Espo's Catering

2001 N Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL 33607

Catering

Last inspected: Apr 18, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

Espo's Catering appears in inspection records six times, starting in 2022. On Apr 18, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around two violations compared to roughly seven violations earlier on.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “paper towel dispenser”, showing up three times.

That's lower than the typical Tampa restaurant, which scores around 79. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 18, 2025

Routine - Food

2 critical violations.

View 2 violations

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Walk-in cooler Cold Holding: yellow rice 44 F, black bean 44 F, sliced cheese 45 F, raw ground beef 44 F. Operator opened walk-in freezer door to helps cool walk-in cooler. Re temped: yellow rice 42 F, black bean 43 F, sliced cheese 43 F, raw ground beef 40 F. **Corrected On-Site**

03A-02-5

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired on 02/01/2025. Operator renewed online at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**

50-17-3

Jul 22, 2024

Routine - Food

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Hands Clean and Properly Washed

FL-08

Food Received at Proper Temperature

FL-12

Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels

FL-14

Feb 15, 2024

Routine - Food

No violations found.

100

Jul 28, 2023

Routine - Food

3 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Unable to dispense paper towels at employee hand wash next to three compartment sink.

31B-05-4

Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer.

16-33-4

Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked beef held over 24hrs not date marked . **Repeat Violation**

02C-02-5

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink observed on food prep table , corrected, operator removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

12B-07-4

Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**

21-12-4

Feb 21, 2023

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 8 violations

High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Three compartment sink set up with 0 ppm of chlorine, corrected, 100 ppm of chlorine in three compartment sink sink. **Corrected On-Site**

22-42-4

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Corrected, operator went online and license updated. **Corrected On-Site**

50-17-3

Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Unable to dispense paper towels at employee hand wash sink, corrected, operator placed roll of paper at employee hand wash sink . **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

31B-05-4

Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Pesto sauce in walk-in cooler not date marked. **Repeat Violation**

02C-02-5

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on food prep table. Corrected, employee removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

12B-07-4

Basic - Food stored on floor. Foods stored on floor in walk in cooler .

08B-38-4

Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Tin foil on side of stove with old food debris and in disrepair.

14-20-4

Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**

21-12-4

Jul 25, 2022

Routine - Food

3 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Dressings made in house held over 24 hrs not date marked **Repeat Violation**

02C-02-5

Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Employee hand wash sink blocked by buckets and fan , corrected, operator removed items during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

31A-09-4

Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Paper towel dispenser at employee hand wash sink jammed unable to dispense towels, corrected, operator placed roll of paper towels at sink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

31B-05-4

Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Single service containers intended for one to use reused .

25-32-4

Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**

21-12-4

Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on food prep table, corrected, operator removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

12B-07-4

Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of salmon on bag of ice stored on floor in walk in freezer .

08B-38-4

Show all 6 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Espo's Catering last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Espo's Catering on file is from Apr 18, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Espo's Catering?

Across the inspection record, “paper towel dispenser” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Espo's Catering.

How does Espo's Catering compare to other restaurants in Tampa?

Espo's Catering most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Tampa average of 79.

Has Espo's Catering's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Espo's Catering have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Espo's Catering 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 Espo's Catering inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Espo's Catering is inspected around two times per year on average.

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