The Owl Cafe
Last inspected: Feb 19, 2026
64
Score
The Owl Cafe has been inspected 11 times since 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Feb 19, 2026. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around four violations lately and about six violations before that.
Looking across the full record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the recurring theme, flagged four times.
By comparison, the average Apalachicola facility scores 84, putting The Owl Cafe on the weaker side. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
11
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 19, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands.
12A-25-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.cutting board cook line. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine.
16-23-4
Basic - Cleaned and sanitized equipment or utensils not properly stored. Knife stored between reach in cooler and the wall in the salad. Employee removed the knife. **Corrected On-Site**
24-07-4
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. Gator. Cook took the gator out of the bag. **Corrected On-Site**
06-09-1
Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around back the area.
33-19-4
64
Dec 3, 2025
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on the cook line.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Dipping scoop in the employee hand sink in the salad area.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Soap bottle containing toxic substance not labeled in the bar area.
41-17-4
Basic - All Interior of ovens has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.
22-08-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Serving cup inside the container of walnuts.
14-01-5
Basic - Water leaking from faucet/handle in the bar area.
29-11-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bakery area.
02D-01-5
61
Aug 13, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 17, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. On the cook line. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-17: Observed hand sink on the cook line hasn't been reinstalled. **Time Extended**
31A-04-4
90
Jan 13, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
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.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. On the cook line. **Warning**
31A-04-4
Basic - Ceiling/ hole above the drink station upstairs. **Warning**
36-32-5
Basic - Clean utensils knifes stored between prep table and reach in cooler on the cook line.
24-14-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall going upstairs by the handrails and stairs. **Warning**
36-24-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses, on the oven doors.
10-20-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured,by the office. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
64
Aug 15, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board ,cook line.
22-02-4
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.
53B-13-5
Intermediate - Unnecessary persons in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing area. Observed a person from the fish company across the street came in the kitchen to pickup food he ordered.
43-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed heat element around the walk in cooler door in disrepair, with ice buildup.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed a bag of potatoes on the stockroom floor and a box onion rings on walk in freezer floor. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured, in bar area.
51-11-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in employee bathroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Interior of ovens has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris, both cook line and back prep area.
22-08-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Bar area.
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood system. Observed fan guard inside walk in cooler has build up.
23-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar container in the stockroom not labeled.
02D-01-5
50
Mar 28, 2024
Routine - Food
4 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
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
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
41
Nov 3, 2023
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days.
01C-02-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on the cook line.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled on the cook line.
41-17-4
Basic - Floor and wall junctures not coved in food area next to salad station.
36-08-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses on the oven doors.
10-20-4
Basic - Interior of oven has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.
22-08-4
64
Jun 22, 2023
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Jan 25, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
74
Sep 21, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Insects, Rodents, and Animals Not Present
FL-38
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
37
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Owl Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Owl Cafe on file is from Feb 19, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Owl Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at The Owl Cafe.
How does The Owl Cafe compare to other restaurants in Apalachicola?
The Owl Cafe most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Apalachicola average of 84.
Has The Owl Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at The Owl Cafe have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at The Owl Cafe 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 The Owl Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Owl Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants