Gardens Hotel

526 Angela St, Key West, FL 33040

American

Last inspected: Aug 20, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

Inspectors have visited Gardens Hotel five times, with records going back to 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Aug 20, 2025. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.

Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near six violations per visit.

The pattern that stands out is “expired chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer”, which has been cited four times.

Gardens Hotel's latest score of 67 falls below the Key West average of 74. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Aug 20, 2025

Routine - Food

2 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Intermediate - Expired chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed expired what test kit since 2024. **Repeat Violation**

16-37-1

Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Consumer advisory was printed and posted. **Corrected On-Site**

02B-02-5

Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee personal cell phone on prep table.

40-06-5

Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed some mold like substance inside ice machine .

22-20-5

Basic - In-use utensil stored in sanitizer between uses. Observed different utensils stored inside sanitizer in between uses. Employee discarded the sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

10-18-5

Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Observed towel underneath cutting board.

21-04-4

Apr 16, 2025

Routine - Food

1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Intermediate - Expired chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed what test kit expired on 12/2024.

16-37-1

Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Observed

50-09-4

Basic - In-use utensil stored in sanitizer between uses. Observed kitchen utensils stored inside sanitizer solution in between use. Employee discarded the sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site**

10-18-5

May 21, 2024

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.

View 8 violations

High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed behind dumpster.

29-34-4

High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed License Expired since October 1st, 2023. **Admin Complaint**

50-17-3

Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soiled soda nozzle inside Bar.

22-02-4

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no Quaternary Test Kit.

16-37-1

Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed spry bottle with Windex unlabeled inside Bar. Operator labeled spry bottle. **Corrected On-Site**

41-17-4

Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed CO2 tank not secured by employee restroom.

51-11-4

Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed inside employee restroom.

32-12-5

Basic - Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Observed at employee restroom.

32-04-4

May 2, 2023

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 4 violations

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1/2&1/2 46F; ( - Cold Holding). 1/2and 1/2 had been sitting out. Placed back into reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**

03A-02-5

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Missing paperwork and time stamp on eggs, butter, ham and cheese person in charge time stamped. Emailed paperwork. **Corrected On-Site**

03F-02-5

Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed person dump pooled eggs into sink. Person in charge had sink cleaned and sanitized. **Corrected On-Site**

31A-11-4

Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Salt not labeled. Person in charge had salt labeled. **Corrected On-Site**

02D-01-5

Jan 30, 2023

Routine - Food

3 major violations.

View 3 violations

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Missing quat test kit when using quaternary ammonium at the 3 compartment sink.

16-37-1

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. Information was provided. **Corrective Action Taken**

11-07-5

Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Information was provided. **Corrected On-Site**

11-27-4

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gardens Hotel last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Gardens Hotel on file is from Aug 20, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Gardens Hotel?

Across the inspection record, “expired chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Gardens Hotel.

How does Gardens Hotel compare to other restaurants in Key West?

Gardens Hotel most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the Key West average of 74.

Has Gardens Hotel's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Gardens Hotel have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Gardens Hotel 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 Gardens Hotel inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Gardens Hotel is inspected around two times per year on average.

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