Sonny's Real Pit BBQ
Last inspected: Jan 12, 2026
95
Score
Inspectors have visited Sonny's Real Pit BBQ 10 times, with records going back to 2023. Inspectors last stopped by on Jan 12, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around eight violations to closer to two violations per visit over the last few inspections.
“Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.
The city-wide average for Pinellas Park sits at 82, putting Sonny's Real Pit BBQ on the better side of that line. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 12, 2026
Complaint Partial
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Single-service articles stored on a soiled surface. Small styrofoam containers used for baked beans on red to go container holders soiled. Cleaned during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
25-17-4
95
Dec 18, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed chef clean slicer then changed gloves and continue to touch surfaces around cooking area of kitchen. Educated
12A-09-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 1 live flying insect at dish pit not landing on any surfaces
35A-02-7
Intermediate - Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Rack inside reach in cooler at bar used to hold glass cups rusted touching surfaces of glass. Employee moved glasses to dish pit.
22-31-4
67
Jul 7, 2025
Complaint Full
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles.
23-24-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Near to go back and pos system. Employee 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. Cell phone and keys on cook line shelf near white styrofoam bowls **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
86
Jan 16, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
36-34-5
90
Jul 31, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
61
Jul 29, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 14 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 sanitizer testing at 0 PPM. Inspector noticed chlorine chemical container was empty and not feeding product through the line. Employee restocked chemical and chlorine sanitizer is now testing at 50 PPM. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-41-4
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. -Dish washer left dish area to go get a container of chlorine with gloves on. Employee return to the dish area and began putting away clean dishes with the same gloves he had on to handle a chemical.
12A-13-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. -Approximately 10+ live flies in kitchen area landing on stainless steel above cook line. -Approximately 20+ flies coming out of middle drain under tea machine. -1 live fly in dish machine area not landing on food contact surfaces. -1 live fly landing on liquid margarine. -1 fly landing on coffee filters at server wait station. **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. -Hand sink next to prep table and walk in cooler door covered with green cutting board. Inspector moved cutting board to allow access to the hand sink.
31A-09-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. -Interior of ice bin under soda dispenser soiled.
22-20-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. -Equipment and microwave handles soiled on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
23-24-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. -1 dead roach under dish machine drying side drain board. Employee sweep and sanitized area. -1 dead roach in stand water in drain next to soda dispensing machine at server wait station. **Admin Complaint**
35A-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. -Clean plastic cups wet nesting next to soda dispenser at server wait station.
24-08-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. -Heavy ice build up in reach in cooler in bar area storing glass cups. -Heavy ice build up at the bottom of stand alone freezer across from cook line. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. -Microwave interior at the end of cook line soiled with food debris.
22-08-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. -On clean containers on rack next to walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
16-46-4
Basic - Standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly. -Floor drain backed up next soda dispenser on sever wait line.
29-19-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. -Food on speed racks not covered.
08B-12-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. -Wet wiping cloth stored on table at expo window.
21-12-4
35
Dec 5, 2023
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands to initiate a task working with food. Dishwasher going from dirty dishes to clean dishes without hand washing. Employee servicing customers through drive thru window failed to wash hands after changing tasks to wash potatoes. Manager educated both employee's on proper hand washing procedures. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer bucket not at proper minimum strength. Quaternary sanitizer bucket at 0 ppm. Employee replenished bucket and sanitizer was fixed to 200 PPM. **Corrected On-Site**
22-40-4
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Gallon of milk not date marked. Manager dated milk 12/2/23. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-01-5
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. Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength 0 PPM. Manager fixed chlorine sanitizer solution to 50 PPPM. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-41-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Beverage cup inside flower container under prep sink. Manager moved cup. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Equipment handles on cook line soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-24-4
Basic - Ice buildup on the bottom of walk-in freezer door.
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave interior soiled with food debris.
22-08-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No hand washing sign at hand sink in bar area. Manager put up sign. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on clean dishes stored on dish rack near walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
16-46-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth stored on table at server order input station. Employees moved into sanitizing bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
39
Oct 19, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 13 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. Dish machine at bar 0ppm, corrected 50ppm. Dish machine in kitchen 0ppm, corrected 50ppm **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Accumulation of grease on grill surface
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink next to soda machines used as dump sink, ice in sink
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. One employee training expired
53B-14-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Portioning cup in salt behind bar, removed **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Cook line
23-24-4
Basic - Duct tape used to repair nonfood-contact surface. Corner of hand sink near dish machine
14-71-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. 5gal tub of pickles on floor in walk-in cooler **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Accumulation of grease on inside of smoker at to go window
22-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Accumulation of grease on sides of fryers Cooler gaskets soiled
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. **Repeat Violation**
16-46-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Plastic spoons at drive thru window not inverted. Coffee filters not covered at wait station. Items corrected **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
41
Jun 7, 2023
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
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
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
47
Jan 24, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
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 Jan 12, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonny's Real Pit BBQ?
Across the inspection record, “buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles” 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 Pinellas Park?
Sonny's Real Pit BBQ most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Pinellas Park average of 82.
Has Sonny's Real Pit BBQ's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Sonny's Real Pit BBQ have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Sonny's Real Pit BBQ 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 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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