Saffron Spice
Last inspected: Mar 17, 2026
61
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Saffron Spice stretching back to 2022. On Mar 17, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around two violations lately and about five violations before that.
“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Gainesville restaurant, which scores around 75. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 17, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
61
Oct 21, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Observed : no proof of any training. The list of approved providers has been emailed. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-08: The total three staff members, 2 certified food managers, the third one took a certified Manager test, the results of that test are not available at this point in time. **Time Extended**
53B-01-5
90
Aug 5, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
55
Jan 21, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed: the light switch in the restroom was soiled. Staff was asked to clean it. **Corrective Action Taken**
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles stored in toilet room/locker room/garbage room/mechanical room. Observed: In the restroom, boxes of food service gloves and to go lids on the shelves. These were removed. **Corrected On-Site**
25-18-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Observed: a drip from the cooling system in the walk-in cooler, that leaves a puddle on the floor.
29-11-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed the front line hand wash sink lacked a sign. One was handwritten and posted. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
82
Feb 23, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed: the kitchen hand wash sink is blocked by a prep table with a mechanical meat slicer on it.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed the kitchen hand wash sink has plastic bowls in it.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the green cutting board with black foreign substance on it.
22-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed an employee unsealed drink bottle on the kitchen prep table.
12B-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed: prep tables with an accumulation of dried food debris, in the kitchen.
23-03-4
67
Dec 5, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed: 2 cans of Hot Shot stored in dry storage. It was made clear to not use this inside.
41-05-4
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. Observed: the 1\2 and 1\2 lacks an open date. A date was added. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
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: lack of a plan. One was emailed.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Observed: Thanh has an expired Certified Food Manager certificate.
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed: clear food pans on the clean dish rack are soiled. ALSO, the soda machine ice chute is soiled. ALSO, the soda nozzles have build up.(these are currently not in use.)
22-02-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Observed: lack of a reporting form for staff missing Certified Food Manager of Employee Training, Thanh expired Certified Food Manager.
11-26-1
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Observed: lack of a choking poster. One was emailed.
51-13-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available. Observed the last inspection was not available for review.
51-18-6
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed lack of a visible hand wash sign at the front line hand wash sink.
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed: light switches throughout are soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Observed: clean food pans with old labels.
16-46-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed: in the large chest freezer, stored frozen food not covered.
08B-12-5
39
Mar 9, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
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 person in charge at 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. Inspector provided vomitting and diarrhea procedure. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
90
Jul 13, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed hand sanitizer stored with single serve cups.
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed interior of microwaves soiled
22-02-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed mop stored in mop bucket in a manner not able to dry.
42-01-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed single serve items stored in bathroom ( gloves, food liners)
25-05-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Observed personal food not ID or segregated from food used to serve public. Manager moved personal. Food to bottom rack **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed multiple containers on the clean ware rack that were not properly air dried - wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood over grill soiled with grease Observed mold like substance on the underside of the non food contact surface of the nozzles on the soda dispensing machine. Manager cleaned surfaces **Corrected On-Site**
23-03-4
61
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Saffron Spice last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Saffron Spice on file is from Mar 17, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Saffron Spice?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Saffron Spice.
How does Saffron Spice compare to other restaurants in Gainesville?
Saffron Spice most recently scored 61 out of 100, which is lower than the Gainesville average of 75.
Has Saffron Spice's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Saffron Spice have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Saffron Spice means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Saffron Spice inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Saffron Spice is inspected around two times per year on average.
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