Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant
Last inspected: Feb 9, 2026
55
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant stretching back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Feb 9, 2026. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around seven violations per visit lately, up from roughly four violations before.
“Employee beverage container on a food preparation table” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
By comparison, the average Dunnellon facility scores 72, putting Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant on the weaker side. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 9, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
55
Sep 16, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
37
Feb 3, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pan of raw chicken and pan of raw beef stored on shelf directly over pan of cooked rice inside reach-in cooler in front of kitchen. Manager moved the raw foods to the bottom shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Pan containing raw chicken stored directly above pan containing raw beef in shelf inside reach-in cooler near storage closet in front of kitchen. Manager moved the raw chicken to shelf below the raw beef during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Ice dumped inside handwash sink in server station. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plate without handle stored down inside pan of rice in reach-in cooler at front of kitchen. Manager removed plate from rice during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink cup stored on prep table beside cutting board near back door. Manager removed drink cup from table during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Several cracked floor tiles in kitchen and in dishwashing area. **Repeat Violation**
36-17-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Buildup of frozen meat juice in bottom of reach-in freezer in storage area.
14-69-4
55
Oct 28, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. 1. Interior of microwave at cookline soiled with food debris. 2. Nozzles of fountain machine at server station soiled with mold-like substances. Employee began removing and cleaning nozzles during this inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee at cookline dumped and refilled a sanitizer bucket at the handwash sink near cookline.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottles containing degreaser in cabinet below handwash sink at cookline. Manager added proper labels to bottles during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. One dead roach on floor below shelving in exterior dry storage room. Manager swept up and discarded the dead roach during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drink cup and "happy meal" sitting on top of reach-in freezer in exterior storage area. Manager removed both items from the area during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Several cracked floor tiles at cookline.
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1. Handle of microwave at cookline soiled with grease. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
61
Feb 5, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee entered the kitchen from outdoors, put on gloves, and began work at cookline. Inspector had employee stop and wash hands before handling food. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pans containing raw chicken and raw beef stored on shelf above ready-to-eat guacamole inside reach-in cooler in kitchen. Manager moved guacamole to another cooler during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Nozzles of fountain machine in kitchen soiled with mold-like substance. Employee removed nozzles and began cleaning them during this inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Area around nozzles of fountain machine in kitchen soiled with mold-like substance. Shelving in cabinets below handwash sink in kitchen soiled with food debris. Interior of reach-in freezer in storage area heavily soiled with frozen chicken debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup inside reach-in chicken freezer in exterior storage area.
14-69-4
61
Nov 2, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Jul 17, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen at cookline. One fly in kitchen in prep area near back door. Two flies in kitchen in warewash area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 06/2023.
50-17-3
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Two dead roaches on floor in warewash area of kitchen below three-compartment sink. Three dead roaches on dry food storage shelves in kitchen near back door. All were cleaned up and discarded during this inspection. **Repeat Violation**
35A-03-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Interior of cabinets below prep sink near warewash area soiled with dirt and/or food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
67
Jan 23, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
95
Jul 11, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. At the prep area, medicine stored above condiment and rice, Manager moved all. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-07-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the server station, milk 45F, raw beef 46F, rice 50F, Manager moved the Rae beef and the milk to walk-in cooler, rice was voluntarily discarded. Temperatures dropped to 43F. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Handwash sink at the cook line, also no appear towels at the server station sink, Manager provided soap and paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In walk-in cooler, multiple container no date marked, per employee items were cooked 07/09/22, employee dated. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. At the prep area, drink above prep table, also inside cooler at the server station, Manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
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. Reach-in cooler at the server station, ambient temperature 55F, doors in disrepair.
14-74-7
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In walk-in cooler, bowl no handle inside rice container
14-01-5
52
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant on file is from Feb 9, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “employee beverage container on a food preparation table” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant.
How does Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Dunnellon?
Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Dunnellon average of 72.
Has Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant 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 Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
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