Sonny's BBQ
Last inspected: Apr 6, 2026
58
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Sonny's BBQ stretching back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Apr 6, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near six violations each time.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease”, showing up four times.
The city-wide average sits at 69, which Sonny's BBQ's 58 doesn't quite reach. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 6, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found. Observed fly by wall of smoker pit area. Observed fly by dishmachine of warewashing area.
35A-02-7
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. Fried onion straws held on time as public health control under heat lamp of pass through window missing product time marking. Operator attached time sticker. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Basic - Floor, walls and ceiling soiled/has accumulation of debris. In kitchen area, ceiling vents and surrounding tiles with dust build up. Walls of smoker prep room with food residue build up. Wall behind bag and box soda storage has dust build up.
36-73-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup up along back side of stand up reach in freezer on cook line. Operator aware and has placed maintenance request. **Corrective Action Taken**
14-69-4
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Bug zapper installed over door prep sink next to hand wash sink in prep area. Discussed with operator to bring up to pest control company. **Corrective Action Taken**
35B-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Middle walk in cooler door gasket with mold like substance build up. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. In middle walk in cooler, employee personal food in silver catering tray with/over food for customers. Operator removed from walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
58
Sep 15, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
67
Feb 26, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
58
Sep 6, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed one fly in the smoker/prep area. Observed one fly on the cook line by the pass through window. Observed one fly by the drive through counter.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In the standup reach in cooler in the prep room, corn (51F - Cold Holding) operator relocated to the walk in freezer, corn second temperature (43F - Cold Holding) **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on cook line under slicer has build up of food residue staining. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Build up of grease/debris on backside of cook line fryers by the vent. Cook line door gaskets with debris build up. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf of the rear hallway, clean plastic containers stacked while wet.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor, Walls and Ceiling soiled/has accumulation of debris. Multiple ceiling vents with build up of dust on surrounding ceiling. Walls of the smoker area with build up of grease vapors.
36-73-4
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Blue bug zapper over prep table and product scale. Operator relocated the zapper. **Corrected On-Site**
35B-02-4
55
Mar 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Water nozzle for wait station tea machine. Cutting board on prep table across from ice machine.
22-02-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling tiles next to vent in prep room next to smoker room.
36-34-5
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Pans stored on shelf across from walk-in cooler. Manager turned pans over. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Top of dish machine in ware washing area.
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Dumpster behind building. Manager closed lid to dumpster. **Corrected On-Site**
33-16-4
74
Aug 22, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
47
May 17, 2023
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Dec 12, 2022
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 3 flying insects in kitchen during inspection. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Missing paper towels at 2 hand wash sinks in kitchen. One in bar. Person in charge provided. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
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. Milk in salad prep not date marked.
02C-03-5
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. One employee with no proof of training during inspection.
53B-13-5
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. In take out area. Also, ceiling with debris buildup around vent in dish pit and at cookline.
36-36-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed standing water on the floor under dishmachine.
36-22-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Speed racks in walk in cooler, on cookline with debris buildup. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Observed old food debris on container in clean dish area. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
16-48-4
Basic - Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil. One bucket of sanitizer solution dirty. Person in charge discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
21-11-4
50
Sep 20, 2022
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
33
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonny's BBQ last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sonny's BBQ on file is from Apr 6, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonny's BBQ?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Sonny's BBQ.
How does Sonny's BBQ compare to other restaurants in Starke?
Sonny's BBQ most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Starke average of 69.
Has Sonny's BBQ's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Sonny's BBQ have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent 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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