Ricky's Blue Heaven

729 Thomas St, Key West, FL 330407334
American
Last inspected: Mar 27, 2026
100
Score
Low Risk

Across the available record, Ricky's Blue Heaven has nine inspections on file, the first dated 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Mar 27, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around one violation, down from roughly four violations earlier in the record.

When inspectors have written things up, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.

Among Key West restaurants, the typical score is 74; Ricky's Blue Heaven is comfortably above that bar. Overall, the inspection record reads well.

9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 27, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 24, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
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/. Observed manager certificates expired for all managers. No other certified food manager certificate available.
53A-03-7
90
Nov 12, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. As per manager approximately 1 hour prior.
03A-03-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris.
36-73-4
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. **Repeat Violation**
35B-01-4
78
May 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked shrimp (52F - Cold Holding) at reach in cooler drawers at cook line. As per chef, less than 2 hours. Employee placed bag of ice over product. Observed pancake batter (71F - Cold Holding) at room temperature at cook line. As per Chef, less than 2 hours. Discussed time as a public health control with manager. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employees at back preparation area preparing food with no hair restraints.
13-03-4
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed gaps at sides and bottom of screen door at kitchen.
35B-01-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed at hand sink near ice bin across from warehouse washing area. **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
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. Manager set up 3 compartment sink to sanitize. Quaternary solution tested at 200ppm. Manager called repair technician during inspection.
16-55-4
70
Jul 29, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
55
Jun 15, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jun 14, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Wic #2; black beans 45F; ( - Cooling). Beans placed in cooler last night to cool. **Warning**
03D-02-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 2 flies in back food prep area. Person in charge discarded flies. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Wic #2; black beans 45F; ( - Cooling). Beans placed in cooler last night to cool. Small cooler; Butter 67F; ( - Cold Holding), melon 51F Tall cooler; garlic butter 51F, tomatoes 50F, cheese sauce 55F; ( - Cold Holding) Drawers; eggs 59F, tomatoes 48F; ( - Cold Holding) eggs, cheese 49F; ( - Cold Holding) Bar inside; milk, 1/2&1/2 51F; ( - Cold Holding) **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Small cooler; Butter 67F; ( - Cold Holding), melon 51F Tall cooler; garlic butter 51F, tomatoes 50F, cheese sauce 55F; ( - Cold Holding) Drawers; eggs 59F, tomatoes 48F; ( - Cold Holding) eggs, cheese 49F; ( - Cold Holding) Bar inside; milk, 1/2&1/2 51F; ( - Cold Holding) **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Missing on hose by ice machines and near front bathrooms. Person in charge placed vacuum breakers on hoses. **Corrected On-Site**
29-34-4
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Black beans in container deeper than 4 inches and covered.
03D-15-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Co2 tank not secured. Person in charge secured. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cases of fish on floor. Person in charge moved to reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach in freezer has ice accumulation.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed utensils in standing water. Person in charge placed on stove. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Missing at end sink on cook line.
31B-04-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Ice cream in reach in freezer not covered. Person in charge covered. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
32
May 3, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Employee cracked eggs and handled clean plates without washing hands. Manager had employee wash hands, change gloves and use a different plate.
12A-27-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed three flies in back kitchen area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw ground beef stored over steaks in walk-in cooler. Employee placed beef beneath steaks. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in reach-in coolers across from grill: sour cream (48F - Cold Holding); eggs (47F - Cold Holding). Manager stated items placed in coolers 1 hour prior to temperature being taken. Manager placed items in ice bath to reduce temperature to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
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 in dish area, 0 ppm. Manager primed machine, 50 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice bin of ice machine on the left. Deflector plate inside of ice machine on the right. Mixer head of floor mixer in bakery area. Cutting boards on reach-in coolers across from cook line grills. Tea nozzle in wait station. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine in dish area.
16-03-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. CO2 tanks in wait station. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf above reach-in coolers across from grills.
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Employee eating in front prep area. Manager had employee finish eating in dining room. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-02-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on shelf next to dish machine.
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Limes on floor in front kitchen. Managers placed limes on shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan covers in walk-in coolers. Vents above grills greasy.
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Coffee filters in wait station. Employee turned filters over.
25-06-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Coffee prepped in filters in wait station. Employee placed cover on item. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
27
Aug 2, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Lobby bar: soda nozzles soiled. - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-02: Lobby bar: soda nozzles soiled. **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed the hand washing sink in the kitchen blocked by a shelve clean dishes stored on it. - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-02: Observed the hand washing sink in the kitchen blocked by a shelve clean dishes stored on it. **Time Extended**
31A-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. By the cook line. **Corrected On-Site** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-02: No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. By the cook line. **Time Extended**
31B-04-4
78

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ricky's Blue Heaven last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Ricky's Blue Heaven on file is from Mar 27, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Ricky's Blue Heaven?

Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Ricky's Blue Heaven.

How does Ricky's Blue Heaven compare to other restaurants in Key West?

Ricky's Blue Heaven most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Key West average of 74.

Has Ricky's Blue Heaven's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Ricky's Blue Heaven have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Ricky's Blue Heaven 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 Ricky's Blue Heaven inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Ricky's Blue Heaven is inspected around two times per year on average.