Darrell's Diner #12
Last inspected: Apr 1, 2026
37
Score
Darrell's Diner #12 has been inspected 10 times since 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 1, 2026. A high risk rating points to multiple serious findings at the most recent inspection.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around nine violations lately compared to roughly three violations before.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “food-contact surface soiled with food debris”, showing up five times.
The city-wide average sits at 78, which Darrell's Diner #12's 37 doesn't quite reach. This restaurant has more on its record than most do.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
5
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 1, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle of sanitizer stored next to and above clean lids at end of cook line. Manager moved spray bottle during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards on kitchen reach-in coolers and steam table stained. Slicer blade and slicer soiled with old food debris. Blade of can opener on kitchen prep table. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee dumped drink in front counter hand washing sink.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No hand towels at kitchen hand washing sink. Manager provided hand towels during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
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. Two new employees working in the kitchen.
11-26-1
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. One certificate expired on 9/14/2025.
53B-14-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine across from three compartment sink.
16-03-4
Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. Cardboard lining shelf for reach-in cooler across from cook line. Employee removed cardboard during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-45-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on reach-in cooler across from cook line. Manager removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cups stored next to wait station soda machine.
24-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan cover in walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Reach-in freezer next to cook line fryers.
14-33-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Coffee stored in wait station. Employee placed lid over coffee **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
37
Sep 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards on cook line reach-in coolers. Ice chute on wait station soda machine. Water nozzle for wait station tea machine in front of walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf next to cans of food in dry storage room. Employee removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. Cardboard lining shelf beneath cook line grill.
14-45-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine across from three compartment sink.
16-03-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above cook line grill. Fan covers in walk-in cooler. Area behind soda nozzles of wait station soda machine in front of walk-in cooler.
23-03-4
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Old food and labels on pans stored on shelf next to reach-in cooler across from cook line grill.
16-48-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on cook line oven handle. Manager placed tongs on prep table. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
67
Feb 11, 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. Cutting board on flip-top make table with mold like substance in the grooves in kitchen.
22-02-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on flip-top make table in kitchen with grooves with black stains.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee jacket stored on soft drink syrup boxes in office. Manager removed jacket **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Box of oil stored on floor in kitchen. Manager placed on shelf.
08B-38-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk-in-cooler shelves rusting and pitted **Repeat Violation**
14-17-4
Basic - Worn, torn and/or soiled floors/carpeting. Floor in dining room worn and missing sections and has duct tape on floor entering kitchen area.
36-10-4
70
Jul 10, 2024
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Jul 8, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
78
Nov 20, 2023
Routine - Food
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed no covered waste receptacle provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed rust build up on shelves in walk-in-cooler **Repeat Violation**
14-17-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Observed unwashed produce ( Tomato's ) stored over ready-to-eat food ( tuna salad and Cole slaw ) in walk in cooler. Manager placed Tomato's on bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed both cutting board on cookline with groves and mold like substance beginning to develop in grooves.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed male employee inn cook line with no hair restraint
13-03-4
78
Jul 17, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jul 13, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed the following items and cold holding temperatures in the flip-top make table cooler in front of grill: Tomato (50F - Cold Holding); ham (46F - Cold Holding); Sausage (46F - Cold Holding). Flip-top make table cooler ambient temperature was 48F. Manager advised that all the item had been taken out of the walk-in-cooler less than two hours earlier. Manager had all items placed in walk-in-cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed mold like substance on the underside of the non food contact surface of the nozzles on the soda dispensing machine at server station.
23-03-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed shelves in walk-in-freezer with rust.
14-17-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured behind establishment at bottom of stairs.
51-11-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed one dead roach in Air conditioner closet. Manager removed and disposed of road **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed no hand wash sink sign in men's room. Inspector provided hand wash sink sign for manager to post **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
67
Feb 13, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemical spray stored next to/ facing napkins at the wait station. The spray was relocated. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed gravy on a prep table, not on time as a public health control, 96F. This was placed in the microwave for quick reheating to 165F throughout. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Observed time marks for shell eggs and batter were missing. Adjusted time mark s were added. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. Observed a shell egg on the cook line cracked. It was discarded by management. **Corrected On-Site**
01B-14-4
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. Observed raw chicken stored over fish in the cook line reach-in freezer. The items were adjusted. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-17-6
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Observed gravy cooling on the counter at 96F. This was placed in the microwave to be reheated to 165F. ALSO, cut tomato's and cooked sausage links in the walk-in cooler were covered after having been prepped this morning. Lids and plastic wrapped were set ajar and loosened. **Corrective Action Taken** **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed both soda machine chutes have foreign material in them. ALSO, the can opener blade has dried food debris on both sides. This was being clean. **Corrective Action Taken* ALSO, the cook line reach-in freezer has an accumulation of debris in the bottom. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed shelves in the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer with food on them are not 6" off the floor.
08B-47-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the cook line gaskets are soiled. ALSO, the electric slicer frame has dried debris at the top and bottom of the backside. ALSO, the light switch in dry storage has an accumulation of soil on it.
23-03-4
35
Aug 2, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. At the cook line, raw shell eggs and sausage no time marked, per employee items pulled out of temperature control at 10:30am. Manager time marked. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. For two employees
53B-02-5
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. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, pork and ham no date marked, employee date marked 07/31/22 and 08/01/22. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food service manager not certified within 30 days of employment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Female manager on site.
53A-04-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. At the server station ice chute soiled with mold like substance, employee started to cleaning. Also microwave soiled. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Total of six employee, no manager with certification on site.
53A-05-6
Intermediate - Well water testing report/documentation is not available upon request. Report from 5/04/2020
27-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. At the cook line and server station, multiple employee drinks on prep table also one in walk-in cooler, manager moved all. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. In walk-in cooler, employee personal food stored above customers food, manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. At the cook line two tongs on oven handle, Employee moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. At the server station, plates soiled with old food, moved to dish machine. **Corrective Action Taken**
16-48-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. At the server station, container not labeled, manager labeled sugar. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
37
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Darrell's Diner #12 last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Darrell's Diner #12 on file is from Apr 1, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Darrell's Diner #12?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Darrell's Diner #12.
How does Darrell's Diner #12 compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Darrell's Diner #12 most recently scored 37 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Darrell's Diner #12's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Darrell's Diner #12 have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Darrell's Diner #12 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 Darrell's Diner #12 inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Darrell's Diner #12 is inspected around three times per year on average.
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