Dave's Hot Chicken
Last inspected: Jan 5, 2026
70
Score
Inspectors have visited Dave's Hot Chicken 11 times, with records going back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Jan 5, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around two violations to closer to five violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.
That's lower than the typical Gainesville restaurant, which scores around 75. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
11
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 5, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
70
Sep 11, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
67
Jun 24, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed: in the dining room, the soda nozzles and tea nozzle has accumulation of debris.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Records/documents for required employee training do not contain all of the required information. Observed multiple training certificates lack an expiration date.
53B-10-4
Basic - Drain cover(s) missing. Observed a drain cover is missing at the floor drain by the mop sink.
29-18-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed plastic drink bottles stored in the floor of the walk-in cooler.
08B-38-4
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed a gap at the back door when it is fully closed.
35B-01-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed: unsealed water bottle on the back prep table.
12B-07-4
67
Feb 28, 2025
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Dec 26, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
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: on the cook line: 1 staff removed gloves, wiped hands on pants, grabbed new gloves, shook fry baskets, wiped hands on pants and then put on gloves, no hand wash. **Warning**
12A-28-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed: at the 3 compartment sink all test list were emptied.
16-37-1
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the tea spout in the dining area has build up in the nozzle.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed: on the cook line: the hand wash sink was blocked with a set of boxes. The boxes were removed and broke down on their way to the back door. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil. Observed: the sanitizer at the entrance to the kitchen and cook line was cloudy.
21-11-4
61
Sep 23, 2024
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Jul 10, 2024
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
86
Dec 7, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food controlled by time and required to be marked with the use by time is not marked and the required time of disposal cannot be determined, or has exceeded the 4/6 hour time. See stop sale. Observed: beer batter on the cook line, having gone past it's 4 hour time frame, not yet discarded.
01B-19-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control not discarded at the end of the 4-hour/6-hour period. See stop sale. Observed: the beer batter had exceeded the four hour mark.
03F-04-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed: 2 metal pans stored in the front line hand wash sink. These were removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed: bulk oil stored on the floor by dry storage.
08B-38-4
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed a sanitizer bucket stored next to bulk flour, second shelf in the prep area. This was placed in a bus to control spills. ALSO, a sanitizer bucket was stored on the front line with ketchup packs and tray liners. The bucket was moved below. **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
Basic - In-use utensil used with moist food stored in running water with insufficient velocity to flush food particles away. Observed: the front line dipper well lacking water. The water was turned on. **Corrected On-Site**
10-03-4
58
Jul 24, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed on the cook line make table: cooked potato 44, hot dog 45F. Both were moved to the chest freezer. Potato 42, hot dog 41 on the recheck, 9 minutes **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Hand soap stored/dispensed in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed: the cook line hand wash sink soap dispenser ejects soap at the rack of bagged buns.
41-15-5
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Observed: the cold handle on the hand wash sink in the mid kitchen does not produce cold water. ALSO, the cold water handle at the hand wash sink at the front line does not produce cold water.
29-08-4
70
Jan 30, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
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. Observed person in charge cannot provide verifiable proof 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.
11-26-1
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Observed standing water in the bottom of a reach in cooler on cook line.
29-49-6
86
Aug 3, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Observed "Y" connector at mop sink with missing vacuum breaker on the non chemical side of the "Y" connector. Manager removed Y connector. **Corrected On-Site**
29-42-4
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license displayed dated 6/1/2022. Manager provided on line payment summary showing payment for license on 4/11/2022. Validation Number 218632381, Batch Trace # 4558600, and Trace # 19639002 **Admin Complaint**
50-17-2
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dave's Hot Chicken last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Dave's Hot Chicken on file is from Jan 5, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Dave's Hot Chicken?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Dave's Hot Chicken.
How does Dave's Hot Chicken compare to other restaurants in Gainesville?
Dave's Hot Chicken most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the Gainesville average of 75.
Has Dave's Hot Chicken's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Dave's Hot Chicken have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Dave's Hot Chicken 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 Dave's Hot Chicken inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Dave's Hot Chicken is inspected around three times per year on average.
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