De Leon

1111 N Ponce De Leon Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Oct 14, 2025
52
Score
High Risk

Inspectors have visited De Leon 11 times, with records going back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Oct 14, 2025. A high risk tier suggests the facility had a rough recent inspection, with multiple violations on record.

Violation counts have ticked up lately, averaging around six violations per visit versus roughly four violations earlier in the record.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease”, showing up four times.

Restaurants in St. Augustine average 81, so De Leon trails the local norm. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.

11
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 14, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored on top of ready to eat black beans. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels in any hand washing station in kitchen or drink station. No paper towels available onsite. Person in charge added paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on all reach in coolers soiled with black/green mold like substance and food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Observed plastic cup inside salt container.
10-01-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed onions in plastic bucket on floor. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on main flip-top cooler heavily torn. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Observed personal food stored on top of pinto beans.
08B-49-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed Montreal steak seasoning container repurposed for salt without label.
02D-01-5
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Observed standing water in bottom of flip-top cooler on main line.
29-49-6
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed black plastic cup used to scoop salt
14-01-5
52
Apr 7, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken above raw fish in reach in cooler. Person in charge rearranged during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Observed double door reach in cooler: two trays of black beans labeled with date mark 6/5 (50-55F - Cooling). Left overnight in reach in cooler and not taken out of cooler per person in charge. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-36-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed double door reach in cooler: two trays of black beans labeled with date mark 6/5 (50-55F - Cooling). Left overnight in reach in cooler and not taken out of cooler per person in charge. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03D-02-5
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/ Observed no food manager present while four food employee onsite.
53A-05-6
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on flip-top cooler torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed bag of Unwashed onions on floor in kitchen.
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in cooler gaskets soiled with black/green mold like substance.
23-03-4
50
Oct 24, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 21, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut tomatoes (54F - Cold Holding); chicken (49F - Cold Holding); corn (50F - Cold Holding); beef (44F - Cold Holding) in flip-top cooler on cook line for approximately two hours per server. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-16: Observed Three slabs of beef in water on ground 74F Cold Holding left out for one hour per person in charge. Person in charge placed in cooler. Observed cut tomatoes on dish sitting on top of flip-top cooler 72F Cold Holding. For less then two hours per person in charge. **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-21: Observed two 3 inch pans of baked pinto beans cooked 10/20 afternoon at 50F-58F Cooling in stand alone reach in cooler. See stop sale. Observed cut tomatoes 43F Cold Holding, corn 42F Cold holding, sausage 41F cold holding in reach in cooler. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
86
Oct 16, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut tomatoes (54F - Cold Holding); chicken (49F - Cold Holding); corn (50F - Cold Holding); beef (44F - Cold Holding) in flip-top cooler on cook line for approximately two hours per server. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-16: Observed Three slabs of beef in water on ground 74F Cold Holding left out for one hour per person in charge. Person in charge placed in cooler. Observed cut tomatoes on dish sitting on top of flip-top cooler 72F Cold Holding. For less then two hours per person in charge. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
86
Oct 7, 2024
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut tomatoes (54F - Cold Holding); chicken (49F - Cold Holding); corn (50F - Cold Holding); beef (44F - Cold Holding) in flip-top cooler on cook line for approximately two hours per server. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed over the counter medication stored above food prep table. Server removed medication from kitchen. **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed baked beans and black beans from previous days afternoon prep at 64-53F Cooling. See stop sale.
03D-02-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Observed black beans previous days prep (54F - Cooling) 1410; refried beans previous days prep (53-64F - Cooling) 1410 **Warning**
01B-36-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw chicken above ready to eat cooked chicken, cut onions, salsa in reach in cooler. Server moved chicken to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
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. Observed milk opened previous days morning per server not date marked. Server added date mark. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Observed John Holguin 3/13/19 Serv Safe. Person in charge has taken class but not exam.
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed chemical spray bottle filled with red liquid missing label. Server added label to bottle. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed food debris inside interior of microwave oven **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
33
Jan 30, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed ambient 75 raw shell eggs (68F - Cold Holding) left on bottom of prep table for 90 min. Person in charge placed back in reach in cooler. Observed ambient raw shell eggs whole case (64F - Cold Holding) from delivery left on floor for an hour per person in charge. Person in charge had employee place eggs in reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. Observed 4 cracked raw shell eggs. Person in charge disposed of eggs. **Corrected On-Site**
01B-14-4
High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed household pesticide stored near food in storage room. Person in charge segregated pesticides from food. **Corrective Action Taken**
41-05-4
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/ Observed no food manager on-site while 5 food employees present.
53A-05-6
Basic - Equipment or utensils not designed or constructed in a durable manner. Observed large wood stir spatula with frayed ends and shaft being used for large pot of beans. Visible wood splinters hanging off spatula. Discussed with person in charge. Person in charge removed wooden spatula from cook line. **Corrective Action Taken**
14-10-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed bags of onions on floor in storage room.
08B-38-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed microwave in kitchen soiled with food debris.
22-08-4
50
Sep 18, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. 30lb baked beans (61F-68F - Cold Holding) from 5pm previous day per person in charge. See stop sale.
03D-02-5
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 tested at 0ppm chlorine. Person in charge primed machine and retested at 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed 30lb baked beans (61F-68F - Cold Holding) left in reach in cooler since 5pm previous day per person in charge. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-02-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on reach in cooler and reach in freezer soiled with black/green mold like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cell phone on clean dishes on dish storage rack. Person in charge remove cell phone and placed dish in dish washing area. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drinks on prep table. Person in charge moved drinks to shelf away from food. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
55
Feb 20, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Approximately 84 eggs left out under prep table for more than 4 hours - ambient raw shell egg (81F - Cold Holding) See Stop Sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Approximately 84 eggs left out under prep table for more than 4 hours per person in charge - ambient raw shell egg (81F - Cold Holding) See Stop Sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-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. Gallon of milk opened the prior day not date marked. Person in charge added date mark. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Provided paper written procedures and discussed with person in charge. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand washing station at drink station used to rinse equipment off. Discussed with person in charge. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Boiled corn in reach in cooler top self not date marked. Cook stated cooked two days prior to inspection.
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee eating while preparing food. Employee eating cake on cook line. Person in charge removed cake from kitchen. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-01-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets on reach in freezer torn. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment cart handle between uses. On cook line cart handle where tongs are exposed to brushing of garments as cook walks past.
10-20-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Two scoops in water that is 93F near rice maker. Discussed with person in charge. **Repeat Violation**
10-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on reach in freezer soiled with black/green mold like substance. Gaskets on reach in cooler soiled with food debris.
23-03-4
39
Sep 6, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1)main flip-top cooler: sausages, raw chicken (54F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (52F - Cold Holding); sliced tomatoes (56F - Cold Holding); corn (59F - Cold Holding); shrimp (50F - Cold Holding); raw pork (51F - Cold Holding); corn (60F - Cold Holding) employees started moving product to large double door reach in cooler. Product on flip-top part were placed in ice with ice bags on top. 2) ambient raw shell eggs sitting on counter (71F - Cold Holding) See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2022-09-06: main flip-top cooler: Sausage (39F - Cold Holding); corn (60F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (59F - Cold Holding); house made pico de gallon (60F - Cold Holding). Person in charge started placed bags of ice on product. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
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. 1) flip-top cooler ambient temp of 50F. Employees started moving product out of flip-top cooler into reach in cooler. Person in charge called work order for service in. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-09-06: 1) flip-top cooler ambient temp of 59F. No product in bottom section. Establishment is still using top section with ice. Work order placed today. **Time Extended**
14-74-7
82
Jul 14, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Establishments training is expired. No further proof of training. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-05-10: Establishment ordered books. **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-14: No employees certified. **Admin Complaint**
53B-01-5
90

Frequently Asked Questions

When was De Leon last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at De Leon on file is from Oct 14, 2025. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at De Leon?

Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at De Leon.

How does De Leon compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?

De Leon most recently scored 52 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.

Has De Leon's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at De Leon have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at De Leon 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 De Leon inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, De Leon is inspected around three times per year on average.