El Tiesto Cafe
Last inspected: Dec 12, 2025
74
Score
Across the available record, El Tiesto Cafe has nine inspections on file, the first dated 2023. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 12, 2025. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around 13 violations to closer to three violations per visit.
Looking across the full record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale average 80, so El Tiesto Cafe trails the local norm. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 12, 2025
Routine - Food
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
74
Apr 14, 2025
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl in bulk sugar. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. End of hallway next to kitchen.
35B-01-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop handle in bulk sugar. Operator stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Top cookline shelf with clean plates.
23-03-4
82
Mar 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
95
Mar 5, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cookline - #3 low boy/drawer unit cream (51F); cooked chicken (49F); cooked beef (49F); pork (49F); feta (45-46F). Observed top drawer not secured properly. Per operator all items held in units overnight. No items prepped or portioned today. See stop sale. **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cookline - #3 low boy/drawer unit cream (51F); cooked chicken (49F); cooked beef (49F); pork (49F); feta (45-46F). Observed top drawer not secured properly. Per operator all items held in units overnight. No items prepped or portioned today. See stop sale. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. All bar soda guns and holsters. **Warning**
22-02-4
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. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cookline - #3 low boy/drawer unit cream (51F); cooked chicken (49F); cooked beef (49F); pork (49F); feta (45-46F). Observed top drawer not secured properly. **Warning**
14-74-7
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer at Cookline. Ice buildup in walk-in freezer - observed damaged gaskets. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-69-4
61
Jun 7, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Walk in freezer : gaskets **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-06-07: Observed same. **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Water draining onto floor surface. 3CSink pipe disconnected from drain. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-06-07: Observed same **Time Extended**
29-03-4
90
Jun 6, 2024
Routine - Food
10 critical violations. 11 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 32 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. Dishwasher 0ppm **Warning**
22-41-4
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Sushi chef left kitchen with gloves on, came back without removing gloves and washing hands before preparing sushi roll. **Warning**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Employee dried hands on clothes/apron/soiled towel after washing. Due to lack of paper towel employee dried hand on clothes. **Warning**
12A-18-4
High Priority - In-use utensil stored in unclean water at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Stove : utensil in water at 124F. Repeat. Operator make new - **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
10-05-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 flying insects at warewashing area. Not landing. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Freezer : unpacked raw chicken stored above beef. Operator inverted products. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Unpacked chicken stored over beef. Operator properly stored **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-17-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip top : Flip top : cut tomatoes (46F); cut lettuce (50F); raw shrimp (46F)- in unit overnight - see stop sale. Foods not prepared or portioned today. Repeat. **Corrective Action Taken** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) sushi rice 124 F Hot holding. Per operator in warmer less than 4hrs. Operator time marked 12-4pm 2) fried shrimp 104F - Hot holding at expo line. Less than four hours, Heat lamp turned off. Operator reheated all food to 178F. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washing hands in 3 compartment sink **Warning**
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer. **Warning**
16-33-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. By broom and dust pan operator removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. **Warning**
16-37-1
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/ Manager Julian - arrived after 2 hrs. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
53A-05-6
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. **Warning**
05-08-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink in kitchen. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working at hand wash sink at kitchen entry door. **Warning**
31B-05-4
Intermediate - Probe thermometer not within the intended measuring range of use. **Warning**
05-03-4
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. For sushi. Operator posted sign **Warning**
02B-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked Pasta in cooler by flap top per operate made 6 days ago. No date marking. **Warning**
02C-02-5
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Bug zapper on expo line shelf. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
35B-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table next to cooked beef. Operator removed drink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cellphone at sushi prep table next to rice warmer. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Walk in freezer : gaskets **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. **Warning**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. **Warning**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. **Warning**
21-04-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit.
05-09-4
Basic - Water draining onto floor surface. 3CSink pipe disconnected from drain. **Warning**
29-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. For 3 towels in kitchen **Warning**
21-12-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket 0ppm . Operator prepared new mix. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-07-4
4
Apr 29, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On the sushi station, krab (55F - Cold Holding); smoked salmon (55F - Cold Holding). The items were stored in the cooler less than 3 hours. They were not prepped or portioned today. They were moved to the lower cooler to quickly chill and cold hold. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap provided at any of the sinks. The operator provided soap during the inspection **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels supplied at any sinks. Operator supplied paper towels during the inspection **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On the cookline. The utensils and container were removed **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
67
May 12, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
May 11, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 1 major 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. Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm). **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - No quaternary chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. **Warning**
16-37-1
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Tiesto Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Tiesto Cafe on file is from Dec 12, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Tiesto Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at El Tiesto Cafe.
How does El Tiesto Cafe compare to other restaurants in Fort Lauderdale?
El Tiesto Cafe most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Fort Lauderdale average of 80.
Has El Tiesto Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at El Tiesto Cafe have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly 13 earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at El Tiesto Cafe 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 El Tiesto Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Tiesto Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants