The Clam House
Last inspected: Nov 17, 2025
30
Score
Inspectors have visited The Clam House nine times, with records going back to 2023. The most recent visit was on Nov 17, 2025. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around 10 violations per visit lately, up from roughly six violations before.
“No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Palmetto restaurant, which scores around 83. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
6
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 17, 2025
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 6 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw ground beef stored over beef steak in the walk in cooler. Owner placed the ground beef below the beef steak. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No vacuum breaker on the hose Bibb in the walk in cooler. **Warning**
29-34-4
Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. No shell tags for in shell fresh clams. **Warning**
01C-02-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Raw sushi fish not identified on the menu. **Warning**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No chlorine test kit for the dish machine and sanitizer buckets. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
16-37-1
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. **Warning**
05-08-4
Intermediate - No running water at mop sink. **Warning**
27-11-4
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. No written plan for the sushi rice on time as a public health control. Emailed the form to the owner, owner printed and fill out the form before the end of the inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03F-10-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All the cutting boards for the establishment. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Several cases of food stored on the floor in the dry storage area. Owner placed the items on a shelf. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Ice scoop stored on top of the ice machine. Owner removed and sanitized the ice scoop and placed them in a pan on the ice machine. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-12-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No hand wash sign at the hand wash sink next to the ice machines. **Warning**
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Shelves under the grill and above the reach in cooler on the cook line soiled. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Several wet wiping cloth not stored in the sanitizer solution. Employee placed the towels in the sanitizer. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-12-4
30
Oct 16, 2025
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chemical test strips. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-16: **Time Extended**
16-37-1
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed two cutting boards grooved. Owner threw out. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-16: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in rear outside storage chest freezer. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-16: **Time Extended**
14-69-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood vents with grease buildup. Cleaning scheduled for 8/28. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-16: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
78
Aug 12, 2025
Complaint Full
5 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chemical test strips. **Warning**
16-37-1
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at rear kitchen sink. Owner replaced. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-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 written plans onsite. **Warning**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Observed all food handler training expired. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed unlabeled spray bottle on flip top cooler. Owner labeled. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
41-17-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in rear outside storage chest freezer. **Warning**
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed hood vents with grease buildup. Cleaning scheduled for 8/28. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed brown slimy substance interior of ice machine. Owner cleaned and sanitized. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed two cutting boards grooved. Owner threw out. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed two food preparation employees wearing bracelets. Employees removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-07-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed two employees with no hair restraints on. Employees put hats on. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-03-4
45
Apr 16, 2025
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink missing in warewashing or food preparation area. Observed a hand wash sink missing in the walk in cooler where fish prep is conducted.
31A-07-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed an employee rinse a cutting board in the bar hand sink. Owner instructed the employee on proper usage. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no test kit for their chlorine dish machine. **Repeat Violation**
16-37-1
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drinks stored over seasoning and clean dishes at the server station. Operator moved the drinks. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
70
Nov 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over ready to eat pickles and dressing in a reach in cooler. Operator removed the eggs. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed employees rinsing a knife and rinsing carrots in kitchen hand wash sinks. Operator instructed his employees on the sinks proper use. **Corrective Action Taken**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine test kit for their dish machine.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at the ware-washing hand wash sink. **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. No soap provided at the cook line and warewashing hand wash sinks. Operator placed soap at one of the sinks. **Corrective Action Taken**
31B-03-4
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. Observed three employees with expired food handler training.
53B-14-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowls being used as scoops in multiple containers of dry food product. Operator removed some bowls. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Observed employee food in the standing kitchen reach in cooler not labeled or separated.
08B-49-4
47
Feb 27, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at rear kitchen hand-sink. Owner placed towels at sink.
31B-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 some employees with no written plan.
11-26-1
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed small unlabeled spray bottle at dish machine.
41-17-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowls in flour and sugar bins. Owner removed bowls. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
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 thawing salmon with no slit in packages. Owner slit bags. **Corrected On-Site**
06-09-1
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. Observed employees drinking from open containers. Manager threw out. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-12-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in large chest freezer.
14-69-4
61
Nov 16, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut tomatoes at sauté station at 69F. Owner stated tomatoes had only been out one hour. Placed tomatoes in reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment. Observed clam tags not in chronological order.
01C-05-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed no date marking on clam tags.
01C-03-4
Basic - Cleaned and sanitized equipment or utensils not properly stored. Observed tongs hanging on ansul system. Owner removed. **Corrected On-Site**
24-07-4
67
Jun 15, 2023
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
64
Mar 22, 2023
Routine - Food
5 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
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 reporting forms in place. Inspector will email.
11-26-1
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at dish area hand sink. Operator put soap on sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-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. Observed no clean up plan in place. Inspector will email.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed colander of shredded carrots in dish area hand sink. Operator removed carrots from sink.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at hand sink in dish area. Operator put towels at sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed server ice machine interior with black slimy buildup. Operator cleaned and sanitized. **Corrected On-Site**
22-20-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed sugar bin not labeled. Employee labeled bin. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowl with no handle in sugar and brown sugar bin. Operator removed bowls from bin. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
52
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Clam House last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Clam House on file is from Nov 17, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Clam House?
Across the inspection record, “no chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at The Clam House.
How does The Clam House compare to other restaurants in Palmetto?
The Clam House most recently scored 30 out of 100, which is lower than the Palmetto average of 83.
Has The Clam House's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at The Clam House have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at The Clam House 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 Clam House inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Clam House is inspected around three times per year on average.
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