Rick's Reef
Last inspected: Apr 20, 2026
37
Score
Going back to 2022, Rick's Reef has 10 inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Apr 20, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near 11 violations each time.
“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
Restaurants in St. Pete Beach average 76, so Rick's Reef trails the local norm. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
10
Inspections
3
Critical latest
3
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 20, 2026
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 1 live flying insects at front bar area. **Warning**
35A-02-7
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. (5) 9oz portions of commercially packaged ROP salmon thawed in walk-in cooler **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
01B-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Walk in cooler pulled pork (45F - Cold Holding); cooked pasta small individual bags (46F - Cold Holding); Cole slaw (45F - Cold Holding) **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. **Warning**
02C-04-5
Intermediate - Establishment is conducting non-continuous cooking of raw animal foods and the written procedures are not available upon request Observed chicken wings establishment let me know they are par cooked. Emailed establishment operator- printed and filled out during inspection. DBPR Form HR 5022-101 3-401.14 FDA Food Code **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03C-90-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Dishwasher rack, pesticide conditioner and empty buckets in front of hand wash sink at cook line. Employee moved **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Basic - Water leaking from faucet/handle.at cook line **Warning**
29-11-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. (5) 9oz portions of commercially packaged ROP salmon thawed in walk-in cooler **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
06-09-1
Basic - Employee multiple personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee beverage employee **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Back door floor near smoker **Warning**
36-22-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Box of mushrooms cut before washing. Instructed to wash before preparation. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
08B-39-4
37
Feb 2, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer. Establishment has test strips but were not used to test sanitizer in dish machine evident by improper PPM. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: **Time Extended**
16-33-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic drinking cup used as scoop in sugar container **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: **Time Extended**
14-01-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License displayed expired 2-1-2025. License is current **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: Current license not posted. **Time Extended**
50-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on reach-in coolers on cook line. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Floors with unsealed concrete and cracks. Not smooth and easily cleanable **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-02-02: **Time Extended**
36-11-4
74
Dec 3, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 16 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. Dish machine tested at 0PPM. Manager reprimed unit and corrected to 50 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-41-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. (11) 8oz portions of commercially packaged ROP Mahi thawed in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
01B-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside reach-in cooler under flat top grill: cut tomato (55F - Cold Holding); cut ham (51F - Cold Holding) Operator voluntarily discarded. Inside walk-in cooler: raw chicken (41F - Cold Holding); raw comminuted beef (43F - Cold Holding); cut tomato (43F - Cold Holding) Manager placed items on ice. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03A-02-5
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. Establishment has written plans. Employee forgot to time stamp items. Manager instructed employee to mark with correct time. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. (1) 10 can of ketchup (1) 10 can of cheese sauce (1) 10 can of Dijon mustard **Warning**
01B-01-4
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer. Establishment has test strips but were not used to test sanitizer in dish machine evident by improper PPM. **Warning**
16-33-4
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. Open container of milk and butter milk in employee wait area not date marked when opened. Manager corrected. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
02C-03-5
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
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic drinking cup used as scoop in sugar container **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. (11) 8oz portions of commercially packaged ROP Mahi thawed in walk-in cooler. **Warning**
06-09-1
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License displayed expired 2-1-2025. License is current **Warning**
50-09-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on reach-in coolers on cook line. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Floors with unsealed concrete and cracks. Not smooth and easily cleanable **Warning**
36-11-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knives stored between hand wash sink and wall. Manager relocated items **Warning**
10-17-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Manager closed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Opened bottle of water inside reach-in cooler on cook line. Manager relocated. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-13-4
23
Feb 10, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
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. bar tender dirty dishes to ice scoop no hand wash. Educated manager and he educated employee and she washed her hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. potato salad (44F - Cold Holding); employee moved potato salad to walk in for quick chill. Retemped 30 minutes later 40F. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand sink on cook line. Employee refilled paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards stained on cook line, soda nozzle area soiled with black mold like debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee coffee cup drink on cutting board on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor in dish area. Employee mopped area. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
36-22-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop handle touching ice in rear prep room ice machine. Employee removed ice scoop. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-08-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. interior of oven soiled with burnt on food debris on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet cloth on cutting board not in sanitizer bucket. Employee moved all wet cloths to sanitizer bucket. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
47
Aug 30, 2024
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Citing board in wait station soiled. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-30: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board in prep area has cut marks. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-30: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on deli rapeach in cooler on cook line. Rusted shelves on preach in cooler in prep room. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-30: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets soiled on deli reach in coolers on cookline. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-30: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
78
Aug 29, 2024
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 15 minor violations.
View 22 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. dented can of ketchup in dry storage on shelf with foods to be served to the public. **Warning**
01B-01-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly in kitchen 1 live fly in prep room landing on wall. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef over sliced turkey in reach in freezer packaged on-site. Employee moved raw beef. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. Server dirty dish to plated food no hand wash. Educated on hand washing. **Warning**
12A-02-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Crystal seas seafood MS tags not marked with last date used. Employee researching and dating tags. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Citing board in wait station soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Food debris in hand sink on cook line. Educate$ employee on hand wash sinks. Employee cleaned sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine soiled with black mold like debris. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board in prep area has cut marks. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf over single service in wait station area. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on deli rapeach in cooler on cook line. Rusted shelves on preach in cooler in prep room. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor in soda fountain area. **Warning**
36-22-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Cook line and bar floors soiled. **Warning**
36-73-4
Basic - Food being prepared outside. Employee cooking potatoes in covered pot in exterior area near smoker. Moved cooking pot to inside kitchen stove. **Corrective Action Taken** **Admin Complaint**
08B-32-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Toaster oven in wait station soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets soiled on deli reach in coolers on cookline. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old date dot panels on clean pans in storage rack area. **Warning**
16-46-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors.rear kitchen door propped open during food prep. Employee closed door. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
35B-03-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom of reach in beer cooler. **Warning**
29-49-6
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet cloth on counter in bar. Employee moved to sanitizer bucket. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-12-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop handle touching ice in bar area. Employee removed scoop. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-08-5
19
Apr 8, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
32
Dec 19, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 11 minor violations.
View 14 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
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
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
22
Apr 10, 2023
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Behind cooking equipment. - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-10: **Time Extended**
36-73-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Utensils in poor condition. Chipped lid on ice bucket. - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-10: **Time Extended**
14-12-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-10: **Time Extended**
14-17-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Soiled walls in walk in cooler. Line ceiling tiles soiled. - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-10: Extend ceiling tiles. **Time Extended**
36-27-5
82
Aug 8, 2022
Complaint Full
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Cook line floor worn exposing concrete. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-08: **Time Extended**
36-02-5
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Rick's Reef last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Rick's Reef on file is from Apr 20, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Rick's Reef?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Rick's Reef.
How does Rick's Reef compare to other restaurants in St. Pete Beach?
Rick's Reef most recently scored 37 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Pete Beach average of 76.
Has Rick's Reef's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Rick's Reef have averaged around 11 violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Rick's Reef 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 Rick's Reef inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Rick's Reef is inspected around three times per year on average.
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