Down Island Restaurant

2780 Us Highway 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Southeast Asian

Last inspected: Feb 18, 2026

Score

Medium Risk

Public records show eight inspections at Down Island Restaurant stretching back to 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Feb 18, 2026. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near three violations per visit.

The pattern that stands out is “clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked”, which has been cited three times.

Restaurants in Santa Rosa Beach average 94, so Down Island Restaurant trails the local norm. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 18, 2026

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 5 violations

High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. 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. 3 packages of cubed Salmon and 2 packages of cubed tuna in make table located adjacent to Pizza oven. See Stop Sale

01B-13-4

Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed 2 oyster tags not date marked- harvest date 12/26/25 LA-1988-SS and harvest date 01/03/26 LA-1988-SS. Observed raw oysters on half shell in low boy cooler without tag/tag information. No February oyster tags available at time of inspection. **Repeat Violation**

01C-03-4

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed handwashing sink located beside ice machine used as pan lid storage.

31A-09-4

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. 3 packages of cubed Salmon and 2 packages of cubed tuna in make table located adjacent to Pizza oven. See Stop Sale

06-09-1

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed 2 tongs stored on oven handle in kitchen.

10-20-4

Oct 21, 2025

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 4 violations

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell raw shell eggs stored above pickles in walk-in cooler.

08A-05-6

Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed 2 oyster tags not marked with last date served. Harvest date 10/10/25 and 10/13/25. **Repeat Violation**

01C-03-4

Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler low boy beside fryers.

29-49-6

Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed frozen meatballs stored in walk-in freezer not covered.

08B-12-5

Feb 20, 2025

Routine - Food

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Supervisor/Person in Charge Present

FL-01

Oct 29, 2024

Routine - Food

2 major violations. 3 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.

01C-05-4

Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed 29 oyster tags not dated with last date served.

01C-03-4

Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed one bag of sugar stored on floor in dry storage area. Operator properly stored during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

08B-38-4

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Operator removed to dishwasher area during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

10-20-4

Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.

14-69-4

Feb 1, 2024

Routine - Food

No violations found.

100

Oct 25, 2023

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 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 dish machine with 0ppm reading. Operator will utilize triple sink for warewashing/sanitizing.

22-41-4

Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses.

10-20-4

Feb 23, 2023

Routine - Food

1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

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. This inspector provided cleanup of events for and operator properly posted during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

11-27-4

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.

22-20-5

Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.

14-69-4

Oct 17, 2022

Routine - Food

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Supervisor/Person in Charge Present

FL-01

Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal

FL-51

Show all 8 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Down Island Restaurant last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Down Island Restaurant on file is from Feb 18, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Down Island Restaurant?

Across the inspection record, “clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Down Island Restaurant.

How does Down Island Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Santa Rosa Beach?

Down Island Restaurant most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Santa Rosa Beach average of 94.

Has Down Island Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Down Island Restaurant have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Down Island 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 Down Island Restaurant inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Down Island Restaurant is inspected around two times per year on average.

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→ All locations in Santa Rosa Beach → Southeast Asian restaurants in Florida → Southeast Asian restaurants in Santa Rosa Beach