Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Last inspected: Sep 3, 2025
95
Score
The health department has logged 10 inspections at Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q, the earliest from 2022. On Sep 3, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around four violations compared to roughly six violations earlier on.
Looking across the full record, “accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.
Compared to the broader Lakeland restaurant scene, where the average is 86, this is a stronger showing. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Sep 3, 2025
Complaint Full
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed missing in walk in cooler and broken in dish area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-03: Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed missing in walk in cooler and broken in dish area **Time Extended**
36-17-5
95
Sep 2, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed 1 live roach on wall above 3-compartment sink, manager eradicated washed, rinesed and sanitized the wall. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-05-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with debris, observed around soda nozzles. **Warning**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Observed on top area. **Warning**
16-21-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed on male employee preparing meats for smoker, employee applied hair restraint. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed under and behind equipment Also walls behind equipment. **Warning**
36-73-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed missing in walk in cooler and broken in dish area. **Warning**
36-17-5
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed Sanitizer Bucket (Quaternary 0ppm); Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 100ppm) Manager replaced sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-08-4
61
Aug 18, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
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 Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm); Dishwasher (Chlorine 100ppm), employee primed chlorine to proper level. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed on rear interior wall in unit.
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Observed in top area.
16-21-4
78
Mar 3, 2025
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
86
Aug 22, 2024
Complaint Full
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Door gasket on hot hold cabinet at cookline cracked and broken. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-22: Door gasket is ordered. **Time Extended**
14-11-5
95
Aug 21, 2024
Complaint Full
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food storage area. Approximately 30 live flying insects on ceiling in separate room, dry storage room **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Employee touched hand sink hot water knob with bare hands after hand washing, and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee wash hands, then turn off the hot water with bare hands. Manager informed the employee of proper hand washing techniques. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
12A-25-4
High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Observed 6 moldy lemons in open case of lemons in walk in cooler. Manager voluntarily discarded the lemons. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
01B-07-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Scouring pads stored in hand sink at drive through. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl used as fry scoop at fry station. Bowl removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Hot hold cabinets on cookline **Warning**
23-24-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach and 2 dead flying insects on floor in dining area behind service station. Manager removed, cleaned and sanitized the area. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee open plastic water bottle on shelf in dry storage over box of ketchup packs. Employee discarded the water bottle **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Door gasket on hot hold cabinet at cookline cracked and broken. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Fryer oil stored on floor near drive through. Manager removed the oil **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At double sink in men's room. Provided operator with hand wash sign, manager posted the sign **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-04-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Employee closed the lid **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Observed box of unwashed lemons on shelf stored over bottled drinks in storage area. Manager moved the lemons **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-17-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of flip top cooler soiled in expo area. Soda fountain at drive through soiled with black mold-like substance. **Warning**
23-03-4
35
Jan 30, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed behind kitchen equipment.
36-73-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed in hot holding cabinet with glass door.
22-08-4
90
Aug 25, 2023
Routine - Food
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
74
Jun 20, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Sewage and Wastewater Properly Disposed
FL-27
70
Aug 23, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed brisket (110F - Hot Holding); chicken (122F - Hot Holding), manager placed in oven to reheat. Operator reheated chicken and brisket 165F. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed on containers on clean dish storage shelf. Operator rehashed and separated **Corrected On-Site**
24-08-4
Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster.
33-19-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Observed in upright unit on cookline.
22-16-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q on file is from Sep 3, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q?
Across the inspection record, “accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q.
How does Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q compare to other restaurants in Lakeland?
Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Lakeland average of 86.
Has Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q 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 Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q is inspected around three times per year on average.
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