Mr. Empanada #1009
Last inspected: Oct 28, 2025
58
Score
Inspectors have visited Mr. Empanada #1009 seven times, with records going back to 2023. On Oct 28, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near five violations per visit across recent inspections.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.
That's lower than the typical Lutz restaurant, which scores around 80. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
7
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 28, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee put gloves on without washing hands then touched diced ham to prep salad.
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board soiled and black mold substance buildup in kitchen.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Soda box black the hand wash sink in kitchen. Operator removed the soda box. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep table with switch toaster.
12B-07-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Stored food not covered Sauce container not covered
08B-12-5
58
Jun 2, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked by bucket. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Dust build up on air conditioning vent at counter.
36-34-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-03-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Pickles and soft drinks on floor in walk in cooler. Operator placed on shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. Operator replaced cover. **Corrected On-Site**
38-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have buildup of grease.
23-03-4
67
Jan 15, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Jan 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee handled dirty equipment with gloves on and changed gloves without first washing hands.
12A-09-4
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. Cutting board on reach in cooler has built up food debris.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in kitchen blocked by soda boxes.
31A-09-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. CO2 tanks in rear closet not properly secured.
51-11-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice buckets on ice machine not inverted for protection.
24-05-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage on prep cart above sliced ham.
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has mold like substances.
22-20-5
47
Jun 13, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 26, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Observed - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -Cutting board on reach-in cooler on cook line soiled with food debris **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-26: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Observed - From initial inspection : 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. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-26: no proof **Admin Complaint**
53B-01-5
Intermediate - Observed - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No sanitizer of any kind available for warewashing. Only use single-service items to serve food to customers until sanitizer is available for warewashing. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-26: Observed a chlorine not for food contact surfaces. Employee went to the store to buy correct food contact surfaces sanitizer. Observed correct sanitizer. **Admin Complaint** **Corrected On-Site**
22-38-5
Basic - Observed - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. -Ice machine soiled with pink mold like substance **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-26: **Time Extended**
22-20-5
70
Jul 19, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 7 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. cut lettuce (60F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (60F - Cold Holding) in cooler less than four hours. Manager moved to walk in. **Corrective Action Taken** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: Shredded lettuce 63F in reach in cooler, ambient temperature of cooler is 60F, employee states cooler has been not working, see stop sale **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: No written procedure **Admin Complaint**
11-27-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board at reach in cooler soiled. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: No manager certification available for establishment **Admin Complaint**
53A-01-7
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: No training available **Admin Complaint**
53B-01-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: No reporting agreement **Admin Complaint**
11-26-1
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-19: **Time Extended**
50-09-4
50
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mr. Empanada #1009 last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Mr. Empanada #1009 on file is from Oct 28, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Mr. Empanada #1009?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Mr. Empanada #1009.
How does Mr. Empanada #1009 compare to other restaurants in Lutz?
Mr. Empanada #1009 most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Lutz average of 80.
Has Mr. Empanada #1009's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Mr. Empanada #1009 have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Mr. Empanada #1009 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 Mr. Empanada #1009 inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Mr. Empanada #1009 is inspected around three times per year on average.
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