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The Blue Hen Café

117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Jul 22, 2025
45
Score
High Risk

The Blue Hen Café has been inspected five times since 2022. On Jul 22, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Diners may want to take note: high risk reflects issues that a health inspector considered important.

The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around two violations to closer to nine violations.

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

By comparison, the average St. Augustine facility scores 81, putting The Blue Hen Café on the weaker side. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.

5
Inspections
3
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 22, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed triple sink sanitizer at 0ppm chlorine. Person in charge added more bleach and retested at 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
22-42-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed butter (78F - Cold Holding) EFT on counter for approximately three hours per person in charge. Discussed time control and provided paper work to person in charge.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed drink ice at front counter with coffee spilled in. Person in charge removed contaminated ice.
01B-13-4
Intermediate - Whole fruit displayed for self-service not wrapped and no utensils provided. Observed apples on display not wrapped next too front counter entrance. Discussed with person in charge.
08B-15-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium/nitrogen tanks not adequately secured. Observed pressurized nitrogen tank not secured at front counter.
51-11-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed one dead roach on floor in back kitchen area. Discussed with person in charge, swept up dead roach. **Corrective Action Taken**
35A-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on flip-top cooler at front counter torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cold brew coffee on floor at front counter. Person in charge moved coffee off floor. Observed plastic bottles of water on floor in back kitchen area. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-38-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed wiping cloth sanitizer at 0ppm chlorine, person in charge added more bleach and retested at 75ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
21-07-4
45
Jan 9, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 2, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
67
Feb 8, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 1) quiche (50F - Cold Holding) left above chill line in flip-top cooler. Person in charge placed in reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
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 written procedures and discussed with person in charge. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards on cook line stained with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
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. Provided employee reporting agreement and discussed with person in charge. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. 1) Large door reach in cooler gasket torn. 1) large two door reach in cooler gaskets torn. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall juncture broken/missing. Cove molding missing by prep table. **Repeat Violation**
36-03-4
Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Spoon with handle stored inside pimento cheese container. Person in charge removed spoon.
10-06-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1) multiple gaskets on kitchen flip-top coolers, and large door reach in coolers soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. 1) plumbing under prep sink in kitchen leaking. 2) plumbing under fresh water pipe leading into mop sink leaking. Person in charge has scheduled plumber to come this week. **Corrective Action Taken**
29-11-4
50
Aug 26, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was The Blue Hen Café last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at The Blue Hen Café on file is from Jul 22, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at The Blue Hen Café?

Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at The Blue Hen Café.

How does The Blue Hen Café compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?

The Blue Hen Café most recently scored 45 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.

Has The Blue Hen Café's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at The Blue Hen Café have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at The Blue Hen Café 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 The Blue Hen Café inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, The Blue Hen Café is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants
El Potro Mexican Rest
226 San Marco Ave
Score: 78 — Low Risk
Georgie's Diner
100 Malaga St
Score: 55 — Medium Risk
Zaria Simply Mediterranean
415 S Ponce De Leon Blvd
Score: 100 — Low Risk
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→ All locations in St. Augustine → Café / Breakfast restaurants in Florida → Café / Breakfast restaurants in St. Augustine
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