Grouper Shack
Last inspected: Apr 15, 2026
90
Score
Going back to 2025, Grouper Shack has nine inspections in the public record. The latest inspection on file is from Apr 15, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around eight violations to closer to one violation per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.
Grouper Shack's latest score of 90 sits above the St. Augustine average of 81. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 15, 2026
Complaint Full
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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. Missing training by all employees. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-04-15: Time extended to train. **Time Extended**
53B-01-5
90
Mar 12, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Mar 11, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler; Cheese 46F On counter in back; Shrimp 55F; ( - Cold Holding) In walk in cooler; Gumbo 59F At front; Blue cheese 49F, slaw 49F, ranch 49F; ( - Cold Holding) **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-03-11: At front; Blue cheese 50F, slaw 54F, ranch 49F; Cooler is not keeping food cold. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
86
Mar 10, 2026
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 4 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 22 violations
High Priority - Melted butter prepared while still in packaging. Butter wrappers in pan of melted butter in steam well. Person in charge removed wrappers. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-28-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Missing on hose out back.
29-34-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler; Cheese 46F On counter in back; Shrimp 55F; ( - Cold Holding) In walk in cooler; Gumbo 59F At front; Blue cheese 49F, slaw 49F, ranch 49F; ( - Cold Holding) **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse On counter in back; Shrimp 55F; ( - Cold Holding) At front; Blue cheese 49F, slaw 49F, ranch 49F; ( - Cold Holding) **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Blue cheese dressing in containers dated 2.23. Today is 3.10.
02C-01-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Ahi tuna over ready to eat Ceasar dressing. Person in charge moved ahi to bottom. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Sanitizer is 0ppm. Empty bottle. Replaced bottle and it tested at 400ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-43-4
Intermediate - Ambient air thermometer in holding unit not accurate within plus or minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Mercury was broken thermometer on reach in cooler.
05-05-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Some tags missing last date sold.
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked by single service containers. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Missing paper towels and soap at hand washing sinks. Person in charge replaced all. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cellphones, plugs and food above and on prep tables. Person in charge removed all items. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour in back not labeled.
02D-01-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Grouper thawing in sealed bag. Still frozen. Advised person in charge to cut open and place in a tub to thaw. **Corrective Action Taken**
06-01-5
Basic - Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Portable screw driver above ice machine. Person in charge moved screw driver. **Corrected On-Site**
42-03-5
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on clean containers.
16-46-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Inside reach in coolers are soiled. 2 on cookline. Gaskets on Reach in freezer are soiled. Hoods on cook line are soiled. Heavy food build up in steam wells.
23-03-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Oven is heavily soiled.
22-08-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice in walk in freezer on fans and on floor.
14-69-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Broken containers in reach in cooler. Gaskets on drawers are torn. **Corrected On-Site**
14-11-5
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee salsa on shelf in back.
08B-49-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Flour scoop did not have handles on it. Person in charge removed scoop. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
14
Nov 10, 2025
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Oct 14, 2025
Complaint Full
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Establishment advertised a specific fish on the menu/menu board but served another type of fish. Observed menu board outside establishment and inside at point of sale of establishment advertising trigger fish. Per person in charge and from observations in walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer of restaurant, the restaurant is serving Aluterus Monoceros common market name Unicorn fish. Person in charge placed sign on menu board informing they are substituting the trigger fish for unicorn. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-14: Menu boards substitute message is too small to read from the point of sale system. Person in charge is going to reprint and increase the size of the substitute message. **Time Extended**
52-04-5
90
Aug 1, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 4 major violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw whole fish stored above cut ready to eat vegetables in walk-in cooler. Person in charge placed fish below ready to eat food. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Establishment advertised a specific fish on the menu/menu board but served another type of fish. Observed menu board outside establishment and inside at point of sale of establishment advertising trigger fish. Per person in charge and from observations in walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer of restaurant, the restaurant is serving Aluterus Monoceros common market name Unicorn fish. Person in charge placed sign on menu board informing they are substituting the trigger fish for unicorn. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
52-04-5
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Observed no written plan for time control. Emailed blank procedures to person in charge. **Corrective Action Taken**
03F-10-5
Intermediate - Raw or undercooked oysters offered and establishment has no consumer advisory sign provided on wall, menu, placard, table tent or by any other written means. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Observed no consumer advisory for raw oysters at menu boards. Person in charge posted paper copy during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02A-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 for raw tuna posted at menu boards. Person in charge posted paper copy during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02B-02-5
58
Feb 19, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Feb 18, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Observed missing ice machine on plans. Spoke to plan review and plan review requested new plans be submitted. **Warning**
51-16-7
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed no hand washing signs at any hand washing station. Provided emailed sign, no printer onsite. Person in charge had employee run to get signs. Signs posted by person in charge. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed top of drawer coolers, fryers, soiled with construction dust.
23-03-4
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Grouper Shack last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Grouper Shack on file is from Apr 15, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Grouper Shack?
Across the inspection record, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Grouper Shack.
How does Grouper Shack compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Grouper Shack most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Grouper Shack's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Grouper Shack have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Grouper Shack means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
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