Dolce Italia
Last inspected: Dec 19, 2025
86
Score
Going back to 2023, Dolce Italia has seven inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Dec 19, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around seven violations to closer to three violations per visit over the last few inspections.
When inspectors have written things up, “in-use tongs stored on the oven door handle between uses” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.
Among Sarasota restaurants, the typical score is 81; Dolce Italia is comfortably above that bar. The record reflects steady performance over time.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 19, 2025
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed a torn door gasket on the reach in cooler at the entrance to the kitchen.
14-11-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on the oven door handle between uses. The operator properly stored the tongs. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed a chlorine solution sanitizer bucket stored with canned tomatoes in the kitchen. The operator properly stored the sanitizer bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
86
May 27, 2025
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed an employee cell phone stored on a shelf above a reach in cooler in the kitchen. The employee properly stored the cell phone. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Cloth used as a food-contact surface. Observed cloth towels used to cover bread in the walk in cooler.
21-05-5
86
Dec 5, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations.
View 3 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
64
Apr 15, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 8 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. Observed an empty bucket of chlorine sanitizer for the dishmachine. The operator replaced with a full bucket. Observed chlorine sanitizer solution at 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed marinara sauce (52F - Cold Holding); cooked sausage (54F - Cold Holding) out of refrigeration on a food prep table in the kitchen. The operator stated the foods have been held less than one hour. The operator placed the above foods in a cold holding unit. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed wiping cloth quaternary solution at 500ppm. The operator diluted the solution to 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
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/
53A-05-6
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed thawed snapper not removed from reduced oxygen packaging with label indicating to remove from packaging prior to thawing in the walk in cooler. The operator discarded the packaged snapper. **Corrected On-Site**
06-09-1
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed a plastic portion cup used as a scoop for salt in the kitchen. The operator removed the portion cup. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Cloth used as a food-contact surface. Observed a wiping cloth used to cover bread in the walk in cooler. The operator removed the wiping cloth. **Corrected On-Site**
21-05-5
Basic - In-use ladle stored on the oven door handle between uses. The operator properly store the ladle. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
47
Dec 14, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed nonfood-grade plastic bag used to store bread in the walk in cooler.
14-15-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on top of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine.
16-23-4
Basic - Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers in the kitchen.
38-07-4
74
Jun 14, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
41
Mar 20, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken stored over raw fish in the refrigerator in the kitchen. Operator properly stored the raw products. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at the hand sink in the dish area. Operator provided the hand sink with soap. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Observed butter and cooked beans held for time as public health control with no written plan. Operator was emailed time as public health control form. **Corrective Action Taken**
03F-10-5
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the can opener soiled with food debris. Observed the slicer soiled with food debris.
22-02-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed the interior of the microwaves in the kitchen soiled with food debris.
22-08-4
Basic - Uncovered food stored near sink exposed to splash. Observed butter and cooked beans stored near hand sink in the kitchen exposed to splash. Operator properly stored the food products. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-54-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged salmon not removed from packaging prior to thawing.
06-09-1
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed open employee beverage stored on a shelf above a food prep area. Operator discarded the employee beverage. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
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 stored on a shelf above a food prep area.
40-06-5
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dolce Italia last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Dolce Italia on file is from Dec 19, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Dolce Italia?
Across the inspection record, “in-use tongs stored on the oven door handle between uses” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Dolce Italia.
How does Dolce Italia compare to other restaurants in Sarasota?
Dolce Italia most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is higher than the Sarasota average of 81.
Has Dolce Italia's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Dolce Italia have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Dolce Italia 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 Dolce Italia inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Dolce Italia is inspected around three times per year on average.
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