Nueva Cantina
Last inspected: Oct 21, 2025
78
Score
Nueva Cantina has been inspected seven times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Oct 21, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around seven violations each.
Looking across the full record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the recurring theme, flagged four times.
Nueva Cantina scores about where you'd expect for a Tampa restaurant. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 21, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Handwash sink near fryer. Operator provided at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards on reach on cooler.
22-02-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on metal pans on dish drying rack.
16-46-4
78
Mar 3, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
43
Aug 12, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled with blue liquid **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine in kitchen.
22-20-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic bowl in bulk pickles.
14-01-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf over rolled. silverware
12B-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bulk pickles in walk in cooler. Operator removed at time of inspection. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. On cooks line.
36-27-5
58
Mar 4, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Salmon 54 F on counter, burgers 53 F in reach in cooler. Operator placed salmon on ice and burgers in reach in freezer. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observe employee touch raw chicken, changed gloves then grabbed clean plate without washing hands in between. Discussed proper hand washing procedures.
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on cook line. Ice machine. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Pork in reach in cooler not date marked.
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Chemical spray bottle not labeled above 3 Compartment Sink. **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on cook line.
14-09-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Portion cup in container of seasoning. Operator removed portion cup at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table.
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Containers wet nesting above dish machine.
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Containers of oil on floor. Operator removed oil off floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife between reach in cooler and cutting board, employee removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters.
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on containers above dish machine. **Repeat Violation**
16-46-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Sanitizer bucket on floor on cook line. Employee removed sanitizer bucket at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of seasoning not labeled in dry storage. Operator labeled at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
32
Dec 22, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
70
Jun 26, 2023
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
86
Nov 21, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-04-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nueva Cantina last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Nueva Cantina on file is from Oct 21, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Nueva Cantina?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Nueva Cantina.
How does Nueva Cantina compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Nueva Cantina most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is about the same as the Tampa average of 79.
Has Nueva Cantina's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Nueva Cantina have averaged around seven violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Nueva Cantina 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 Nueva Cantina inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Nueva Cantina is inspected around two times per year on average.
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