The Swamp Restaurant
Last inspected: Feb 6, 2026
61
Score
Inspectors have visited The Swamp Restaurant 11 times, with records going back to 2022. On Feb 6, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around two violations compared to roughly nine violations earlier on.
Looking across the full record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.
By comparison, the average Gainesville facility scores 75, putting The Swamp Restaurant on the weaker side. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
11
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 6, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
61
Nov 13, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Oct 2, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Establishment added ice machine outside back door of kitchen, the ice machine does not have overhead protection and has sliding doors that are not protected from being opened by anyone. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-02: Operator stated cover is being built off site, delivery with be next week. No plan review submitted until installed. **Time Extended**
51-16-7
90
Aug 1, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
30
Jan 8, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 2, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs over cartons of liquid egg in walk in cooler.
08A-05-6
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Chicken wings marked 12/22, operator stated the wings were made 3 days ago but employee did not change date label, employee relabeled with accurate date mark. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-01-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 15 flies in varies areas of restaurant including the back door, dish area, and downstairs bar. **Warning**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled. Interior ice bin in upstairs dining area. Interior ice machine deflector plate and lid.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At Handwash sink at the beginning of cooks line, operator replaced paper towels. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on reach in cooler at end of cooks line with deep cut marks. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee empty thermos cup on shelf next to canned beans above prep area, operator moved cup. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Back door located in kitchen the sun is shining through the bottom of the door indicating a gap.
35B-01-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cauliflower and biscuits on floor in walk in freezer. Mayonnaise container and buttermilk cartons on floor in walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters above grill. Fan guard in walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Plastic container containing cooked chicken wings with old label stating wings were cooked 12/22 when wings were actually cooked 12/30.
16-46-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
Basic - Single-service articles stored outside or in a room/shed that is not fully enclosed (open to outdoors/screened). Single service cups and unwrapped straws located behind the outside upstairs bar, operator stated the bar is not in use today.
25-11-5
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Beer reach in cooler behind bar and reach in cooler at the beginning of cooks line. **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
Basic - Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Roll of duct tape on shelf next to hot dog buns above prep area, operator moved duct tape away from food. **Corrected On-Site**
42-03-5
32
Jul 8, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
33
Dec 21, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
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
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
29
Sep 25, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. buttermilk (63F - Cold Holding) item in ice container, ice not touching bottom of milk pan, operator added water to ice pan, retemped milk at 43. shrimp (44F - Cold Holding) was discarded. quinoa (46F - Cold Holding) in walk in cooler, operator moved to walk in freezer to rapidly drop temperature. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle of sanitizer next to sugar packets at drink station in kitchen, employee moved bottle. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Manager filled up ice pan for buttermilk at Handwash sink at the end of cooks line. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At sink at beginning of cooks line. Handwash sign at men's bathroom upstairs. Sign also missing behind bar down stairs. Operator replaced all items at sinks. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Records/documents for required employee training do not contain all of the required information. 1 missing name and birthdate and one missing managers certificate number. Operator added all information. **Corrected On-Site**
53B-10-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Bottle in window seal upstairs by server station containing blue liquid no label. Operator discarded liquid. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade. Drink machine upstairs the sprite nozzle is soiled. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Container of strawberry yogurt that chef prepared for servers stored by prep sink, employee discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic containers on clean dish rack. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Cutting board on reach in cooler on cooks line with deep score/cut marks. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Under ice machine. Ceiling air vent soiled by Handwash sink at dish machine area.
36-73-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. 2 tongs on handle of oven on cooks line, operator moved tongs. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Black Togo boxes at upstairs server station, operator flipped. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk flour bin unlabeled, operator labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Employee made a fresh sanitizer bucket and placed on floor on cooks line, manager placed up off of floor. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. 3 personal drinks next to coffee maker and 1 on shelf next to clean coffee cups. **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
29
Apr 25, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 24, 2022
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Swamp Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Swamp Restaurant on file is from Feb 6, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Swamp Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at The Swamp Restaurant.
How does The Swamp Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Gainesville?
The Swamp Restaurant most recently scored 61 out of 100, which is lower than the Gainesville average of 75.
Has The Swamp Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at The Swamp Restaurant have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at The Swamp Restaurant 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 Swamp Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Swamp Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.
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