El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar

5008 W Linebaugh Ave #20, Tampa, FL 33624
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Jan 13, 2026
27
Score
High Risk

Going back to 2022, El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar has seven inspections in the public record. The most recent report on file is from Jan 13, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.

The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around seven violations, down from roughly 10 violations earlier in the record.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “food-contact surface soiled with food debris”, showing up three times.

Restaurants in Tampa average 79, so El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar trails the local norm. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.

7
Inspections
4
Critical latest
4
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 13, 2026
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 4 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at splitter added to hose bibb. Located next to mop sink. **Repeat Violation**
29-34-4
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Observed employee enter kitchen from outside restaurant and began preparing food on the front line without first washing hands or changing gloves. Discussed with employee proper handwashing procedures. Employee removed gloves, washed hands, and wore new gloves at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Queso Molarela opened 15 days ago, December 30, 2025 inside Reach in cooler in dish room. Queso covered in mold.
01B-07-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored inside a hotel pan with raw ribeye. Employee relocated raw chicken to an approved location during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
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. Queso Molarela opened 15 days ago, December 30, 2025 inside Reach in cooler in dish room. Queso covered in mold.
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food service manager not certified within 30 days of employment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ No CFM for Henry. Hired 1 year ago.
53A-04-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen and in dish room soiled. Interior of soda gun soiled at bar area. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
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. Missing for Milena and Leidy.
53B-13-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards in kitchen and in dish room with cut marks.
14-09-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Frozen breaded fish in front line Reach in freezer not covered. Employee covered fish during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. 2 bottled water stored inside Reach in cooler, located in dish room. Employee removed bottle water during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Located at bar area. Manager posted sign during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Personal foods not segregated on dry equipment rack in dish room. Personal foods stored over clean dish ware and on top of canned cheese on dry equipment shelf. Employee segregated all personal foods to the bottom shelf during time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-49-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. 2 Personal beverages stored over clean dish ware on dry equipment shelf in dish room. Employee relocated all drinks to an approved location during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
27
Jul 28, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on front line Reach in cooler soiled. Interior of soda gun soiled. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-07-28: In board on front line cooks soiled. **Time Extended**
22-02-4
90
Jul 22, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. No parasite destruction provided for corvina served as ceviche on menu. Non-exempt fish may not be served raw or undercooked. Consumer Advisory must be in place. **Warning**
01D-01-5
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Frozen pork belly stored in chest freezer in dish pit area. Employee began to relocate pork belly into approved containers during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-31-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. pico 59F, operator chilled to 38F during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Missing vacuum breaker at hose adjacent to mop sink, located at exterior of establishment. Employee added vacuum breaker during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
29-42-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on front line Reach in cooler soiled. Interior of soda gun soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. No date marking for créme brûlée or flan in Walk in cooler. **Warning**
02C-02-5
45
May 19, 2025
Complaint Full
3 critical violations. 5 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw chicken stored over bag of garlic in walk-in cooler. Employee placed garlic on proper shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-04-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed 9 pieces of raw snapper improperly thawing in reach in cooler in storage area adjacent to dish area. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
01B-13-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Garlic oil 85F 12:26pm left out from 2pm the previous day on front line cook. **Warning**
01B-02-5
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Observed no food manager certificate for Pedro Hernandez **Warning**
53A-01-7
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. No state approved employee training for 4 employee at time of inspection. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Shredded pork not labeled in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottle filled with sanitizer stored on shelf above 3-compartment sink. **Warning**
41-17-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Located at front line cook. Employee provided paper towels during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-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 9 pieces of raw snapper improperly thawing in reach in cooler in storage area adjacent to dish area. **Warning**
06-09-1
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. 1 CO2 tank not secured in storage room adjacent to soda bib station. **Warning**
51-11-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Spray bottle filled with oil not labeled on shelf on cookline. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
02D-01-5
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Bug zapper stored over steam table on cookline. **Warning**
35B-02-4
Basic - Food offered in a way that misleads/misinforms the consumer. Cheeseburger and Tablado Burger on menu advertise as 100% Angus beef. The Sous Chef, Michael, explained the burgers are mixed with both ground Angus beef and ground chorizo. 2 pounds of ground chorizo are added to every 10 pounds of ground angus beef. **Admin Complaint**
52-11-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Bag of beets stored on floor in walk-in cooler. Employee placed on shelf. Soda bib, 3 containers of oil, 2 cases of vinegar stored on floor in back storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08B-47-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on prep table on cook line. **Warning**
12B-07-4
27
Mar 14, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
7 critical violations. 5 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Raw frozen pork belly stored in garbage bags in chest freezers, adjacent to three compartment sink.
14-31-5
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Quaternary ammonia sanitizer over 500+ppm. Operator readjusted Quaternary ammonia to 200ppm during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Located at mop sink.
29-42-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Sanitizer tabs stored over clean plates on front line cook during time of inspection. Operator relocated during time of inspection. Discussed with operator. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Snapper thawed in bag.
01B-13-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored in the same contains with raw beef patty and pork sausage on front line Reach in cooler. Raw chicken stored over raw pork butt in Walk in cooler. Operator relocated all items to an approved location during time of inspection. Discussed with operator. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs stored over tortillas in Reach in cooler. Operator relocated during time of inspection. Discussed with operator. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Located on front line Reach in freezer.
14-09-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Raw fish in plastic bin not stored 6 inches off floor in Walk in cooler.
08B-47-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cut watermelon in front line Reach in freezer not covered.
08B-12-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Thawed in bag in Reach in cooler adjacent to three compartment sink.
06-01-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Spray bottle of oil on prep kitchen shelf not labeled. Operator added label during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
27
May 19, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations.
View 3 violations
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
64
Sep 20, 2022
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
39

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar on file is from Jan 13, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar?

Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar.

How does El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar compare to other restaurants in Tampa?

El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar most recently scored 27 out of 100, which is lower than the Tampa average of 79.

Has El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar have averaged around seven violations per visit, down from roughly 10 earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar 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 Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Tablado Restaurant & Patio Bar is inspected around two times per year on average.