Old Town Mexican Cafe
Last inspected: Oct 28, 2025
47
Score
Old Town Mexican Cafe has been inspected four times since 2023. The most recent visit was on Oct 28, 2025. The high risk label is a heads-up that the most recent visit didn't go well.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around 11 violations each, up from closer to six violations before.
“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
Restaurants in Key West average 74, so Old Town Mexican Cafe trails the local norm. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
4
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
9
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 28, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw fish, and raw shrimp stored over cooked lobster meat. During the inspection employee removed items and placed them correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
Basic - Standing water in bottom of one door standing reach in cooler.
29-49-6
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed most cooked foods not covered inside flip top reach in cooler, located at cooking line. During the inspection employee covered items. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
14-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
16-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer , located at dry storage.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed walk in cooler fan guard soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Observed standing reach in freezer interior soiled.
22-16-4
47
Jun 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soiled cutting boards in back kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
14-17-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed chips container stored on kitchen floor. Operator removed container from floor. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed inside white reach in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tong stored on oven handle in kitchen. Operator removed tong. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed soiled Walk in cooler fan covers.
23-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed salt container unlabeled in kitchen. Operator labeled container.
02D-01-5
64
Apr 16, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 10/01/23. Confirmation 236063286, operator paid during the inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
50-17-3
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Kitchen m cutting board.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap at hand wash sink in bar. Operator replenished soap. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. By the office.
22-20-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Bar area.
31B-04-4
64
May 2, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 6 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee holding cell phone put phone down and then handled clean container and tongs. Discussed hand washing with employee. Employee washed hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-29-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 3 flying insects near walk-in-cooler . Also, one flying insect observed near ice machine in storage area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. feta cheese crumbles (46F - Cold Holding) in top of flip top reach-in cooler across from stove. Operator stated he will keep lid closed for cheese to chill. Also, shredded cheese blend (47F - Cold Holding); in top of flip top reach-in cooler at food pick up window. Operator stated lid was open for lunch time. Operator stated he will keep lid closed to chill cheese. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. cooked pork (113F - Hot Holding) in oven that was not turned on. Employee stated it's been in oven for about an hour. Employee turned on oven to heat back up the pork to more than 165F **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Vacuum breaker missing from threaded hose bibb outside back door near mop sink
29-34-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink in bar area used to store menus and towels. Operator removed items from hand wash sink **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
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. Operator unable to provide proof that employees are informed of reporting symptoms related to food borne illnesses to person in charge. Distributed health form to operator during this inspection
11-26-1
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap at hand wash sink in kitchen. Operator replenished soap. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun in closed end of bat soiled. Cutting boards on reach-in cooler in kitchen and reach in cooler outside kitchen by food pick up window soiled/ stained
22-02-4
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. Employee food safety training certificates all expired in June 2022 **Warning**
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled Spray bottle containing toxic substance stored under grill area. Employee labeled degreaser **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket on walk-in-cooler soiled
23-03-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Sealed Container of oil used to hold open door near kitchen stored on floor at door. Large containers of sauces stored on floor in walk-in-cooler.
08B-38-4
23
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Old Town Mexican Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Old Town Mexican Cafe on file is from Oct 28, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Old Town Mexican Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Old Town Mexican Cafe.
How does Old Town Mexican Cafe compare to other restaurants in Key West?
Old Town Mexican Cafe most recently scored 47 out of 100, which is lower than the Key West average of 74.
Has Old Town Mexican Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Old Town Mexican Cafe have averaged around 11 violations per visit, up from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Old Town Mexican Cafe 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 Old Town Mexican Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Old Town Mexican Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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