Hot Spot Cafe
Last inspected: Jan 30, 2026
90
Score
The health department has logged eight inspections at Hot Spot Cafe, the earliest from 2022. Hot Spot Cafe was last inspected on Jan 30, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around four violations compared to roughly 12 violations earlier on.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
Among St. Petersburg restaurants, the typical score is 77; Hot Spot Cafe is comfortably above that bar. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 30, 2026
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. I provided probe thermometers to operator. **Corrected On-Site**
05-08-4
90
Jan 31, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. White Cutting boards stained and soiled on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Silverware not inverted at server station in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
25-06-4
86
Aug 1, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly in kitchen not landing.
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards stained and soiled on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Interior of ovens on cook line soiled with burnt on food debris.
22-08-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Silverware not inverted at server station in kitchen.
25-06-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Leaking faucet at hand sink on cook line.
29-11-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Exterior top of dish machine soiled with debris. Employee cleaned during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
16-21-4
Basic - Condensation or other drainage not disposed of according to law. Cook line fans dripping condensation water on employees. **Repeat Violation**
28-02-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Wet nesting of plastic pans on drying rack. Employee moved to dry. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. Food debris and garbage on pad around dumpster.
33-19-4
55
Mar 18, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
FL-28
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
29
Sep 28, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly waitress area by tea counter.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. salmon 9:19 (52F - Cold Holding); @10:20 42F -cut leafy greens (49F - Cold Holding); @10:20 41F ham 925 (53F - Cold Holding); @10:20 41f cut brussels sprouts (46F - Cold Holding); 41f @10:23 cooked onions 920 (47F - Cold Holding); 42F shedded cheese 920 (47F - Cold Holding); @10:30 42F. In reach in cooler on line. Manager placed ice bags on items. pancake mix (54F - Cold Holding) pooled eggs@645 (54F - Cooling)@11:54 33F @49f @959 **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Wash solution in spray-type chemical warewasher less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Dish machine reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
16-53-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board soiled with food debris waitress area.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees
53B-09-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
16-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Condensation or other drainage not disposed of according to law. Fan on cook line dipping condensation water. **Repeat Violation**
28-02-4
Basic - Dishmachine has no data plate/operating specifications. Dish machine has no data plate available to read.
16-01-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee water bottle on table next to bread. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean pans and neck bottles in prep area on shelving.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Walk-in floor edges soiled with food like debris
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on cook line and walk-in door soiled with food debris. Spray nozzle in dish area heavily soiled. Walk-in cooler shelf has soiled food debris
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Coffee filter not cover. Manager placed cover on filter **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed pineapples over ready to eat potatoes in walk-in
08B-17-4
33
Jun 8, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
FL-28
43
Jul 26, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jul 22, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 15 minor violations.
View 19 violations
High Priority - Employee used tobacco, ate, or drank then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee filled personal cup with ice and had gloves on with no handwash and glove change afterwards. Employee Educated and changed gloves and washed hands. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-05-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 6 live flies. **Warning**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on prep area heavily stained and soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
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. System down - unable to show proof of training.
53B-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Some black debris build up on ice machine. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Exterior of dish machine soiled with build up of debris. **Warning**
16-21-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Prep area cutting board has deep cut marks . **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep table in front server station next to wrapped silverware. Employee drinks removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic pans not dried properly next to walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Multiple containers in walk in cooler with broken lids. **Warning**
14-38-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Case of biscuits on floor in walk in freezer. Employee moved biscuits to shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Large hole above dishwasher and around pipe. **Warning**
36-24-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Interior of oven soiled with burnt on food debris. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-08-4
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. **Warning**
33-11-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Take out containers not inverted. **Warning**
25-06-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Two wet cloths outside sanitizer buckets. Employee moved to sanitizer bucket. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
21-12-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. Wiping cloths wet and heavily soiled on cutting board and on ice machine. Employee removed wet cloths. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-09-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Provided signage to employee and she posted. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-04-4
29
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hot Spot Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Hot Spot Cafe on file is from Jan 30, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Hot Spot Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Hot Spot Cafe.
How does Hot Spot Cafe compare to other restaurants in St. Petersburg?
Hot Spot Cafe most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the St. Petersburg average of 77.
Has Hot Spot Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Hot Spot Cafe have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly 12 earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Hot Spot Cafe 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 Hot Spot Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Hot Spot Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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