Fresh First
Last inspected: Feb 9, 2026
50
Score
Fresh First has been inspected nine times since 2023. Fresh First was last inspected on Feb 9, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around three violations to closer to five violations per visit.
“No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.
Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale average 80, so Fresh First trails the local norm. Diners may want to weigh the inspection history when deciding to visit.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 9, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
50
Oct 15, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ac vents in kitchen soiled with dust **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-15: Observed at callback same **Time Extended**
36-34-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-15: Observed at callback same **Time Extended**
50-09-4
90
Oct 14, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
58
May 21, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. tomatoes soup (70F - Hot Holding),per employee food hot held less than one hour, employee reheated on stove to 169F. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Front counter- garbage can in front of sink, employee removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Front counter.
31B-04-4
74
Oct 25, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at flip top cooler in kitchen - raw shell eggs (49F - Cold Holding) as per operator items held out of temperature for approximately 1 hour. Operator placed bag of ice on top of items. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed at handwashing sink to triple sink.
31B-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed at handwashing sink to triple sink.
31B-04-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employee engaged in food preparation while wearing watch on wrist. Employee removed item. **Corrected On-Site**
13-07-4
70
Jul 11, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
74
Jan 3, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over milk inside true reach in cooler at cook line. Operator properly stored. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. Reviewed and emailed big 6 poster to operator. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-07-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee backpack stored on dry storage shelf, above various food product. Operator properly stored. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
74
Jul 6, 2023
Routine - Food
4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Establishment sprouting seeds or beans without an approved variance from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Observed establishment sprouting lentil beans and chickpeas without an approved variance. Emailed operator contact information for special process approval. **Corrective Action Taken**
03G-47-1
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. **Repeat Violation**
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.
53B-01-5
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Observed no consumer advisory posted. Printed consumer advisory for operator to post. **Corrective Action Taken**
02B-02-5
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed Sanitizer Bucket (Quaternary 0ppm) at cook line. Operator corrected to 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-08-4
64
Jan 27, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Triple sink quaternary reading 0ppm. Using sanitizer solution that should not be diluted. Sink remade using chlorine to correct 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-43-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Cook line employee returned to line and put on gloves without washing hands.
12A-07-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On back prep table container house hot sauce (68F - Cold Holding). Per employee out of cooler at 10:00am. Employee returned to walk in to rechill. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in freezer, portioned raw chicken sausage and raw chicken burgers above containers of cut mango and cases of strawberries.
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-14-5
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. New owner provided proof of food manager class taken and exam scheduled. **Corrective Action Taken**
53A-01-7
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Multiple plastic cups in bulk containers of different dry ingredients.
14-01-5
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Container of utensils in standing water by hot plates opposite cold line and at end of cook line by griddle. Employee dumped water. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. Soiled wet cloth on counter by juice machines.
21-09-4
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket at cook line reading 0ppm quaternary. Employee remade to proper 200ppm quaternary. Sanitizer solution not designed to be diluted. **Corrected On-Site**
21-08-4
37
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Fresh First last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Fresh First on file is from Feb 9, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Fresh First?
Across the inspection record, “no handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Fresh First.
How does Fresh First compare to other restaurants in Fort Lauderdale?
Fresh First most recently scored 50 out of 100, which is lower than the Fort Lauderdale average of 80.
Has Fresh First's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Fresh First have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Fresh First 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 Fresh First inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Fresh First is inspected around three times per year on average.
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