Outback Steakhouse
Last inspected: Mar 9, 2026
90
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Outback Steakhouse, the earliest from 2022. The most recent report on file is from Mar 9, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near six violations each time.
Across the inspection history, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded five times.
The city-wide average for Tampa sits at 79, putting Outback Steakhouse on the better side of that line. The record reflects steady performance over time.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 9, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Dave Shlemon. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-03-09: **Time Extended**
53A-01-7
90
Mar 5, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee handled soiled food containers, then handled cleaned containers from dish machine with the same gloves. Discussed with operator about proper gloves changing and hand washing techniques. **Warning**
12A-09-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the middle of the cook line between grills and fryers - Cold Holding: shredded American cheese 56 F, shredded cheddar 55 F, shredded beef 57 F, raw shrimp 62 F. Employee moved all food to walk-in freezer at the end of the inspection. A container of lemon butter (78F - Cold Holding) stored on cook line. Operator voluntarily discarded. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At cook line. Provided. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. A pair of scissor and a scraper stored in handwash sink at cook line. Operator removed items from handwash sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Dave Shlemon. **Warning**
53A-01-7
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee's opened bottled drink stored over raw steaks in reach-in cooler at cook line. Operator removed drink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-13-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Walk-in freezer floor soiled. **Warning**
36-73-4
50
Sep 5, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. 2 pieces of chicken breast (131F - Hot Holding) on cook line. Operator voluntarily discarded. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer bucket tested 800+ppm of Ecolab Sink and Surface Cleaner, higher than the manufacturer's standard. Operator remade sanitizer at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
41-27-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. A small container of honey butter 53 F and a container of cheese sauce 51 F stored in ice well at cook line. Operator placed more ice cubes in ice well. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer.
16-33-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed accumulation of food debris in handwash sink at dish machine area. Operator cleaned handwash sink at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
31A-11-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Corrected On-Site**
50-09-4
Basic - Interior of microwaves has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Multiple microwaves on cook line.
22-08-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. In walk-in cooler in front of walk-in freezer.
36-22-4
45
Apr 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Some cutting boards are stained at time of inspection. Operator started replacing cutting boards during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed mop stored in mop bucket. Operator moved mop to hang to dry location during inspection **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee book bag stored on top of bread cases on shelves in back kitchen. Operator moved book bag to provided storage area during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting on metal food containers stored on shelves in prep room at time of inspection.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed some reach in cooler gaskets are torn at time of inspection.
14-11-5
Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Observed disher handle in shred cheese on cooks line. Operator had employee get new disher and put soiled disher in dish area to be washed at time of inspection **Corrected On-Site**
10-06-5
70
Sep 9, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed spray bottle filled with sanitizer stored above back prep table adjacent to walkin cooler Corrected observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed service line hand sink used as a dump sink
31A-11-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee glasses stored with on prep table in back kitchen Observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed plastic containers stored on shelf above prep table
24-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed spray hose nozzle soils with old food debris at 3-compartment
23-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed wet wiping cloth stored on prep table Corrected observed employee place in sanitizer bucket **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
64
Jan 30, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee scratch head and proceed to grab food without washing hands Inspector explained proper hand washing procedures to manager **Repeat Violation**
12A-10-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed black mold like substance inside ice machine
22-20-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on pre table Corrected observed employee discard **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed plastic containers wet nesting on storage shelf
24-08-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Observed cracked plastic containers stored on storage shelf Corrected observed employee discard **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice build up along freezer fans
14-69-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed stored on prep table **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
64
Oct 10, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. Potato soup reheating for three hours at 99°, corrected , manager reheated soup to **Corrected On-Site**
03E-02-5
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employees changing gloves with no prior hand washing , corrected action taken , inspector discussed with management proper hand washing procedures when changing gloves . **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
12A-07-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on food prep , corrected, employee discarded drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Chipped container lids observed in several areas .
14-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice build up in walk in freezer, by fan.
14-69-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No employee hand wash sign at employee hand wash sink on cooks line .
31B-04-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go lids over cooks line not inverted, corrected, manager inverted lids during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
55
Feb 27, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Container of roasted garlic butter in chipped container with plastic fragments.
01B-13-4
High Priority - Hot water takes too long to reach handwash sink resulting in employees using only cold water to wash their hands. Hot water at employee hand wash sink at three compartment sink taking to long, corrected, manager let hot water run . Hot at 125°. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-08-4
Basic - Damaged/spoiled/recalled food not properly segregated. Roasted garlic butter damaged .
08B-20-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee drink store in reach in freezer not identified nor separated. Corrected, manager removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment or utensils not designed or constructed in a durable manner. Chipped container lids observed .
14-10-4
Basic - Standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly. Floor drain under three compartment sink slow draining.
29-19-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloths stored in detergent and sanitizer mixed together. **Repeat Violation**
21-03-4
55
Sep 14, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee placing gloves on with no hand washing, corrected action taken inspection discussed with manager proper hand washing procedures when changing gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Chili at 46°. Corrected on site , final temp 41° **Corrected On-Site**
03D-02-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean plastic pans wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored over clean equipment in dish wash area . Corrected, manager removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed under water that was barely running/dripping. Corrected , manager increased water during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
06-08-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water in dish wash area.
36-22-4
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Outback Steakhouse last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Outback Steakhouse on file is from Mar 9, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Outback Steakhouse?
Across the inspection record, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Outback Steakhouse.
How does Outback Steakhouse compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Outback Steakhouse most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Outback Steakhouse's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Outback Steakhouse have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Outback Steakhouse 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 Outback Steakhouse inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Outback Steakhouse is inspected around three times per year on average.
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