Sonny's BBQ
Last inspected: Mar 19, 2026
64
Score
Sonny's BBQ appears in inspection records 11 times, starting in 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 19, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around nine violations lately compared to roughly three violations before.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.
By comparison, the average Gainesville facility scores 75, putting Sonny's BBQ on the weaker side. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 19, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 7 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
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
64
Oct 16, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
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
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
29
Mar 14, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Faucet underneath drop off table in dish area.
29-34-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Water nozzle of wait station tea machine.
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine in dish area.
16-03-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on cook line grill handle. Employee placed tongs on top of grill. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. Right side dumpster in parking lot.
33-11-4
67
Nov 22, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 18, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
52
Mar 1, 2024
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Blade of can opener on prep table across from kitchen smoker. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Containers stored on shelf next to ware washing area. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Area around soda nozzles of wait station soda machine. Hood vents above cook line grill. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Lid for banana pudding in wait station reach-in cooler. Manager discarded lid. **Corrected On-Site**
14-38-4
78
Feb 20, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of kitchen ice machine. Cutting board on prep table across from cook line fryers stained. Soda gun in bar area. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Pans stored in wait station hand washing sink. Employee removed pans from hand washing sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine across from three compartment sink.
16-03-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Pipe beneath drive thru hand washing sink.
29-11-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Reach-in cooler in bar area.
29-49-6
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Cook line fryers greasy. Wall behind cook line grill greasy. Area behind soda nozzles of wait station soda machines. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Utensils on cook line stored in standing water, 97F.
10-07-4
Basic - Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Door to mens restroom not tight fitting.
32-04-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Handle for warmer on cook line.
14-11-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans stored on shelf in dish area.
24-08-4
55
Sep 19, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in warmer next to drive thru area: ribs (111F,105F - Hot Holding). Manager stated ribs placed in warmer two hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved ribs to oven to reheat. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items in reach-in cooler in drive thru area: coleslaw (51F - Cold Holding); potato salad (53F - Cold Holding). Items dated 9/15. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Items in reach-in cooler in drive thru area: coleslaw (51F - Cold Holding); potato salad (53F - Cold Holding). Items dated 9/15.
01B-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Blade of can opener on prep table across from smoker. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Drain cover(s) missing. Drain in mop sink area.
29-18-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on counter next to pan of ketchup in drive thru area. Manager placed drink on bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Grease receptacle lid open, broken, or missing. Dumpster on side of building missing lid.
33-29-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood behind grill and fryers greasy. Top of dish machine. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go containers on shelf in walk-in cooler. Manager turned containers over. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Worn, torn and/or soiled floors/carpeting. Floor behind and beneath fryers and grill greasy.
36-10-4
43
Jun 7, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
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
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
47
Aug 9, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 8, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in the drawers under the cook line, chicken 64F, sliced cheese 60F, ribs 62F. These were moved to the walk-in freezer for quick chilling. Items brought to the line at 11 or after. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed the wall by the back door, and the wall by the drive thru sink, are soiled.
36-27-5
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Observed plates on the second shelf on the cook line, with food debris on the top plate of two stacks. The oval plates were turned sideways, and the soiled plates were moved to dish. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in the reach-in cooler by the drive Thru.
14-69-4
Basic - Worn, torn and/or soiled floors/carpeting. Observed the floor by the drive Thru hand wash sink with an accumulation of debris. Also by the back door, the floor is soiled.
36-10-4
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonny's BBQ last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sonny's BBQ on file is from Mar 19, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonny's BBQ?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Sonny's BBQ.
How does Sonny's BBQ compare to other restaurants in Gainesville?
Sonny's BBQ most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Gainesville average of 75.
Has Sonny's BBQ's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Sonny's BBQ have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Sonny's BBQ 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 Sonny's BBQ inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sonny's BBQ is inspected around three times per year on average.
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