Sonny's Real Pit BBQ
Last inspected: Apr 22, 2026
50
Score
Sonny's Real Pit BBQ has been inspected 12 times since 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Apr 22, 2026. A high risk rating points to multiple serious findings at the most recent inspection.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around eight violations each.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
The city-wide average sits at 78, which Sonny's Real Pit BBQ's 50 doesn't quite reach. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.
12
Inspections
3
Critical latest
1
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 22, 2026
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Female employee scratched face then scooped slaw without washing her hands.
12A-25-4
High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee adjusted pants then wiped counter and sealed bag of beans without washing hands.
12A-28-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found One fly in server station.
35A-02-7
Intermediate - Employee with artificial nails/nail polish working with exposed food without wearing intact gloves. Female server with nail polish. **Repeat Violation**
13-06-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Two drinks on top of keg cooler. One drink on prep table near drive thru. All were moved. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Purse on prep table near drive thru. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. In reach in freezer on cook line. In reach in beer keg cooler.
29-49-6
50
Nov 4, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In drawer reach-in cooler: cheese (44F - Cold Holding); cheese (44F - Cold Holding); tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding). Placed in freezer then all were 41F and below. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In bowl on passthrough window: onion straws (91F - Hot Holding). Operator voluntarily discarded and remade onions. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Microwave interior soiled grease accumulation. Smoker interior soiled with grease accumulation. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Male employee cooking with metal bracelet on arm.
13-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on top shelf in center room wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor behind grill soiled with grease accumulation. **Repeat Violation**
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with grease accumulation. Microwave exterior soiled with food debris and grease accumulation. Holding cabinet handle soiled with grease accumulation. Reach-in cooler drawers and exterior soiled with old food debris and grease accumulation. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Single-service trays on top shelf in storage room not inverted or protected. Manager inverted. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bar beer reach-in cooler and reach-in cooler across from three compartment sink.
29-49-6
50
Apr 28, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Hose side of splitter in mop sink. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
29-42-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bottle of sanitizer tablets stored next to clean spice containers on shelf in front of walk-in cooler. Manager move sanitizer tablets to area where chemicals are stored. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Inside of ice machine towards the top. Water nozzles for tea machines in wait station. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Ice scoop stored on top of wait station ice machine. Manager had scoop washed,rinsed and sanitized then placed in a pan. **Corrected On-Site**
10-12-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on side of shelf in front of smoker. Manager placed tongs on pan. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above cook line. Shelves in dry storage area. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Soiled floors/carpeting. Floor behind cook line fryers greasy.
36-10-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Bucket used for iced tea cracked. Manager discarded bucket during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-38-4
52
Sep 16, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Three flies flying around floor drain in bar area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. 1. Spray bottle containing glass cleaner stored on table directly beside stack of single-use trays in front of kitchen. 2. Spray bottle containing glass cleaner stored on shelf directly side of box containing sugar packets in server station. Manager moved both spray bottles to another shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Backflow prevention device missing from red hose connection on side of building near smoker. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
29-34-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. 1. Cutting board at cookline. 2. Interior of microwave near cookline soiled with food debris. Manager cleaned interior of microwave during this inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Several bags of ice stored on floor inside walk-in freezer. Manager stated the ice was for a catering and could be used for food contact. Manager placed bags of ice on a shelf during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Grease on the ground and/or pad around grease receptacle. Grease on pad around grease receptacle inside enclosure beside building.
33-20-4
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Insect control light on wall in kitchen directly above cart containing pepper, hotdog buns, and hot sauce. Manager moved cart away from insect control light during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
35B-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1. Gaskets on doors of reach-in freezer near fryers soiled with food debris. 2. Back-side of monitors and wires at cookline heavily soiled with dust. 3. Outside of lids on bins in dry storage area soiled with grease and/or food debris. 4. Gaskets on doors of keg cooler in bar area soiled with mold-like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. 1. Remnants of old labels on three pans on clean dish rack near prep area. 2. Old labels on pan on lower shelf of prep table in prep area.
16-46-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Lid of both dumpsters left open inside enclosure beside building. Manager closed lids during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
33-16-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Pipe below three-compartment sink broken off and laying on floor.
29-08-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. 1. Ceiling in kitchen at cookline soiled with dust. 2. Top of hood in kitchen at cookline soiled with dust. 3. Wall in kitchen near pickup window soiled with dust. 4. Ceiling above dish machine soiled with mold-like substance. 5. Air vent in storage closet soiled with mold-like substance. 6. Wire shelving in dry storage area heavily soiled with dust. 7. Top of knife rack on wall near prep sink soiled with dust.
36-50-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board at cookline has deep cut marks and is no longer smooth and cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee jacket stored on top of box containing single-use jugs in dry storage room. Manager removed jacket from area during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
35
May 8, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Observed "Y" connector at mop sink with missing vacuum breaker on the non-chemical side of the "Y" connector. Manager removed Y connector **Corrected On-Site**
29-42-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured behind establishment
51-11-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed equipment not properly air-dried, and stored wet on clean ware rack resulting in wet nesting. Manager removed wet nesting items and put in dishwash area **Corrected On-Site**
24-08-4
Basic - Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system. Observed missing hood filter above prep area in kitchen that allows a pole to drop from the ceiling to attach an order monitor
14-42-4
Basic - Ice bucket not stored inverted or in a protected manner between uses. Observed ice bucket used to transport ice not stored inverted or in a protected manner by ice machine. Manager removed and had ice bucket washed **Corrected On-Site**
10-14-5
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Observed single service trays for tater tots not inverted or protected above microwave. Manager discarded top tray and inverted remaining trays. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Observed unwashed produce ( romaine hearts ) stored over ready-to-eat food ( dressing ) in walk in cooler. Manager removed unwashed produce. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
64
Jan 26, 2024
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Jan 18, 2024
Complaint Full
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee placed hair net over head then put on gloves and began cooking without washing hands. Male employee touched glasses with gloved hands and continued to prepare plates without washing hands. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-25-4
High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Female employee touched stomach with gloved hands then picked up clean plate without washing hands and changing gloves. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-28-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In steam table on cookline: onion straws 85-92F. In reach in hot holding case: brisket 130F. Began reheating both items. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of smoker near front counter has heavy build up of grease. Interior of ice machine has mold like substance on interior top wall. Interior of reach in freezer on cookline soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Water is 67F near smoker behind front counter.
27-16-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phone on top of slicer at cookline. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Female employee scooping slaw with multiple rings and bracelets on.
13-07-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Male employee with long hair and had no hair restraint. Employee placed hair net over hair during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bucket of pickles on floor in walk in cooler. Manage picked up. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Near fans inside walk in freezer
14-69-4
41
Jul 31, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jul 28, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Male employee at the grill station, touched raw burgers and continued working with cooked food and handle tongs, inspector addressed situation, employee stopped, washed his hands and continued **Corrected On-Site**
12A-09-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the cook line (under the grill) : hot dogs 46F, rice 48F, ribs 51F, slaw 52F, raw chicken 46F, Manager add ice. ** Warning** **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, (under the grill): hot dogs 46F, rice 48F, ribs 51F, slaw 52F, raw chicken 46F, ambient air temperature of 52F. **Warning**
14-74-7
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in cooler at the server station. Also ice machine soiled.
22-16-4
67
May 10, 2023
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Mar 27, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 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. Chlorine 0 ppm in dish machine, manager set three compartment sink **Corrective Action Taken**
22-41-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Two flying insects at the three compartment sink area.
35A-02-6
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. At the server station, employee drink above utensils, Manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. At the smoker area, tongs on smoker handle, manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
67
Sep 26, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonny's Real Pit BBQ last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sonny's Real Pit BBQ on file is from Apr 22, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonny's Real Pit 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 Real Pit BBQ.
How does Sonny's Real Pit BBQ compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Sonny's Real Pit BBQ most recently scored 50 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Sonny's Real Pit BBQ's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Sonny's Real Pit BBQ have averaged around eight violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Sonny's Real Pit BBQ means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is Sonny's Real Pit BBQ inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sonny's Real Pit BBQ is inspected around three times per year on average.
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