Mellow Mushroom
Last inspected: Mar 12, 2026
61
Score
Public records show eight inspections at Mellow Mushroom stretching back to 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Mar 12, 2026. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around eight violations each, up from closer to five violations before.
The pattern that stands out is “employee personal items stored”, which has been cited four times.
That's lower than the typical Lutz restaurant, which scores around 80. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 12, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottle in dish machine area, operator labeled it properly
41-17-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cooked sausage in walk in cooler not covered, operator covered it with plastic film
08B-12-5
Basic - No mop sink or curbed cleaning facility provided at establishment. Mop sink drain clogged and water would going down
29-27-4
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Emailed soft copy to operator
51-13-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Oven interior soiled and grates buildup
22-08-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee no beard guard while engaging food preparation, manager asked him to put it on
13-04-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Speaker and cell phone on prep table by cook line, operator removed the **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Operator printed it out during inspection
50-09-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed mushrooms above cheese sauce in walk in cooler , operator removed the mushrooms to bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
61
Sep 29, 2025
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cooked ground beef date marked at 9/27/25 temperatures 49F cold holding in pizza prep cooler at kitchen. stop sale issued
01B-02-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found One small fly in mop sink area.
35A-02-7
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No back flow preventer at mop sink hose Bibb.
29-34-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked ground beef (49F - Cold Holding) in pizza preparation reach in cooler. No one took temperature today. See stop sale **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Test kit for both of chlorine and quarantine are expired.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink in bar area. Operator refilled it. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees by kitchen back door. Operator printed it out and posted it **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler in front line door gasket soiled
23-03-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on shelves with food stored together in kitchen area. Operator removed them **Corrected On-Site**
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 phones and speaker on prep table on pizza counter. Operator removed them **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with soiled apron. Manager gave him clean one to ware **Corrected On-Site**
13-01-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic food containers not air dry and nesting, operator flipped over them to air dry **Corrective Action Taken**
24-08-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Double oven interior soiled and grease buildup
22-08-4
32
Feb 5, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese 52 f employee moved to freezer 2nd temp 43 f **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Dented cans present. See stop sale. 1 black olives 1 can
01B-01-4
Basic - Employee eating while preparing food. Employee on cooks line employee discarded food **Corrected On-Site**
12B-01-4
70
Jan 14, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 6lb can of pizza sauce and pineapple tidbits stored on dry-storage rack is dented at seam.
01B-01-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink near oven on cooks line.
31B-02-4
Basic - Cutting boards on cooks line has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior near flat-top grill have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
67
Apr 16, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 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. 0 ppm **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice machine **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand washing sink as dump sink, observed tomatoes in bottom of sink in prep area **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Several employee drinks above cold bar on cookline, employee drink on prep tables **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee Jackets and hats stored on shelving with food in stockroom. **Warning**
40-06-5
64
Oct 10, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 1 small flying insect landing on hose in mop sink area off cook line and 1 small flying insect on cook line in front of flat top grill not landing on food or food contact surfaces.
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade and slicer blade guard soiled with an accumulation of food debris in rear prep area. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.
22-20-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee drink, food, and phone on prep shelf in service window next to tray of sauces. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
70
Jun 23, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Sewage and Wastewater Properly Disposed
FL-27
74
Jan 24, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mellow Mushroom last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Mellow Mushroom on file is from Mar 12, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Mellow Mushroom?
Across the inspection record, “employee personal items stored” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Mellow Mushroom.
How does Mellow Mushroom compare to other restaurants in Lutz?
Mellow Mushroom most recently scored 61 out of 100, which is lower than the Lutz average of 80.
Has Mellow Mushroom's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Mellow Mushroom have averaged around eight violations per visit, up from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Mellow Mushroom means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Mellow Mushroom inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Mellow Mushroom is inspected around three times per year on average.
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