Steph's Southern Restaurant
Last inspected: Mar 10, 2026
61
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Steph's Southern Restaurant, the earliest from 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 10, 2026. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around three violations each.
“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
The city-wide average sits at 88, which Steph's Southern Restaurant's 61 doesn't quite reach. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 10, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter packs at room temp on counter 70, employee stated that the butter was not out very long. Employee placed butter packs in the freezer. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
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. Two employee certificates
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Black eyed peas, cooked rice, gravy all prepared over the weekend
02C-02-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer
14-69-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
21-12-4
61
Sep 19, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. On prep table to in front of three compartment sink.
21-04-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee removed drink from prep table. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
90
May 8, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee rinsed off spatula and did not sanitize before using to stir food products. Discussed it operator employee.
22-45-4
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee entering kitchen through screen door from outside and without washing hands employees handling clean and sanitized dishes, container of ore made foods. Discussed with operator employees washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. At front counter serving area bottle of hand sanitizer stored with clean and sanitized dishes, discussed with operator who removed hand sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Sent clean up poster to operator via email.
11-27-4
58
Jan 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line - milk dredge (50F - Cold Holding), held less than 4 hours, added ice to ice bath **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Sanitizer bottle in dining room, labeled **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
74
Apr 25, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with an accumulation of food debris. Operator had employee clean and sanitize. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
90
Oct 4, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Oven in kitchen **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-04: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. For some employees **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-04: **Time Extended**
53B-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket of vertical cooler in storage room **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-10-04: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
78
Oct 3, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In glass 2 door cooler in storage room - Beef (55F - Cold Holding), cooked yesterday, temperatures not taken today. see stop sale In drop in cooler at front line - sliced tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); cut melon (51F - Cold Holding) cut and put out at 10:30 this morning. On front counter -butter pats (69F - Cold Holding)removed from refrigeration approximately 3 hours ago, moved to freezer **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Beef (55F - Cold Holding) sliced tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); cut melon (51F - Cold Holding) **Warning**
01B-02-5
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. O ppm, technician is scheduled for today **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. For some employees **Warning**
53B-09-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Oven in kitchen **Warning**
22-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket of vertical cooler in storage room **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. In vertical single door cooler in back storage room, unwashed produce over hush puppy mix **Warning**
08B-17-4
47
May 24, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
58
Sep 16, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. Observed the employee working the front not wash her hands after clearing plates at a table. She got a customer a drink.
12A-02-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed the floor behind the kitchen equipment with debris.
36-73-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed the freezer in the kitchen with ice build up.
14-69-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Observed the license displayed is expired on 2-1-2-22.
50-09-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Steph's Southern Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Steph's Southern Restaurant on file is from Mar 10, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Steph's Southern Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Steph's Southern Restaurant.
How does Steph's Southern Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Dade City?
Steph's Southern Restaurant most recently scored 61 out of 100, which is lower than the Dade City average of 88.
Has Steph's Southern Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Steph's Southern Restaurant have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Steph's Southern Restaurant 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 Steph's Southern Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Steph's Southern Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
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