Penelope's Diner
Last inspected: Feb 23, 2026
100
Score
Public records show 13 inspections at Penelope's Diner stretching back to 2022. The most recent report on file is from Feb 23, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around four violations each.
“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
The city-wide average for Delray Beach sits at 71, putting Penelope's Diner on the better side of that line. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
13
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 23, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 4, 2026
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
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. Observed Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm) **Warning**
22-41-4
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee Crack raw shell eggs and then proceeded to change gloves with no handwashing and then touch toast. Discussed with operator. Employee washed hands. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-27-4
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. Observed employee touch soiled cloth and then touch ready to eat gyro bread without washing hands. Discussed with operator. Employee washed hands. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-29-4
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee touch ready to eat gyro with no gloves on. Operator discarded . **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
09-01-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Wait station cooler butter chips 62F. Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Per operator food held out of unit less than four hours p. Operator removed below to quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Observed Triple Sink (Chlorine 200+ppm). Operator remade to Triple Sink (Chlorine 100ppm); **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-18-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed soil residue on three door reach in freezer at back of kitchen. **Warning**
23-24-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed cutting board with cut marks at cook line. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employees with no hair restraint working in kitchen. Employees put on hair restraints. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Observed soiled cloths stored throughout cook line. **Warning**
21-10-4
33
Jan 6, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-12: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2026-01-06: **Admin Complaint**
53A-03-7
90
Sep 12, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-12: **Time Extended**
53A-03-7
90
Aug 25, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed 1 can of tomato sauce dented across the seam.
01B-01-4
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee crack raw shell eggs hand then proceeded to touch bread without washing hands or changing gloves. Advised employee to wash hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-27-4
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed tortillas in walk in cooler stored in food grade bags. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-31-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. #1 observed at cook line pancake batter 71F, cooked onions 61F. Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Observed food stored under no temperature control. Food held out of temperature for less than four hours. Operator placed food back into walk in cooler to quick chill. #2 observed in flip top cooler #1 ; diced ham (47F) . Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Food held in unit less than four hours. Operator placed food below into walk in cooler to quick chill. #3 observed in flip top in wait station ; sour cream (47F); butter (61F); cream cheese (52F). Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Food held in unit less than four hours. Observed foods stored past the fill line. Operator removed foods past the fill line into another container to quick chill below flip top cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed at cook line trash can stored in front of handwashing sink. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/
53A-03-7
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable at cook line.
14-09-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed berries in reach in freezer not covered.
08B-12-5
41
Jan 30, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw chicken tenders not in commercial packaging over French fries at white chest freezer, raw shell eggs over tortillas at flip top cooler. Operator stored products properly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. 1 of 2 hose connections, no vacuum breaker at mop sink.
29-42-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 200+ppm) Operator corrected to 100ppm chlorine sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
64
Sep 23, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Objectionable odors in back hallway of establishment. Operator states plumber on call **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-23: Next unannounced **Time Extended** **Corrective Action Taken**
36-64-5
95
Jul 25, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw ready to eat smoked salmon stored above ready to eat spinach in walk in cooler. Raw shell eggs stored stored above cheese in walk in cooler. Operator reorganized **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
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. Raw shell eggs being held on cook line for less than 1 hour has no time marking. Operator time marked **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03F-02-5
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. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink blocked by chemical buckets, container stored. Operator made accessible **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Establishment menu does not indicate poached eggs, nova salmon as being covered under consumer advisory. Discussed proper disclosure with operator **Warning**
02B-01-5
Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Corned beef hash handle stored in contact with food product. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-06-5
Basic - Objectionable odors in back hallway of establishment. Operator states plumber on call **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
36-64-5
50
Jan 30, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 29, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Bagels stored in direct contact with plastic handle shopping/thank you bags. Operator replaced with food grade containers **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-31-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.; tuna (51F); coleslaw (48F); cottage cheese (51F); in cook line flip top cooler. Monitored unit for approximately 30 minutes with no changes in temperature. Operator states items have been in unit overnight. Unknown time out of temperature. **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.;; tuna (51F); coleslaw (48F); cottage cheese (51F); in cook line flip top cooler. Monitored unit for approximately 30 minutes with no changes in temperature. Operator states items have been in unit overnight. Unknown time out of temperature. See Stop Sale feta (54F) ; sliced cheese (60F), shredded cheese (49F) operator states items have been in unit less than 2 hours. Operator moved to reach in section **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 12-1-23. Operator renewed at time of inspection **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
50-17-3
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. Reviewed with operator and provided hand out **Warning**
11-07-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink used to fill water pitcher. Discussed with operator **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. Operator unable to provide at time of inspection **Warning**
05-08-4
Basic - Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Operator closed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
32-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee personal items stored on prep table with food contact equipment. Operator removed. Discussed proper storage with operator **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
37
Sep 18, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Colored bag used to store Crepes, Walk In Cooler. Owner replaced colored bag with clear cling wrap **Corrected On-Site**
14-31-5
Basic - Dishmachine not washing/rinsing properly. Must wash, rinse and sanitize all dishware, equipment and utensils in three-compartment sink until dishmachine is functioning properly. Owner set up 3 Compartment Sink. **Corrected On-Site**
16-55-4
82
Feb 1, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License renewed at time of inspection
50-17-3
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
82
Sep 26, 2022
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Penelope's Diner last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Penelope's Diner on file is from Feb 23, 2026. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Penelope's Diner?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Penelope's Diner.
How does Penelope's Diner compare to other restaurants in Delray Beach?
Penelope's Diner most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Delray Beach average of 71.
Has Penelope's Diner's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Penelope's Diner have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Penelope's Diner 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 Penelope's Diner inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Penelope's Diner is inspected around four times per year on average.
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