Sunnyside Cafe
Last inspected: Dec 4, 2025
64
Score
Inspectors have visited Sunnyside Cafe nine times, with records going back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Dec 4, 2025. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near five violations per visit.
“Food-contact surface soiled with food debris” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
The city-wide average sits at 81, which Sunnyside Cafe's 64 doesn't quite reach. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 4, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed their license expired 12/1/25
50-17-3
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed one of the owners wearing a watch while handling food on the cook line.
13-07-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed standing water in their back dish area.
36-22-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in the walk in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Observed missing thermometers in multiple coolers.
05-09-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed grease buildup on the hood filters above the cook line. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Observed their to-go boxes not inverted and observed their coffee filters not properly stored.
25-06-4
64
Aug 27, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed on the kitchen counter: Heavy whipping cream (75F - Cold Holding). Operator stated it had been out for approximately 1hr. Operator placed it in a reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Shell eggs not stored at an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Observed on the kitchen counter: Ambient shell eggs (86F - Cold Holding). Operator stated it had been out for approximately 1hr. Operator placed them in a reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-03-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed grease build up on the hood filters.
23-03-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed them thawing meat at room temperature. Operator placed them under running cold water. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
67
Oct 31, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
64
Jul 18, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
58
Sep 28, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food debris build up on the meat slicer in the prep area. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed a container of carrots on the floor of the walk in freezer. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed grease buildup on the hood filters in the kitchen.
23-03-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures Observed black build up in the walk in cooler fan covers.
36-50-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling vents in the dishwashing area with grease build up.
36-34-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed an employe drink on the back prep table. Operator removed drink. **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. Observed employee phone and keys stored next to food on the prep area. Operator removed items. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
67
Jul 28, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food debris build up on the meat slicer. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-28: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
90
Jul 27, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed in walk in cooler: beef, shellfish, and pork stored over top of unwashed vegetables. Owner moved produce. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-04-5
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee cracking shell eggs and touching clean equipment without washing hands. Employee washed hands. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-27-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 20 small flying insects in the back dry storage area, did not observe flying insects landing on food/food contact surfaces. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemical spray bottles hanging from a cart of condiments in the bar section of the dining room. Employee removed bottles. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-10-4
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed approximately 10 rodent droppings on the floor located behind the hot water heater in the back dry storage area. Observed approximately 10 rodent droppings on the floor under the dry storage shelf in back dry storage area. Observed approximately 30 rodent droppings on the floor underneath the chemical storage shelf next to the walk in cooler. **Warning**
35A-04-4
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. Emailed manager a copy of the big 6 pathogens information. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
11-07-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food debris build up on the meat slicer. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Observed no employee agreements. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. Emailed manager employe agreement form. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed black mold like build up on the interior of the ice machine. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed the shelves underneath the both preparation tables in the back preparation area with rust. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed milk stored on the floor of the walk in cooler and ice/French fries stored on the floor of the walk in freezer. Observed a case of oranges stored on the floor of the dining room in the bar section. **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Uncleanable knife block in use to store knives. Owner discarded their knife block. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-55-4
29
Mar 15, 2023
Routine - Food
5 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed spray bottle in wait station entrance on south side of restaurant. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the Manager. **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
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.Did not observe any vomit/diarrhea cleanup plan. Emailed operator vomit plan. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed food debris on slicer blade guard.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.Did not observe any employee health reporting agreements. Emailed operator agreement. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Observed no plan for shell eggs just removed from refrigeration. Emailed and educated operator on using time as public health control. **Corrective Action Taken**
03F-10-5
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed tuna defrosted in refrigeration drawer on cook line not cut or removed from packaging. Educated operator on vacuum fish protocol.
06-09-1
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed black substance on upper wall inside ice machine.
22-20-5
55
Aug 18, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw salmon patties not in original containers stored over ready to eat bread in Walk in freezer. Employee moved patties. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed unlabeled spray bottle in kitchen. Employee labeled bottle. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures Observed hood filters soiled.
36-50-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed bucket of French fries on floor in walk in cooler. Employee moved French fries. As a repeat violation the importance of following proper protocol with this violation was reinforced with the employee. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sunnyside Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sunnyside Cafe on file is from Dec 4, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sunnyside Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Sunnyside Cafe.
How does Sunnyside Cafe compare to other restaurants in Sarasota?
Sunnyside Cafe most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Sarasota average of 81.
Has Sunnyside Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Sunnyside Cafe have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Sunnyside Cafe 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 Sunnyside Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sunnyside Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
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