Sam's Cafe and Grill
Last inspected: Mar 23, 2026
64
Score
Across the available record, Sam's Cafe and Grill has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2022. The most recent report on file is from Mar 23, 2026. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around seven violations to closer to three violations per visit over the last few inspections.
Looking across the full record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
The city-wide average sits at 74, which Sam's Cafe and Grill's 64 doesn't quite reach. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
8
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 23, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Shell eggs kept on cook line at ambient temperature of 60F. Person in charge will hold small amount on time and completed time paperwork during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-03-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Establishment utilizes chlorine for sanitizing. Person in charge unable to provide test strips during inspection.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. Person in charge unable to provide probe thermometer during inspection. **Repeat Violation**
05-08-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine with white debris accumulation on ceiling of unit.
22-20-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice accumulation in small reach in freezer on cook line.
14-69-4
64
Aug 5, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. Person in charge unable to provide probe thermometer during inspection.
05-08-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two CO2 tanks in back kitchen unsecured.
51-11-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Case of water stored on floor at front counter. Person in charge raised. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Makeline reach in cooler with standing water in unit.
29-49-6
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Pipe under back hand wash sink leaks when in use. Person in charge added catch bucket during inspection u til sink can be repaired. **Corrective Action Taken**
29-11-4
74
Feb 11, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Dec 16, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee handle lettuce with bare hand, person in charge spoke to employee. **Corrective Action Taken**
09-01-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemical spray bottle stored with single service items. Chemical placed in appropriate location. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed employee washing dishes with soapy water then rinsing and placing to air dry with no sanitizing step, person in charge stopped employee. Explained proper triple sink set up. Person in charge will rewash dishes with sanitizing step. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-45-4
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. Person in charge unable to provide proof of training for any employee during inspection. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. Person in charge unable to provide proof of CFM for establishment during inspection. **Warning**
53A-02-7
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone and glasses stored on microwave. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Faucet/handle missing at plumbing fixture. Faucet piece missing at triple sink. Person in charge added, but still leaking. **Corrective Action Taken**
29-09-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall observed by triple sink.
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters with grease buildup.
23-03-4
43
Apr 24, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Medicine stored in reach in cooler above food. Person in charge moved to appropriate location. **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken on line at 116F. Person in charge began reheating. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Kibbeh in reach in freezer stored in direct contact with to go style bag.
14-31-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen items thawing at room temperature. Person in charge moved to reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup in white reach in freezer in kitchen.
14-69-4
58
Nov 28, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer raw beef skewers no longer commercially packaged stored over ready to eat items. Person in charge began rearranging. **Corrective Action Taken**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Shell eggs in container at cookline at 68F ambient. Person in charge states has been out for 1 hour, moved to reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-03-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bowl in front hand wash sink. Item was removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket at 0ppm, person in charge remade to 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
21-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters with grease buildup. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Label on a food item prepared and packaged onsite for customer self-service does not include product identity/description, date product was packaged and name and address of the establishment that prepared and packaged the food. Muffins for customer self service missing minimum labeling.
02D-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone stored on clean plate. Also employee cigarettes stored on bag in box soda. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
55
Apr 5, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Three spray bottles containing toxic substance stored next to single service items under front counter. Operator removed spray bottles of cleaners to properly store. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. Non food grade Scraper tool laying on ice in ice machine. Operator stated he was breaking up ice that was frozen together. Stop Sale
01B-03-5
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Single use plastic forks stored in bucket at condiment tray at counter not inverted. Operator inverted plastic forks **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Multiple filters in hood system above grill soiled/ dusty
23-03-4
Basic - Food contaminated by unsanitized equipment or utensil. See stop sale. Non food grade Scraper tool laying on ice in ice machine. Operator stated he was breaking up ice that was frozen together. Operator removed scraper tool. See Stop Sale
08B-19-4
64
Nov 14, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw beef not commercially packaged stored over ready to eat french fries. Operator removed raw beef to properly store **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 200ppm) in back kitchen area. Operator remade solution and retested at 100ppm **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board at flip top reach-in cooler across from stove soiled/ stained. Also, portable cutting board in prep area soiled/ stained
22-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Soup in reach in cooler across from stove prepared Friday not date marked. Operator date marked soup. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled Spray bottle containing toxic substance stored on shelf near triple sink. Operator labeled spray bottle of bleach **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom of reach-in cooler across from stove.
29-49-6
52
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sam's Cafe and Grill last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sam's Cafe and Grill on file is from Mar 23, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sam's Cafe and Grill?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Sam's Cafe and Grill.
How does Sam's Cafe and Grill compare to other restaurants in Jacksonville?
Sam's Cafe and Grill most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Jacksonville average of 74.
Has Sam's Cafe and Grill's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Sam's Cafe and Grill have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Sam's Cafe and Grill 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 Sam's Cafe and Grill inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sam's Cafe and Grill is inspected around two times per year on average.
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