Sara's Diner
Last inspected: Mar 30, 2026
74
Score
Sara's Diner has been inspected nine times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 30, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around one violation compared to roughly five violations earlier on.
When inspectors have written things up, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.
That's lower than the typical Crystal River restaurant, which scores around 90. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 30, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw comminuted beef stored over opened box of croissants in reach-in cooler near kitchen entrance. Operator stored correctly. Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over pooled eggs in a container in reach-in cooler near cook line/service window area. Operator moved and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
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 cook prepare a wrap and place a pickle on a plate and put in service window for server to deliver to table without wearing gloves. Discussed with employee and operator. Operator had employee put on gloves.
09-01-4
74
Oct 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken stored over raw pooled eggs in reach-in cooler on cook line. Employee moved and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
86
Jul 14, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 29, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
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. Observed chlorine sanitizing dishmachine with chlorine at 0 ppm. Employee set up three compartment sink with a chlorine solution at 100 ppm. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
22-41-4
86
Sep 12, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Dented cans present. See stop sale. Can of green beans and can of chili beans dented on seal
01B-01-4
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. 0ppm, operator primed machine 100ppm at recheck. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee preparing food in prep area
13-04-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured in soda rack storage area. Operator secured tanks. **Corrected On-Site**
51-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drink cup on prep table in cook line. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
64
Feb 26, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw pooled eggs in cooks line Reach-in-Cooler above Ready to eat foods. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee used hand sink to rinse utensil. Discussed proper hand sink usage with operator
31A-11-4
Basic - Single glass door Reach-in cooler on cooks line interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover near cooks line. **Repeat Violation**
14-20-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Walk-in-Cooler floor soiled
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in-Cooler fan guards soiled Walk-in-Cooler shelves soiled Floor fan soiled **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Section of Walk-in-Cooler floor not smooth, easily cleanable
36-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee coffee on table near steam table in prep area. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. **Repeat Violation**
14-17-4
52
Aug 17, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
33
Jan 23, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
37
Aug 1, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Dish room 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. Operator educated staff regarding proper procedures regarding hand washing. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Rubber mats in dish-room used as shelf liner. Operator remover mats from shelf **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottles of chlorine water on premise that is not required for the operation of establishment.operator has stop utilizing spray bottles in the dinning room. Spray bottles removed from building. **Corrected On-Site**
41-04-4
Basic - *soiled floors walk in cooler. *soiled floors walk in cooler. Operator will have floor of the walk-in cooler and in dish room cleaned after breakfast shift.
36-10-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulate grease, and dust Over prep table. **Repeat Violation**
36-34-5
Basic - Cloth used as a food-contact surface. In dishroom operator educated staff regarding use of cloth towel to dry off dishes after being sanitized. Operator educated staff regarding the use of towels wipe of sanitizers . **Corrective Action Taken**
21-05-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Backpack in dishroom operator had employee move personal items removed from dish area. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Drinking tumblers wet nesting in server station operator will have the tumblers rewashed and air dried. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Under flat top grill. Operator will have under the grill cleaned.
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
50
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sara's Diner last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sara's Diner on file is from Mar 30, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sara's Diner?
Across the inspection record, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Sara's Diner.
How does Sara's Diner compare to other restaurants in Crystal River?
Sara's Diner most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Crystal River average of 90.
Has Sara's Diner's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Sara's Diner have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Sara's Diner 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 Sara's Diner inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sara's Diner is inspected around two times per year on average.
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