Terra Nostra Ristorante
Last inspected: Oct 23, 2025
45
Score
Inspectors have visited Terra Nostra Ristorante nine times, with records going back to 2022. Terra Nostra Ristorante was last inspected on Oct 23, 2025. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near six violations per visit.
Looking across the full record, “handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
That's lower than the typical Fort Myers restaurant, which scores around 80. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
9
Inspections
3
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 23, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area near clean equipment at bar. Operator placed strips on bottom. **Corrected On-Site**
41-24-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed container of raw fish stored over container of cheese in walk in cooler. Operator switched containers. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed mozzarella cheese 50F cold hold, Gorgonzola cheese 50F cold hold less than 4 hours in salad prep reach in cooler. Operator turned down reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed plastic container stored in hand wash sink next to walk in cooler. Educated operator on hand wash only. Operator removed container. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Operator labeled bottle. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Improper storage of maintenance equipment that interferes with cleaning. Observed leaf blower stored on canned food in dry storage.
42-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed backpack stored on shelving near food items in dry storage.
40-06-5
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Operator removed employee beverage. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-12-5
45
Jul 1, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand wash sink at end of cook line used to fill container.
31A-11-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
21-12-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Educated operator on displaying current license. **Repeat Violation**
50-09-4
74
Dec 10, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed raw salmon 45F cold hold, raw shrimp 46F cold hold less than 4 hours. Operator double panned foods with ice and filled in in empty spaces in drawer reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Operator removed strip. **Corrected On-Site**
41-24-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed sponges store in hand wash sink in beverage wait station.
31A-11-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed cellphone stored on counter near ice bin. Operator removed cellphone. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Operator removed knife. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris underneath microwave oven. Operator cleaned shelving. **Corrected On-Site**
23-03-4
52
Sep 3, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed container of raw frozen fish stored over French fries. Operator placed raw fish on bottom. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Observed precooked frozen beef not date marked. Operator date marked food. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-04-5
78
Feb 14, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Dec 13, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 7 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Warning**
50-17-3
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee touching ready to eat lemons while slicing lemons. Educated operator. Operator educated employee. Employee put on gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
09-01-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. **Warning**
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Observed establishment using reduced oxygen packaging with cured deli meats and cooked pasta. **Warning**
03G-50-1
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. **Warning**
01C-03-4
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. Provided operator with written procedures. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Establishment preparing food using a method that has been determined by the Divisions of Hotels and Restaurants to require an approved variance from the Division. Establishment does not have an approved variance for the method observed in use during the inspection. Observed establishment using reduced oxygen packaging with cooked pasta. **Warning**
03G-46-1
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Can opener. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Ahi tuna on menu. **Warning**
02B-01-5
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. Operator completed form. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Spoons at wait station. **Warning**
24-18-4
Basic - Accumulation of gray-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Educated operator on importance of cleaning ice machine daily. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cooks. Educated operator on importance of food employees wear hair restraints when preparing and cooking food. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed bottled water stored on floor in back dry storage room. Observed bag of onions stored on floor in kitchen. Educated operator on having bottled water stored off of floor. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08B-47-4
Basic - Label on a food item prepared and packaged onsite for customer self-service does not include product identity/description, date product was packaged and name and address of the establishment that prepared and packaged the food. Missing address. **Warning**
02D-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Men's restroom. Educated operator on importance of having hand sign. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31B-04-4
23
Aug 16, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
43
Nov 7, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 7 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.
29-42-4
High Priority - Observed dead cricket on floor in dishwash area. Operator discarded cricket. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-09-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Can opener and behind slicer blade. Operator cleaned. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Meatballs.
02C-04-5
Intermediate - Oyster tags not marked with last date served.
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Hand wash sink at end of cook line. Operator placed paper towels at hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-05-4
Intermediate - Raw or undercooked oysters offered and establishment has no consumer advisory sign provided on wall, menu, placard, table tent or by any other written means. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Operator posted before leaving inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02A-01-4
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. **Repeat Violation**
53B-14-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Beverage/wait station. Operator labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of gray/mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Operator cleaned. **Corrected On-Site**
22-20-5
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Observed backflow preventer at mop sink in disrepair. **Repeat Violation**
29-08-4
Basic - Observed broken floor tiles at end of cook line and in dishwash area. **Repeat Violation**
36-17-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container.
12B-12-5
29
Jul 5, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored on shelving near food items. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Hand wash at end of cook line. Operator fixed. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-05-4
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.
53B-14-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Cook line. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Observed broken tiles on floor in dishwash area.
36-17-5
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Observed back flow preventer on mop sink in disrepair.
29-08-4
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Terra Nostra Ristorante last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Terra Nostra Ristorante on file is from Oct 23, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Terra Nostra Ristorante?
Across the inspection record, “handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Terra Nostra Ristorante.
How does Terra Nostra Ristorante compare to other restaurants in Fort Myers?
Terra Nostra Ristorante most recently scored 45 out of 100, which is lower than the Fort Myers average of 80.
Has Terra Nostra Ristorante's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Terra Nostra Ristorante have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Terra Nostra Ristorante 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 Terra Nostra Ristorante inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Terra Nostra Ristorante is inspected around three times per year on average.
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