El Potro Mexican Restaurant
Last inspected: Jan 28, 2026
52
Score
El Potro Mexican Restaurant appears in inspection records nine times, starting in 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 28, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near nine violations each time.
The pattern that stands out is “food-contact surface soiled with food debris”, which has been cited three times.
The city-wide average sits at 80, which El Potro Mexican Restaurant's 52 doesn't quite reach. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 28, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
52
Aug 5, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
37
Dec 16, 2024
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
50
Aug 14, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 6-1-2024. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with food debris. Ice bin soiled with mold-like substance. Cutting boards soiled with mold-like substance.
22-02-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Ice buildup in reach-in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor of walk-in cooler. Missing tile allows it to pool and not drain.
36-22-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing on cook line next to fryers and in walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in cooler fan blade guard soiled with dust accumulation. Reach-in cooler and reach-in freezer gaskets soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Left lid open. **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Screening is not 16-mesh to the inch. No screen over fan vent above dish machine. Fan blows air directly outside. **Repeat Violation**
35B-13-4
Basic - Shelves attached to walls in walk-ins not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Shelves in dry storage area **Repeat Violation**
36-52-4
55
Mar 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 17 minor violations.
View 18 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with paper and food debris. Ice bin soiled with mold-like substance. Cutting boards stained with mold-like substance.
22-02-4
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 fish bearing a label indicating that product is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package located in walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
06-09-1
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink over prep table with uncovered meat on it. Employee discarded drink. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Ice buildup in reach-in freezers and walk-in freezer.
14-11-5
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing on cook line next to fryers. **Repeat Violation**
36-17-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bucket of cut tomatoes on floor of walk-in cooler. Wrapped beef roast on floor of walk-in freezer. Operator moved both to shelves. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice bucket/shovel stored on floor between uses. Ice buckets stored in wait station. **Repeat Violation**
10-14-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk-in freezer back wall. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Wet wiping cloth under cutting board with beef on it.
21-04-4
Basic - Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Light fixtures throughout kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
38-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach-in cooler and reach-in freezer gaskets soiled with food debris. Knife holder soiled with dust and grease accumulation.
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Both lids open.
33-16-4
Basic - Screening is not 16-mesh to the inch. No screen over fan vent above dish machine. Fan blows air directly outside. **Repeat Violation**
35B-13-4
Basic - Shelves attached to walls in walk-ins not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Shelves in dry storage area. **Repeat Violation**
36-52-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Beans and chicken in reach-in cooler not covered. Employee covered with plastic wrap.
08B-12-5
Basic - Utensils in poor condition. Knife handle melted.
14-12-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk-in cooler shelves. **Repeat Violation**
14-17-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket in wait station, 200 ppm. Manager added water to bucket, 50 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-07-4
39
Nov 27, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 14, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 14 minor violations.
View 17 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. Dish machine next to three compartment sink, 0 ppm. **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Spatula stored in cook line hand wash sink Employee removed spatula from hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand wash sink next to three compartment sink.
31B-02-4
Basic - Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Light fixtures on throughout the kitchen.
38-07-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Label on cut limes not removed in reach-in cooler next to cook line hand washing sink.
08B-39-4
Basic - Screening is not 16-mesh to the inch. No screen over fan vent above dish machine. Fan blows air directly outside.
35B-13-4
Basic - Shelves attached to walls not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Shelves in dry storage area.
36-52-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk-in shelves.
14-17-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket in wait station, 200 ppm. Manager added water to bucket, 100 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
21-07-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour stored on shelf above prep table across from three compartment sink. Employee placed label on container. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
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 fish bearing a label indicating that product is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package located in walk-in cooler.
06-09-1
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Women's restroom in lobby.
32-12-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cups stored in wait station.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing on cook line next to fryers.
36-17-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Chicken. base stored on floor in dry storage area. Manager placed item on shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice bucket not inverted between uses. Ice buckets stored in wait station.
10-14-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk-in freezer back wall. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
35
Apr 3, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards soiled with food debris stains. Mold-like substance in chute of ice machine. Grease and food debris in larger microwave interior. Knife holder soiled with food debris, dust, and flaking rust. Front soda dispenser nozzles soiled with food debris. Inside walk-in freezer, on floor and food had dropped down. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on prep table next to chest freezer grooved.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf next to reach-in cooler. Employee discarded. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Two phone chargers/cables and speaker on shelf over prep tables in kitchen. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water under upright refrigerator (possibly caused by ice buildup ad clogged drain line).
36-22-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup in freezer section of upright refrigerator. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Wet, soiled with food and blood wiping cloth under cutting board. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
21-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach-in cooler gaskets and doors soiled throughout kitchen. Grease accumulation on hood and hood piping. Grease accumulation on exhaust fan over dish machine. Front soda machine upper plates soiled with food debris or mold-like substance. Shelf above the steam table soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Utensils in poor condition. Knife handle damaged and wrapped with cellophane. Manager discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
14-12-4
61
Sep 27, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
39
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Potro Mexican Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Potro Mexican Restaurant on file is from Jan 28, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Potro Mexican Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at El Potro Mexican Restaurant.
How does El Potro Mexican Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Lake City?
El Potro Mexican Restaurant most recently scored 52 out of 100, which is lower than the Lake City average of 80.
Has El Potro Mexican Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Potro Mexican Restaurant have averaged around nine violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at El Potro Mexican Restaurant 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 El Potro Mexican Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Potro Mexican Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
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