Paladar Cuban Eatery
Last inspected: Apr 3, 2026
82
Score
Across the available record, Paladar Cuban Eatery has 10 inspections on file, the first dated 2022. On Apr 3, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near four violations each time.
“Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
Compared to the broader St. Augustine restaurant scene, this is about average. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 3, 2026
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler in front of steam table gasket in poor repair.
14-11-5
Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Behind and underneath equipment have old food debris.
36-01-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Front counter prep station gaskets soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach in white freezer interior shelves soiled with food debris.
22-16-4
82
Sep 10, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 22, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Triple sink sanitizer 500+ppm. Operator remade 300ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
41-18-4
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. Dish machine sanitizer 0ppm. **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottles with pink and green liquids not labeled. Operator labeled sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Employee wearing watch while preparing food. Employee removed watch. **Corrected On-Site**
13-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler gaskets soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee speaker on top of reach in cooler prep station. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee personal drinks above prep table stations. Operator discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
55
Apr 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw beef stored over plantains in walk in cooler. Operator moved raw beef. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in front counter area has purse hanging out in front of sink. Operator removed purse. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach In cooler gaskets soiled.
23-03-4
74
Jan 7, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 30, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 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 touch his face with gloves on and start preparing food without washing hands.
12A-10-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked pork and chicken in steam table in prep area 125F. Employee placed back on stove. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Operator has food out on time and is marked but does not have written procedures paperwork. Inspector emailed paperwork to operator. **Repeat Violation**
03F-10-5
Intermediate - Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Observed food in reach in freezer vacuum packed and not removed within 48 hours. Also food being vacuum packed in prep area during inspection. Inspector explained to operator about food that is vacuum packed has to be opened within 48 hours or use a HACCP plan. Inspector sent HACCP paperwork to operator. **Warning**
03G-50-1
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Eggs are cooked to order on menu and establishment has no consumer advisory. Inspector provided consumer advisory sign and operator posted sign in establishment. **Corrected On-Site**
02B-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed unlabeled spray bottle with green liquid on bottom shelf by 3 compartment sink not labeled. **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Observed employee cut onions before washing them in prep area in kitchen.
08B-39-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employees phone and drink cup on prep table in baking prep area in kitchen. Employee moved items.
12B-07-4
45
May 28, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer; Raw chicken over raw beef. Raw chicken over raw pork. Person in charge moved all to place properly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-17-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Missing on empanadas. Person in charge time stamped 1pm. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Drawers; hamburger 46F; ( - Cold Holding). Person in charge had had drawer open. Closed drawer. In reach in at front; Pork, ham, cheese 50F; ( - Cold Holding). All were above fill line. Placed inside cooler **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Missing at mop sink.
29-34-4
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk opened yesterday not dated. Person in charge dated. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. 2 unlabeled spray bottles. Person in charge labeled both. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
45
Sep 7, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
78
Mar 10, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In top of reach-in cooler near dish area observed flat of eggs stored on top of multiple ready to eat pans of food. In bottom of reach-in cooler near kitchen entrance observed carton of eggs stored on top of ready to eat food. Employees moved eggs to correct storage location during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
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. Observed no written clean up procedures available. Provided operator with handout during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed unlabeled bottle of sanitizer. Employee labeled bottle during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed mold-like substance present on ice machine drop plate.
22-20-5
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. On top of white two door fridge/freezer observed stack of pans stored not inverted. Operator turned stack over during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. On shelf above prep table across from cook line observed employee drinks. Employee moved drinks during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
61
Nov 1, 2022
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Items prepped today marked 11/8 in flip top. Also, items pulled from freezer not re date marked minus two days of prep and cooling before vacuum packed.
02C-01-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Backflow preventer missing at mop sink at non chemical side of the splitter with hose attached.
29-42-4
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. Dishmachine testing at 0ppm, person in charge will set up triple sink and utilize until unit can be serviced.
22-41-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In baking cooler, raw eggs stored over ready to eat items. Person in charge moved to appropriate location. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ 4+ employees on duty with no CFM present.
53A-05-6
Basic - Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Self closer missing from restroom doors.
32-04-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoops in 70F water.
10-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Oil stored on floor in kitchen.
08B-38-4
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Paladar Cuban Eatery last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Paladar Cuban Eatery on file is from Apr 3, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Paladar Cuban Eatery?
Across the inspection record, “spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Paladar Cuban Eatery.
How does Paladar Cuban Eatery compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Paladar Cuban Eatery most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is about the same as the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Paladar Cuban Eatery's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Paladar Cuban Eatery have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Paladar Cuban Eatery 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 Paladar Cuban Eatery inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Paladar Cuban Eatery is inspected around three times per year on average.
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