Sam Southern Restaurant
Last inspected: Apr 9, 2026
50
Score
Inspectors have visited Sam Southern Restaurant 11 times, with records going back to 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 9, 2026. A high risk rating points to multiple serious findings at the most recent inspection.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around four violations compared to roughly nine violations earlier on.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease”, showing up four times.
That's lower than the typical Jacksonville restaurant, which scores around 74. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.
11
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 9, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Open case of frozen ground beef patties stored above case of French fries in reach in freezer. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Large bottle of soap stored in hand sink near triple sink.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No hand soap provided At hand wash sink at entrance to kitchen.
31B-03-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl used to scoop rice.
14-01-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Red jacket single service lids employee moved jacket. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. No hair restraint on employee preparing food items.
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gaskets on raw meat cooler. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Interior of refrigerator or freezer in disrepair/has exposed insulation. Insulation exposed on door of ice machine. **Repeat Violation**
14-36-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan cover soiled with black debris. Hood filters soiled with grease build up. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Mop stored in soiled mop water in bucket. **Repeat Violation**
42-01-4
50
Jan 15, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 5, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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. All employee training certificates expired. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-01-05: No change per operator he just received the books in the mail. **Time Extended**
53B-05-5
90
Oct 24, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
50
Aug 5, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
50
Feb 25, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
55
Jul 11, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
55
Jan 29, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
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 and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. No time marking on egg wash and milk wash, employee wrote time marking **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink before red hose after splitter
29-42-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over shrimp and fish, employee properly stored food items **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Soap and bleach stored in hand wash sink near triple sink, employee removed items from hand sink **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Small cups used to scoop sugar
14-01-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Food debris on walk in cooler door handle
23-24-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Handle of scoop touching Sugar, employee properly stored scoop **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan covers in walk in cooler are soiled Hood filters are soiled with grease build up
23-03-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Fish thawing at room temperature, employee put fish in oven **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall soiled I kitchen area by window
36-27-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White powdery substance stored in bin, employee labeled bin **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
41
Jul 26, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen area **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
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. No written procedures provided, emailed operator vomiting and diarrheal clean up procedures
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Towel, knife and container of soap stored in hand wash sink, employee removed items **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Paper towels not dispensing at hand wash sink
31B-05-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Mold like substance on interior of ice machine
22-20-5
Basic - Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Door closers on women and men's rest room doors **Repeat Violation**
32-04-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Food debris on Walk in cooler handle and door
23-24-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee Goat meat stored with food that will be served to the public
08B-49-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop handle stored in ice in server area, manager properly stored ice scoop **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on freezer soiled with a mold like substance **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Two bags Red beans thawing on counter, employee put red beans in the cooler **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
45
Dec 14, 2022
Food-Licensing Inspection
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. Employee grabbed raw phili steak then grabbed cooked chicken to put on grill, explained to him and he washed hands, cook chicken hot to 155f because I told him **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-12-4
High Priority - Establishment operating without a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Operator must obtain a public food service license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 60 days. Submit a license application and payment to DBPR/Bureau of Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. To apply online or obtain an application for license visit http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/. Unable to give license because 2 cooler were not 41f or below **Warning**
50-08-7
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One in kitchen and one in dining room **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 70f water wash for raw meats, explained time as public health control, gave procedure, employee wrote time on, 50-60f raw wings, fish, in prep unit, less than 4 hrs, employee iced them down, cooler was unplugged, employee plugged it. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Faucet outside by rear door and on green hose in mop sink splitter
29-34-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Ice in hand sink at front counter **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Quat
16-37-1
Basic - Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Both restrooms don't close all the way
32-04-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. On sugar, front counter, removed **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. One cooler at 55f where food is cooling down, iced down and one cooler was not plugged, employee plugged it **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
14-74-7
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Above sugar, front counter, employee moved it **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Jacket and purse above sugar, front counter, employee moved them **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - In-use utensil for non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored in a clean, protected location. On sugar, front counter, employee moved it **Corrected On-Site**
10-04-5
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Display cooler
05-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket at front counter cooler, employee cleaned it, hood filters**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site**
23-03-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Doesn't close all the way
35B-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White powder, front counter, employee wrote name on **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
23
Sep 21, 2022
Food-Licensing Inspection
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
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
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sam Southern Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sam Southern Restaurant on file is from Apr 9, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sam Southern Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Sam Southern Restaurant.
How does Sam Southern Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Jacksonville?
Sam Southern Restaurant most recently scored 50 out of 100, which is lower than the Jacksonville average of 74.
Has Sam Southern Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Sam Southern Restaurant have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Sam Southern Restaurant 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 Sam Southern Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sam Southern Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
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