La Pitaya
Last inspected: Feb 19, 2026
100
Score
Going back to 2022, La Pitaya has 12 inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Feb 19, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near four violations per visit.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “time/temperature control for safety food thawed”, showing up four times.
La Pitaya's latest score of 100 sits above the Lake Worth average of 77. The record reflects steady performance over time.
12
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 19, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired December 1, 2025 **Warning**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food not separated from ready-to-eat food during preparation. In reach in cooler in kitchen, raw chicken stored above raw beef. Employee moved raw chicken to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-14-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In front cooler, horchata made yesterday morning not date marked. **Warning**
02C-02-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. In kitchen above cook line and prep area, ceiling vents have Accumulation dust. **Warning**
36-34-5
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In flip top cooler in kitchen, defrosted fish stored in reduced oxygen package. Employee stated thawed out less than two hours. Employee starred to removed fish from package. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
06-09-1
61
Aug 19, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. In kitchen, employee was touching ready to eat tortillas on flat top grill and putting them in to go containers. Discussed with operator to inform employee of not touching ready to eat foods with bare hands and to use gloves or utensils. **Corrective Action Taken**
09-01-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in white chest freezer in storage area, raw chicken stored on top of frozen fish. Operator moved chicken to bottom. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On steam table, shredded chicken 125°F. Operator stated held on steam table less than two hours. Instructed operator to reheat on stove. Temperature 167°F after reheat. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In reach in cooler at front prep area, salsa made yesterday, more than 24 hours no date marked. Operator date marked **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. In kitchen at three compartment sink, raw chicken thawing in standing water. Operator turned on faucet to run water,
06-01-5
55
Feb 20, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations.
View 3 violations
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
70
Nov 19, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee handled bleach to make sanitizer bucket and immediately began handling tortillas and cooking equipment. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-19: Female employee cleaning dishes then wiped hands with paper towel to start working on cook line without washing hands. **Admin Complaint**
12A-16-4
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken over raw beef in freezer chest in prep area. Items not commercially packaged Removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-19: Bag of raw chicken on top ( bag in contact ) of raw fish in chest freezer in prep room. **Admin Complaint**
08A-17-6
74
Sep 18, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken over ready to eat broth for chicken soup in two door stainless steal cooler in kitchen Removed **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken over raw beef in freezer chest in prep area. Items not commercially packaged Removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-17-6
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee handled bleach to make sanitizer bucket and immediately began handling tortillas and cooking equipment. **Warning**
12A-16-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Steak thawing in hand sink in kitchen. removed from sink **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
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. Two employees on site during inspection **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Beef in hand sink at room temperature **Warning**
06-01-5
50
Feb 20, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken over cooked barbacoa two door cooler in kitchen Removed **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Chef observed wrapping tortillas to go with barehands. Educated on site.
09-01-4
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. cooked beef (64F - Cooling) at 3:00 pm to 64F at 3:20 pm since 2:00 pm. At this rate food will not cool to 41f within 6 hours. In closed zip locked bags. Reopened **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/
53A-05-6
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Under prep sink in kitchen
41-17-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Both hand sinks
31B-04-4
47
Nov 28, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 12, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Grocery bag storing bread rolls in glass door cooler in storage room next to restaurant **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-12: Grocery bag storing bread rolls in glass door cooler in storage room next to restaurant **Admin Complaint**
14-15-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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/. Unit used for storage and prep next to restaurant. no plans submitted. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-12: Spoke with plan review. Plans are Insufficient. **Time Extended**
51-16-7
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen fish in prep sink. Ran water. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-12: Frozen chicken and beef thawing at room temperature in area next to establishment. **Time Extended**
06-01-5
74
Jul 11, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Grocery bag storing bread rolls in glass door cooler in storage room next to restaurant **Warning**
14-15-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine **Warning**
16-37-1
Intermediate - Handwash sink missing in warewashing or food preparation area. Storage room next to restaurant. Employee observed cutting raw meat. No hand sink. **Warning**
31A-07-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Garbage can infront of Hand sink **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
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/. Unit used for storage and prep next to restaurant. no plans submitted. **Warning**
51-16-7
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Freezer chest in storage room next to restaurant **Warning**
14-69-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen fish in prep sink. Ran water. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
06-01-5
52
Jan 13, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
41
Jul 6, 2022
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was La Pitaya last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at La Pitaya on file is from Feb 19, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at La Pitaya?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food thawed” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at La Pitaya.
How does La Pitaya compare to other restaurants in Lake Worth?
La Pitaya most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Lake Worth average of 77.
Has La Pitaya's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at La Pitaya have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at La Pitaya 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 La Pitaya inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, La Pitaya is inspected around three times per year on average.
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