Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen
Last inspected: Dec 9, 2025
86
Score
The health department has logged seven inspections at Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen, the earliest from 2022. On Dec 9, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around three violations lately and about six violations before that.
“Walk -in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.
Restaurants in Tampa average 79, so Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen is doing better than most peers. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
7
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 9, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Quat above 200-500 ppm. Management added more water retested to 500 ppm **Corrected On-Site**
41-18-4
86
Apr 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Cook pork 62 f and 52 f cooked at 9:00 pm overnight did not cool properly.
03D-02-5
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.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Plastic wrap over cook pork in walk in cooler that was cooling overnight at 9:00 pm.
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. On cooks line employee fixed **Corrected On-Site**
31B-05-4
Basic - Walk -in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
61
Jan 21, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors under equipment soiled **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-21: **Time Extended**
36-73-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-21: **Time Extended**
22-08-4
90
Jan 17, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Quat sanitizer, operator diluted it. **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink.in kitchen, operator replaced.
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hot water knob at service side hand wash sink broken, operator will have repairs made.
27-16-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. In walk in cooler multiple buckets of food items
08B-47-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Hot water knob at service side hand wash sink broken, operator will have repairs made.
29-08-4
64
Jul 13, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottles of disinfectant not labeled. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
41-17-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
24-08-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors under equipment in kitchen area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
36-73-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. operator moved them. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
21-12-4
78
Apr 4, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Front cooler, by entrance to service area, milk (50F - Cold Holding); back hot line cooler, cooked pork (50F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken (51F - Cold Holding); Swiss (51F - Cold Holding); cooked shrimp (50F - Cold Holding), operator discarded all items. Walk in cooler, Poultry (44F - Cold Holding); Dairy (44F - Cold Holding); Plant Foods (44F - Cold Holding); Beef (45F - Cold Holding) operator iced down all items. **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Front cooler, by entrance to service area, milk (50F - Cold Holding); back hot line cooler, cooked pork (50F - Cold Holding); cooked chicken (51F - Cold Holding); Swiss (51F - Cold Holding); cooked shrimp (50F - Cold Holding), operator discarded all items **Warning**
01B-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener **Warning**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. On clean pan rack **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Discussed with operator proper air drying of clean equipment. **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors under equipment, soiled
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Sides of equipment soiled. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Pooling water. **Warning**
22-16-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Warning**
21-12-4
50
Aug 10, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee touched face and then began making a customer order. Discussed proper hand washing with employee.
12A-25-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked pork 92 F. Sitting in bowl above oven. Moved under heat lamp. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. In kitchen. Replaced. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Sink compartments of three-compartment sink too small to accommodate utensils or equipment. Large pots cannot fit into sinks. **Repeat Violation**
16-08-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Used to dump drink into in front area. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Containers of sauce in walk in cooler. Rice and oil containers in storage closet.
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Temped 110 F.
10-07-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cooked vegetables, beans, cut onions. Various items in walk in cooler. Employee began wrapping items at time of inspection and added life t other containers. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Sitting in water bucket. **Repeat Violation**
42-01-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gasket on reach in freezer. Torn walk in cooler door flaps. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Above walk in cooler.
36-36-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Water bottle on prep table. Removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone on prep table. Removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
30
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen on file is from Dec 9, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen?
Across the inspection record, “walk -in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen.
How does Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is higher than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Hemingway's Cuban Kitchen is inspected around two times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants