Johnny Grits
Last inspected: Nov 10, 2025
27
Score
Inspectors have visited Johnny Grits 12 times, with records going back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Nov 10, 2025. Diners may want to take note: high risk reflects issues that a health inspector considered important.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around three violations to closer to 12 violations.
When inspectors have written things up, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been the most frequent reason, cited six times.
Johnny Grits' latest score of 27 falls below the Tarpon Springs average of 76. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.
12
Inspections
3
Critical latest
3
Major latest
11
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 10, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 2 6lb cans of corned beef.
01B-01-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef over ready to eat items in freezer in back room. **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter in reach in cooler at bar 54F was held since 8am. Operator moved to freezer, cooled to 39. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels by handwash sink at bar.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with debris.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Coffee pot stored in hand wash sink by office area. Operator removed coffee pot. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic bowl used for scoop for sugar in storage area. Operator removed bowl. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Ceiling tile missing over handwash sink in cook line.
36-36-4
Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall in disrepair. Molding on wall behind three compartment sink warped and in disrepair
36-03-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on cook line grooved and soiled. Green Cutting board in back area of kitchen grooved.
14-09-4
Basic - Damaged/spoiled/recalled food not properly segregated. 2 6lb cans of corned beef with other cans in dry storage.
08B-20-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phones and AirPods stored above food preparation area and clean dishes. Operator moved items. Employee phone on prep area in bar. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Wet nesting containers in ware washing area.
24-08-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Wall on cook line next to entrance has a hole in it.
36-24-5
Basic - Hood filters have gaps over cook line.
14-42-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan over dish machine soiled with debris
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on clean containers and bowls in warewashing station **Repeat Violation**
16-46-4
27
Sep 10, 2025
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Multiple holes in wall in kitchen Floors in kitchen and storage areas soiled **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-10: **Time Extended**
36-24-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Black fan over dish machine Hinges on coolers on cook line Fan guards in vertical silver cooler Sides of equipment on cook line **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-10: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on food containers on dish rack in back room **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-10: **Time Extended**
16-46-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Single door cooler on end of cook line **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-10: **Time Extended**
22-16-4
82
Sep 9, 2025
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 7 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Hollandaise marked 8/22, see stop sale **Warning**
02C-01-5
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 6 live roaches under 3 compartment sink 1 live roach under silver vertical coolers coolers in back room of kitchen 1 live roach in sticky trap on counter at wait station **Warning**
35A-05-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Hollandaise marked 8/22, see stop sale **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In glass door cooler in bar- butter pads (45F - Cold Holding), removed from refrigeration 30 minutes ago, operator moved to other cooler recheck 43F **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle of glass cleaner on counter at wait station next to and over food, moved to floor . **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-10-4
High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Sliced tomatoes, no date, white mold like substance, in reach in cooler. **Warning**
01B-07-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In drawers on under flat top- Raw shrimp, hamburgers over cooked onions, diced tomatoes, operator move raw to bottom drawer In vertical freezer in back room- container of ice cream in pan with unpackaged beef, moved to bottom. Unpackaged raw beef over cooked onions, beef moved to bottom **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Multiple holes in wall in kitchen Floors in kitchen and storage areas soiled **Warning**
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Black fan over dish machine Hinges on coolers on cook line Fan guards in vertical silver cooler Sides of equipment on cook line **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on food containers on dish rack in back room **Warning**
16-46-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Single door cooler on end of cook line **Warning**
22-16-4
Basic - Ambient air thermometer not located in the warmest part of the cold holding unit. Thermometer in back of cooler, by office, moved to front **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
05-11-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Approximately- 45 dead roaches in sticky traps in dry storage room 15 dead roaches in sticky glass door cooler in storage area 20 dead roaches in sticky trap under storage shelf across from coolers in back of kitchen 150 dead roaches under silver vertical coolers in back room 8 sticky traps on cook line under equipment with approx 20 dead roaches in each trap Roach egg sack on top of bag of polenta in back room 5 dead roaches on floor at wait station 8 dead roaches in sticky traps at wait station on wire shelf 8 dead roaches in sticky trap on floor in bar 20 dead roaches in sticky traps under espresso machine. 1 Roach egg sac under cash register in bar **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Personal food in cooler with employee food in multiple coolers **Warning**
08B-49-4
25
Mar 12, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Establishment is open and operating. License expired on 02-01-2025.
50-17-3
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. No time mark for cooked sausage links. Operator time marked item. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee touching soiled dishes then retrieving clean dishes from dishmachine. Discussed with operator proper hand-hygiene techniques. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Spray bottles inside bowl of hand wash sink in warewashing area. Operator removed item. Hand wash sink in bar used as dump sink for ice. Operator melted ice. Reviewed with Manager. **Corrective Action Taken**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle on cart at front counter containing window cleaner substance not labeled. Operator labeled item windex. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
52
Jan 30, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 22, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Cook cracked eggs then touched clean plates without washing hands, discussed proper hand washing with cook, he took gloves off and properly washed hands **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-27-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw burgers above diced tomatoes on cook line in drawers, raw burgers moved to bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Poached eggs on menu not identified as raw **Warning**
02B-01-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Containers of oil on floor in back prep area, containers of oil put on crates **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4
64
Apr 26, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. In reach in cooler on cook line across from griddle - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-26: **Time Extended**
29-49-6
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave in prep area soiled - From follow-up inspection 2024-04-26: **Time Extended**
22-08-4
90
Apr 17, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Chlorine sanitizer for dishwasher machine 0ppm, inspector had employee set up three compartment sink to sanitize dishes, quaternary sanitizer in sink at 200ppm **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
22-49-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw burgers above cooked chicken in drawers on cook line, employee moved raw burgers to bottom drawer **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee picked towel up off floor then wrapped container of tomatoes without changing gloves or washing hands, discussed proper glove change and hand washing with employee, employee removed gloves and properly washed hands **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-09-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun soiled
22-02-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave in prep area soiled
22-08-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. In reach in cooler on cook line across from griddle
29-49-6
52
Nov 28, 2023
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-28: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler gaskets torn **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-28: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Throughout kitchen **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-28: **Time Extended**
36-17-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-28: **Time Extended**
33-16-4
82
Oct 26, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 5 major violations. 14 minor violations.
View 23 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishmachine sanitizer at 0ppm, manager set up 3 compartment sink to sanitize dishes, sanitizer at 100ppm in 3 compartment sink **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
22-41-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Cook came in the back door from outside put gloves on and started preparing food without washing hands **Warning**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Dishwasher handling dirty dishes then handling clean dishes **Warning**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw burgers over diced tomatoes in drawers on cook line Raw shell egg above sliced cheese in reach in cooler Raw food moved to bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hot water turned off at hand sink on cook line, hot water turned on under hand sink, water temperature 107F **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
27-16-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Dog bowls in hand sink by dish machine, dog bowls removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink on cook line has food debris in it **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Poached eggs on menu not identified as raw **Warning**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand sink next to dish machine **Warning**
31B-02-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Throughout kitchen **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of cooking equipment soiled **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice build up in reach in freezer on cook line **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs on oven door handle, tongs removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-20-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave soiled in prep area **Warning**
22-08-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Electric scooter in prep area of kitchen next to employee preparing food Cell phone on top of reach in cooler Items removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Dishwasher with no hair restraint on, dishwasher put hair net on **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler gaskets torn **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor on cook line under equipment soiled **Warning**
36-73-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Walls on cook line soiled **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
36-27-5
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket on cook line at 0ppm, employee refilled sanitizer bucket with chlorine now at 100ppm **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-08-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee bottle of water in reach in cooler, employee drink removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-13-4
17
Mar 9, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
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.
11-07-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun at bar soiled
22-02-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards
14-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Dishwasher has no hair restraint on
13-03-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Tile in kitchen
36-17-5
Basic - Grease receptacle/dumpster not on proper pad/nonabsorbent surface.
33-23-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice build up in reach in freezer on cook line **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Prep reach in cooler next to heat lamp
29-49-6
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Walls soiled on cook line
36-27-5
58
Dec 9, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw sausage patties over cooked sausage gravy. Item moved. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Yellow liquid in bottle of bus cart not labeled.
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Under grill and fryers.
36-73-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of rice stored on floor in storage room.
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Dish area.
31B-04-4
61
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Johnny Grits last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Johnny Grits on file is from Nov 10, 2025. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Johnny Grits?
Across the inspection record, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Johnny Grits.
How does Johnny Grits compare to other restaurants in Tarpon Springs?
Johnny Grits most recently scored 27 out of 100, which is lower than the Tarpon Springs average of 76.
Has Johnny Grits' inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Johnny Grits have averaged around 12 violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Johnny Grits 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 Johnny Grits inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Johnny Grits is inspected around four times per year on average.
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