Smiles Catering/Los Gringos
Last inspected: Feb 13, 2026
100
Score
Going back to 2022, Smiles Catering/Los Gringos has 16 inspections in the public record. On Feb 13, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around one violation across recent inspections versus roughly five violations before.
When inspectors have written things up, “chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Smiles Catering/Los Gringos' latest score of 100 sits above the Tampa average of 79. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
16
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 13, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 12, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Tested 0ppm. Employee is washing food containers at time of inspection. Operator remade sanitizer and educated employee, employee re-sanitzing the clean equipment. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
22-42-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. A container of Pasteurized liquid egg (59F - Cold Holding) and pulled pork (54F - Cold Holding) stored on prep table at cook line. Operator moved to reach-in freezer for rapid chilling, re temped: liquid egg 42 F, pulled pork 40 F. A container of cooked spaghetti 48 F stored in reach-in cooler at HSP catering kitchen. Operator states that it was let on the prep table about 1 hour during food prepping, and voluntarily discarded at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer. Operator educated employee at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
16-33-4
67
Sep 30, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 26, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee picked up dead roach with paper towel, sprayed sanitizer on floor, then took off 1 glove on right hand and rinsed hand in handwash sink, walked back to cook line and put on a new glove on right hand then engaged food preparation without proper handwashing. Discussed with operator about proper hand wash technique and glove change procedure. **Warning**
12A-07-5
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach on floor by meat slicer at food prep room. Operator discarded dead roach, cleaned and sanitized the area. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 1 employee at food prep room. Employee put on hat at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Multiple sauce bottles with no labels in reach-in cooler at cook line. **Warning**
02D-01-5
74
Jun 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Tested 10ppm. Employee reset sanitizer and test 100ppm at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
22-42-4
Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer.
16-33-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. 1 employee training certificate is black and white photo copy.
53B-09-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Multiple holes on wall by storage shelves at food prep area in kitchen. Operator has wall repair kit onsite and states to repair soon. **Corrective Action Taken**
36-24-5
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Cut lettuce. Operator washed at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-39-4
64
Apr 15, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 1 live fly at prep sink area. Operator eliminated fly, cleaned and sanitized the contact surfaces at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-02-7
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale.
01B-01-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Next to three-compartments sink, operator refilled paper at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 1 employee has no proof of training.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked pasta not date marked in large reach-in cooler at prep area. Operator date marked at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. At the area where employee stored wet mops next to dish washing area. Employee mop the floor at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
36-22-4
52
Sep 24, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 19, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed unwashed mushrooms and avocados in walkin cooler over ready to eat hard boiled eggs Corrected observed employee remove and place on shelf with other unwashed vegetables **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
08A-04-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shelled eggs stored behind cooked chicken on cookline reachin cooler Corrected observed employee place raw shelled eggs in front of cooked chicken **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed butter (44F - Cold Holding) Observed employee placed butter in freezer to rapidly cool retemped butter 42F at 11:10am. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach behind oven adjacent to dish area 1 dead roach on floor under dry storage shelf in back kitchen Observed employee discard, clean, and sanitize areas **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
35A-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed plastic container wet nesting on shelf under prep table on cookline Corrected observed employee place in dish area and observed employee wash **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Observed open employee drink stored in reach in cooler on cookline Corrected observed employee remove and place on push cart **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
12B-13-4
55
May 28, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 15, 2024
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 4 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Sanitizer tested at 10ppm at 3-comp sink Observed employee discard, refill, and test at 50ppm **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-42-4
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed medicine store with sugar on shelf under front counter Corrected -observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-07-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee place gloves on hands without hand washing , operator was completing office work, then went directly to preparing food on cookline. Inspector explained proper hand washing and gloves use and suggested to operator to wash hands **Warning**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef stored over chicken salad in reachin cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed ham (48F - Cold Holding) in True reachin cooler on cookline Observed ham (44 - Cold Holding)in reach in cooler in dish area observed employee place in walkin cooler Observed raw beef (45 - Cold Holding) in reachin cooler in dish area Observed pasta salad (47 - Cold Holding) in reachin cooler in dish area Observed pooled eggs (48 - Cold Holding) in reachin cooler in dish area Observed milk (56F - Cold Holding); milk (60F - Cold Holding); butter (70F - Cold Holding) on front counter Employee placed in ice bath **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
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 sliced cheese with no date mark in walk-in cooler **Warning**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener with rust build up under prep table on service line Observed employee place in dish pit to be cleaned **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed mixer equipment stored inside handsink on cookline Corrected -observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand sink used as a dump sink on service line **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed portion cup stored in flour **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Speaker and light machine stored over clean equipment on cookline Corrected -observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed a box of potato puzzles stored on floor in walk-in freezer Corrected -observed employee place on shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-47-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup along door frame of walk-in freezer Observed ice buildup in chest freezer on cookline **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Observed wet wiping cloth stored under cutting board on cookline Corrected-observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-04-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Observed old label on a condiment bottle in shelf under grill top Corrected observed employee remove old label **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
16-46-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Observed employee drink stored inside walk-in cooler Observed employee place in a container labeled employee food only and placed on bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-13-4
22
Mar 1, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gasket torn on 2-door valpro reach-in cooler Observed broken light cover in dish storage area **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-01: Observed gasket torn on valpro reachin cooler **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of ice machine/bin with rust that has pitted the surface Observed interior of ice machine rust pitted **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-03-01: Observed interior of ice machine rust pitted **Time Extended**
14-34-4
90
Feb 27, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed apples stored in non food grade bags in reachin cooler **Warning**
14-31-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw sausage stored over cooked soup in reachin cooler Corrected-observed employee place raw sausage in walk-in cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed butter (73F - Cold Holding)stored on front counter, manager discarded product **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 1 dented can for mushrooms on shelf under prep table **Warning**
01B-01-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed slicer machine with old food build up. Observed oven soiled **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed employee using hand sink to fill a metal pan Observed a water filter attached to the hand sink on the service line Corrected observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Observed employee drinks and food stored over sale food in reachin cooler on prep table Observed manager move employee food to bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-49-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Portion cup stored in bulk pan cake mix Corrected observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gasket torn on 2-door valpro reach-in cooler Observed broken light cover in dish storage area **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice build up along door frame of walk-in freezer **Warning**
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of ice machine/bin with rust that has pitted the surface Observed interior of ice machine rust pitted **Warning**
14-34-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Observed fan of walk-in cooler soiled with debris and dust **Warning**
36-50-4
33
Sep 19, 2023
Routine - Food
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Mold on interior lid of ice machine.
22-20-5
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee drinks stored in reach cooler, corrected, operator removed drinks from cooler during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-49-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gasket in disrepair at two door reach in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. B. Dumpster lid open at time of inspection, operator closed dumpster lid at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
33-11-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
78
May 1, 2023
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Thee complaint sink set with 0 ppm of chlorine, corrected to 50 ppm . **Corrected On-Site**
22-42-4
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 2 cans of black beans with deep dents on brim and sides ,one can of tropical fruit salad. Corrected action, cans placed aside at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
01B-01-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee drink stored in reach in cooler intended for public use, corrected, operator discarded drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-49-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gasket in disrepair on large two door reach in cooler. Heavy ice build up around door way to walk in freezer .
14-11-5
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Corrected employee closed lid at time of .Repeat Violation** **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
61
Feb 21, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw eggs over cooked foods in reach in cooler , corrected , operator placed eggs on bottom . **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Container of soap stored in employee hand wash sink, corrected, operator removed soap during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-14-5
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Large to go tins not inverted. **Repeat Violation**
24-05-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee drink stored in reach in cooler with food intended for public use, corrected, operator removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-49-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone store on food prep table, corrected, operator removed drink during inspection.
40-06-5
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
55
Sep 26, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Smiles Catering/Los Gringos last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Smiles Catering/Los Gringos on file is from Feb 13, 2026. The public record contains 16 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Smiles Catering/Los Gringos?
Across the inspection record, “chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Smiles Catering/Los Gringos.
How does Smiles Catering/Los Gringos compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Smiles Catering/Los Gringos most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Smiles Catering/Los Gringos' inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Smiles Catering/Los Gringos have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Smiles Catering/Los Gringos 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 Smiles Catering/Los Gringos inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Smiles Catering/Los Gringos is inspected around five times per year on average.
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