding) in stand up refrigerator across from cook line. The manager is moving all raw products into walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed cutting boards soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed pork and chicken in walk-in cooler not date marked. **Warning**
02C-02-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. **Warning**
36-32-5
Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Observed stand up refrigerator across from cook line not maintaining cold holding. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-74-7
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
32-12-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed walk-in freezer gasket torn. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed pork and chicken uncovered in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
08B-12-5
45
Jul 25, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw beef over raw fish in stand up reach-in cooler. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: Observed raw chicken over raw steak in stand up reach-in refrigerator. **Admin Complaint**
08A-20-5
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Raw beef (49F - Cold Holding); raw fish (52F - Cold Holding); raw steak (48F - Cold Holding) in stand up refrigerator across from cook line. The operator moved raw products to walk cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: Observed raw veal 55F, raw steaks 52F and raw chicken 54F I stand up reach-in refrigerator across from cook line. The cook moved raw products into walk-in cooler. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: Observed Spray Bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. **Admin Complaint**
41-17-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed ground beef and chicken not date marked in walk-in cooler. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: Observed ground beef and pork not date marked in walk-in cooler. **Admin Complaint**
02C-02-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: **Time Extended**
22-20-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: **Time Extended**
36-34-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Observed stand up reach-in cooler on cook line not maintaining cold holding. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: Observed stand up reach-in cooler/refrigerator on cook line not maintaining cold holding. **Time Extended**
14-74-7
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: **Time Extended**
32-12-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: **Time Extended**
36-17-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: **Time Extended**
10-07-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust behind steam table. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-25: **Time Extended**
36-27-5
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cuban Restaurant El Tropical last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cuban Restaurant El Tropical on file is from Aug 22, 2024. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cuban Restaurant El Tropical?
Across the inspection record, “accumulation of black/green mold-like substance” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Cuban Restaurant El Tropical.
How does Cuban Restaurant El Tropical compare to other restaurants in Cape Coral?
Cuban Restaurant El Tropical most recently scored 33 out of 100, which is lower than the Cape Coral average of 77.
Has Cuban Restaurant El Tropical's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Cuban Restaurant El Tropical have averaged around seven violations per visit, down from roughly 10 earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Cuban Restaurant El Tropical 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 Cuban Restaurant El Tropical inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cuban Restaurant El Tropical is inspected around three times per year on average.
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