The King & Bear
Last inspected: Dec 17, 2025
100
Score
Inspectors have visited The King & Bear 10 times, with records going back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Dec 17, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near seven violations per visit across recent inspections.
“No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
Restaurants in St. Augustine average 81, so The King & Bear is doing better than most peers. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Dec 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishmachine tested at 0ppm chlorine. **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager. Certification for Richard W expired 12/7/2025.
53A-03-7
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No chlorine test strips for dishmachine. No quaternary ammonium test strips for sanitizer spray.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager. Four employees engaged in foodservice at the time of inspection. No certified food manager available.
53A-05-6
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. No proof food handler training available for approximately 8 employees, per person in charge.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance incorrectly labeled. Per person in charge, three spray bottles labeled as "Purell Foodservice Surface Sanitizer" contain "Ecolab Multi Surface Disinfectant Cleaner".
41-17-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice buckets on ice machine are not inverted. Employee turned buckets over. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
24-05-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Two cooks wearing bracelets.
13-07-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Part of flooring is missing in front of dishmachine.
36-17-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cases of fries stored on the floor in walk in freezer. Multiple cases of bag in box soda stored on the floor at soda rack.
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop handle in ice in ice machine.
10-08-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No employee hand washing sign for bar handwash sink.
31B-04-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water observed in bottom of far right flip top reach in cooler in kitchen.
29-49-6
37
May 2, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Can of sausage gravy dented at seam.
01B-13-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Meat slicer in kitchen soiled. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Water temperature at hand wash sink only reach 78F.
27-16-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Reach in cooler on cook line shelves rust pitted.
14-33-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on front of equipment. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife stored in between counter on cook line. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 2 dead roaches behind ice machine. Operator swept up. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice buckets no stored inverted. Operator fixed. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling vents on kitchen soiled.
36-34-5
52
Nov 15, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
32
Apr 12, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw shrimp in open packaging stored over french fries, removed from original packaging, in standing reach in freezer at end of cook line. Raw fish stored over cooked chicken wings in standing reach in cooler at end other end of cook line near walk in freezer. All items rearranged. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Approximately 10 live flying insects inside bucket inside cabinet use to catch drainage from beer tap at bar area, employee covered bucket and discarded the drainage and flying insects during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Missing from hose side of splitter on mop sink in mop closest near kitchen.
29-42-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. raw shrimp (47F - Cold Holding); cooked mushrooms (47F - Cold Holding) on speed rack sitting outside of walk in cooler while receiving a delivery, per employee rack has been in and out of walk in cooler less then 1 hour, speed rack placed in walk in freezer. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. sliced turkey (53F - Cooling, after 30 minutes 53F); cut romaine (51F - Cooling, after 30 minutes 53F); sliced ham (53F - Cooling, after 30 minutes 53F); spinach dip (53F - Cooling, after 30 minutes 53F) in reach in cooler on make line, employee turned down temperature of cooler **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Rubber mats from bar draining in hand wash station in server area, mats removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Container of cooked onions in standing reach in cooler at end of cook line near walk in freezer, per employee onions where made 2 days ago, onions marked. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. In men's bathroom.
31B-04-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice bin of soda machine at server area. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
37
Sep 7, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
61
Mar 29, 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. In the front line flip top reach in cooler opposite the fryers; cut tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding); pulled pork (46F - Cold Holding); chicken salad (45F - Cold Holding); ham (47F - Cold Holding); turkey (47F - Cold Holding); corn beef (47F - Cold Holding); brisket (45F - Cold Holding) all items transferred from the walk in cooler at beginning of the shift around 30 minutes prior. Reach in cooler ambient air holding at 44F. Operator relocated all items to the walk in freezer to bring back into temperature range and made contact with maintenance for the reach in cooler. At conclusion of inspection all time/temperature control food for safety within temperature range. **Corrected On-Site**
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. No bodily fluid clean up kit or written procedures available. Operator posted written procedures. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. In the shelf under the prep table, white cutting board has mold like substance spots along the edge of the cutting board. Operator removed the cutting board to be cleaned. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Flip top reach in cooler opposite the oven has torn cooler door gaskets. Operator has replacement gaskets in the establishment to be installed. **Corrective Action Taken**
14-11-5
67
Jan 27, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. At time of inspection multiple rodent droppings observed through the main kitchen area, 2 droppings behind the standup freezer in the main cook line, 6 rodent droppings under the prep sink area, 2 rodent droppings in the dry storage shelf on a container lid, 4 rodent droppings behind the dry storage shelf, 3 droppings under the three compartment sink area, 20 rodent droppings on and around the dish machine chemical jugs, 2 rodent droppings observed at the entry way to the waitstation area, 1 rodent droppings by the drain in front of the beer cooler, 2 rodent droppings observed by the wait station entrance to the dining room. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-01-27: At time of follow up inspection, 11 rodent droppings observed behind the bar counter under the ice well and speed rack area. Operator swept underneath the bar counters to remove rodent droppings. **Admin Complaint** **Corrective Action Taken**
35A-04-4
86
Jan 26, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle of Clorox stored on the prep table facing the mixer. Operator relocated the chemical spray bottle. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-10-4
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. At time of inspection multiple rodent droppings observed through the main kitchen area, 2 droppings behind the standup freezer in the main cook line, 6 rodent droppings under the prep sink area, 2 rodent droppings in the dry storage shelf on a container lid, 4 rodent droppings behind the dry storage shelf, 3 droppings under the three compartment sink area, 20 rodent droppings on and around the dish machine chemical jugs, 2 rodent droppings observed at the entry way to the waitstation area, 1 rodent droppings by the drain in front of the beer cooler, 2 rodent droppings observed by the wait station entrance to the dining room. **Warning**
35A-04-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In the walk in cooler, prepared raw beef stored in container of vanilla yogurt. Operator relocated the beef to the correct storage location. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flies behind the bar counter by the soda gun dispenser holster.
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Potato punch on the wall next to the three compartment sink has old food debris on the puncher. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No employee hand wash signage at the wait station hand wash sink.
31B-04-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. In the flip top reach in cooler on the main cook line, avocados cut in halves with stickers still attached.
08B-39-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk flour and sugar containers stored with no product labeling.
02D-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic portion cups stored in bulk flour and sugar containers.
14-01-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. In the bar dry storage area, 3 carbon dioxide tanks stored without being secured.
51-11-4
Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Some ceiling tiles through kitchen area are acoustic ceiling tiles.
36-37-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverage stored on prep table by the slicer. Operator relocated the employee beverage.
12B-07-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. On the main cook line, tongs stored on the oven door handles. Operator relocated the tongs to the correct storage location. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
33
Sep 20, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
29
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The King & Bear last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The King & Bear on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The King & Bear?
Across the inspection record, “no handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at The King & Bear.
How does The King & Bear compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
The King & Bear most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has The King & Bear's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at The King & Bear have averaged around seven violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at The King & Bear means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is The King & Bear inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The King & Bear is inspected around three times per year on average.
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