Taco Ardiente
Last inspected: Jan 14, 2026
64
Score
Inspectors have visited Taco Ardiente 12 times, with records going back to 2022. Taco Ardiente was last inspected on Jan 14, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near five violations per visit.
The pattern that stands out is “handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing”, which has been cited three times.
That's lower than the typical Naples restaurant, which scores around 81. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
12
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 14, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In Walk in cooler observed raw shrimp and raw ground beef being stored together. Operator moved shrimp from ground beef. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand washing sink on front line is being used to store cooking utensils. Operator removed utensils. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk in Cooler fan shroud dirty **Warning**
23-03-4
64
Sep 10, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Microwaves door handles have accumulated debris **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-10: **Time Extended**
23-24-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Observed Torn foil on shelves in kitchen. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-09-10: **Time Extended**
14-20-4
90
Sep 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found. Observed ten small flying insects near hot water heater **Warning**
35A-02-7
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Microwaves door handles have accumulated debris **Warning**
23-24-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Dining room floor has accumulated debris. **Warning**
36-73-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. On front line, observed Knife in between microwave and shelf. **Warning**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed Tong on equipment handle. **Warning**
10-20-4
Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Observed Torn foil on shelves in kitchen. **Warning**
14-20-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed raw pork Thawing in standing water at Three compartment sink. Operator turned on water. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
06-01-5
64
Jul 8, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jul 7, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed twenty five rodent droppings behind oven in prep area. Operator cleaned and sanitized area during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
35A-04-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed cooking utensils being stored in Hand washing sink on front line. Operator removed utensils. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Observed employee washing hands in Three compartment sink. Educated employee about Hand washing sink uses. **Warning**
12A-03-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Several kitchen walls have accumulated debris **Warning**
36-27-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Reach in cooler door handles and gaskets have accumulated debris. **Warning**
23-24-4
Basic - Dead rodent present. Behind back prep area tables, observed one dead rodent. Operator removed rodent, and cleaned and sanitized area during inspection. **Warning**
35A-20-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employees cell phone in a food prep area. Operator moved phone. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have accumulated grease and debris **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Ripped/worn tin foil used as shelf cover. Several shelves have foil that is torn. **Warning**
14-20-4
52
Feb 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Precooked ground beef 46F cold hold, milk 47F cold hold less than 4 hours. Operator turned down reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed soiled cup stored inside hand wash sink.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.
05-08-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Operator cleaned cutting boards. **Corrective Action Taken**
14-09-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil. **Corrected On-Site**
21-11-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Operator inverted containers. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed chlorine concentration at 0 ppm. Operator redid sanitizer. Rechecked concentration at 100 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
21-07-4
55
Aug 23, 2024
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Re beef in a non food-grade bag in reach-in freezer. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-31-5
High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Two strips in prep area. Operator removed strips. Corrected on site **Corrected On-Site**
41-24-4
High Priority - Spray hose at dish sink lower than flood rim of sink. Spray hose Corrected on site
29-37-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Unnecessary persons in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing area. Unauthorized person, not an employee cooking themselves tacos in the kitchen. They bare hand grabbed shredded cheese for their tacos. See stop sale
01B-13-4
Intermediate - Unnecessary persons in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing area. Unauthorized person, not an employee cooking themselves tacos in the kitchen. They bare hand grabbed shredded cheese for their tacos. See stop sale Operator stated it was a friend and not an employee and they should not have been in the kitchen.
43-08-4
Basic - Standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly. Drain under oven backed up and slowly draining.
29-19-4
47
Apr 15, 2024
Complaint Full
8 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris in walk in cooler.
36-73-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer at kitchen entry. Educated operator on defrosting freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Operator removed knife. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with gray-like substance on fan guard in walk in cooler. Observed buildup of debris inside cabinet near self serve soda reach in cooler.
23-03-4
Basic - Observed men's toilet/urinal not clean.
32-07-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Operator removed beverage. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Observed men's urinal not flushing.
29-08-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Three door upright cooler at end of cook line. Operator cleaned cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
22-16-4
67
Jan 24, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed cooked beef in sauce (59F - Cooling-9 hours). Operator reheated product to 185F and placed for proper cooling . Educated operator on proper cooling procedures. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-02-5
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Observed employee wash hands in three compartment sink not hand wash sink. Educated operator on proper hand washing. Operator educated employee and employee properly rewashed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-03-4
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 frozen fish thawing in reach in cooler in unopened commercial packaging stating to remove fish from packaging before thawing. Educated operator and operator removed fish from packaging. **Corrected On-Site**
06-09-1
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice build up in reach in freezer next to drink cooler.
14-69-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Observed employee drink in reach in cooler. Educated operator on proper storage of employee food and drinks. Operator removed drink. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
67
Jul 27, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed roasted peppers (84F - Hot Holding), less than two hours. Operator moved for proper hot holding. Observed roasted peppers (164F - Hot Holding) by end of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed ceiling tiles damaged by water and broken.
36-32-5
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed flooring tiles in walk in cooler broken and missing.
36-17-5
78
Oct 19, 2022
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Aug 2, 2022
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed cooked chicken in hotel pans at 47F to 51F. Operator stated made yesterday. **Warning**
03D-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed six pans cooked chicken at 47F to 51F. **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed chemical stored on shelf with bottled drinks, paint and oxi clean cleaner stored above food prep area. Operator moved for proper storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-10-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed chlorine wiping cloth solution at 200ppm. Instructed operator on proper sanitation level. Operator got new solution to now 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-27-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Observed expired certified food manager. To take test in September, had to reschedule due to illness. Repeat 2/21/22 **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed multiple items in walk in cooler not date marked. Operator provided dates for items. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cellphone, keys and hats above food prep area. Operator moved for correct storage. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting of pans above three compartment sink. **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored outside. Observed flour tortilla shells and chips stored outside in breezeway. Operator moved all items inside. Repeat 2/21/2022 **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08B-42-4
39
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Taco Ardiente last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Taco Ardiente on file is from Jan 14, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Taco Ardiente?
Across the inspection record, “handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Taco Ardiente.
How does Taco Ardiente compare to other restaurants in Naples?
Taco Ardiente most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Naples average of 81.
Has Taco Ardiente's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Taco Ardiente have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Taco Ardiente 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 Taco Ardiente inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Taco Ardiente is inspected around three times per year on average.
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