Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina
Last inspected: Mar 25, 2026
25
Score
Public records show 11 inspections at Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina stretching back to 2022. The most recent report on file is from Mar 25, 2026. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around one violation to closer to 10 violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.
The city-wide average sits at 76, which Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina's 25 doesn't quite reach. This restaurant has more on its record than most do.
11
Inspections
5
Critical latest
3
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 25, 2026
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
25
Oct 14, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
35
Jun 16, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Single-Use/Single-Service Articles Properly Stored and Used
FL-45
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
35
Oct 14, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 9, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Huevos Rancheros, Burger and Avocado Toast has sunny-side up eggs in the description. The Sopes Benedictos has poached eggs in the description. These menu items are not marked/identified as having raw/undercooked ingredients. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-07-10: Operator needs provided time to complete. **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-09: Operator states menus have been ordered approximately 30 days ago and are due to arrive beginning of September. **Time Extended**
02B-01-5
90
Jul 10, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
90
Jul 9, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. See stop sale. Cut tomatoes at 73F on cart in kitchen. Per person in charge, tomatoes were left out for approximately 30 minutes. Person in charge moved to reach in cooler. In walk in cooler, chicken (53F/51F/50F/59F/53F/50F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (68F - Cold Holding); quesa fresca (50F - Cold Holding); garlic in oil (52F - Cold Holding); cut tomato (51F - Cold Holding); pork (50F - Cold Holding); rice (52F - Cold Holding); beef (52F/51F - Cold Holding); raw bacon (51F - Cold Holding). Per operator, all products in walk in cooler overnight or over four hours. Ambient temperature of walk in cooler 52F. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In walk in cooler, chicken (53F/51F/50F/59F/53F/50F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (68F - Cold Holding); quesa fresca (50F - Cold Holding); garlic in oil (52F - Cold Holding); cut tomato (51F - Cold Holding); pork (50F - Cold Holding); rice (52F - Cold Holding); beef (52F/51F - Cold Holding); raw bacon (51F - Cold Holding). Per operator, all products in walk in cooler overnight or over four hours. Ambient temperature of walk in cooler 52F.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food and/or clean utensils without washing hands. Observed cook with gloved hands, place raw beef on the grill, wipe hands on apron then handle clean grill spatulas to turn the raw beef. Operator spoke with cook and cook washed hands and replaced gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-12-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottle with orange liquid at kitchen hand wash sink and at dishroom. Operator identified as degreaser and labeled both. Unlabeled spray bottle with clear liquid at kitchen handwashing sink and at dishroom. Operator identified as bleach and labeled both. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
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. Gallon of milk at front service line opened 2 days ago, per person in charge, has no date marking. Person in charge added date opened to milk. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Huevos Rancheros, Burger and Avocado Toast has sunny-side up eggs in the description. The Sopes Benedictos has poached eggs in the description. These menu items are not marked/identified as having raw/undercooked ingredients. **Warning**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand wash sink in dishroom. Operator replenished towels. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Underplating around nozzles on left soda machine is soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean pans stacked on storage rack in dishroom have water between pans and around the rims.
24-08-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Pair of tongs on oven door handle. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
37
Oct 9, 2023
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 4 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed shrimp at back prep area at 49F. Per employee, shrimp was sitting out for approximately 40 minutes. Employee moved shrimp to walk in cooler. Temperature taken approximately 30 minutes later at 41F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk in cooler, raw chicken stored above raw beef. Operator moved chicken to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee handling dirty dishes then move to putting away clean dishes without washing hands. Also, cook placed raw beef on grill with gloved hands then handled utensils without changing gloves and washing hands.
12A-13-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bottles of medicine and sterno fuel cans stored over bin of beans on dry storage rack. Operator moved medicine and fuel cans to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener hanging on rack in dish room is soiled. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand wash sink in dish room. Operator replaced towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. No probe thermometer available for the establishment.
05-08-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Three unlabeled spray bottles in dishroom, two with brown liquid, one with yellow liquid. One unlabeled spray bottle with blue liquid at the bar. One unlabeled spray bottle with brown liquid under hand wash sink in kitchen. Operator labeled all. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gasket on both doors of reach in cooler by hand wash sink in kitchen are torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Multiple floor tiles missing under fryer/flat grill area.
36-17-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Two pairs of tongs on oven door handle. Employee moved to proper storage. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Left soda machine on server line has build up on under plating around nozzles. Walk in cooler gasket is soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Handwash sink at kitchen entrance cold water valve not working. Hand wash sink in dish room has hot water valve not working. Hand wash sink by ice machine has cold water valve broken. **Repeat Violation**
29-08-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Avocados stored in reach in cooler in kitchen have stickers still attached.
08B-39-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Multiple products in walk in cooler and walk in freezer stored uncovered. Operator began covering products with lids. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-12-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of sugar and cinnamon sugar on server line not labeled. Employee labeled. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
25
Sep 11, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 15 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Floors, Walls, and Ceilings Clean and in Good Repair
FL-52
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
22
Mar 28, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 18, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. In walk-in cooler observed, enchilada sauce (48F - Cold Holding); queso cheese (54F - Cold Holding); rice (49F - Cold Holding). Operator stated items were made yesterday and voluntarily discarded items during inspection. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-18:
03D-02-5
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In walk-in cooler observed, enchilada sauce (48F - Cold Holding); queso cheese (54F - Cold Holding); rice (49F - Cold Holding). Operator stated items were made yesterday and voluntarily discarded items during inspection. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-18: Observed two non food grade buckets being used to store salsa. One bucket labeled ALL PURPOSE MIXING BUCKET HDX and the other bucket labeled POT AND PAN DETERGENT. Issued a stop sale for both buckets per RP. **Admin Complaint**
01B-02-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Observed the menu item Ceviche Mixto is identified to alert consumer to the advisory at bottom of menu. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-18: Observed dinner menus do not match the lunch menus in marking ceviche to denote raw. **Time Extended**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Two employees working during inspection with no proof of training. - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-18:
53B-02-5
61
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina on file is from Mar 25, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina.
How does Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina compare to other restaurants in Fleming Island?
Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina most recently scored 25 out of 100, which is lower than the Fleming Island average of 76.
Has Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina 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 Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina is inspected around three times per year on average.
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