Tom's Tavern Forest Hills
Last inspected: Mar 13, 2026
52
Score
Public records show 10 inspections at Tom's Tavern Forest Hills stretching back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 13, 2026. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near six violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “no chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
That's lower than the typical Tampa restaurant, which scores around 79. Diners may want to weigh the inspection history when deciding to visit.
10
Inspections
2
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 13, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. deli Turkey (44F - Cold Holding) manager placed turkey inside walk in cooler for rapid chill. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice machine has buildup of black-mold like substance.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No quaternary ammonia test kit. **Repeat Violation**
16-37-1
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets inside reach in cooler are torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee cell phone stored on food preparation table. Chef removed and properly stored phone. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave has buildup of old food debris. Chef cleaned microwave. **Corrected On-Site**
22-08-4
52
Aug 18, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. deli turkey (45F - Cold Holding); deli ham (47F - Cold Holding) Items placed inside walk in cooler for rapid chill. Temperature all items are 41 or below. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No quaternary ammonia test kit at time of inspection.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwashing sink on cooks line. Chef placed paper towels at handwashing sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottle containing toxic has no labeling on shelves overtop mop sink in kitchen area.
41-17-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters overtop fryer have buildup of grease,dust.
23-03-4
Basic - No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. First reach in cooler on cooks line by mop sink has no ambient air thermometer.
05-09-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop handle stored in ice. Chef removed ice scoop and properly stored it. **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
55
May 9, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
May 8, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Unable to license at time of inspection. Operator must obtain a public food service license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 60 days. Submit a license application and payment to DBPR/Bureau of Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. To apply online or obtain an application for license visit https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/ **Warning**
50-08-7
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.reach in cooler across from flattop grill ambient air between 49f -54 f raw chicken 49 f raw fish 47 f cook beef 48 f raw chicken 45 f raw beef 49 f raw chicken 49 f. Held less then 4 hours was moved from walk in cooler. Manager moved all foods back to walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 live roach under the wheel of the reach in middle cooler on cooks line. **Warning**
35A-05-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At bar area. **Warning**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing.bar hand washing sink had ash trays in the sink. Manager removed trays **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises.1 dead roach under three compartment sink area. Bartender removed dead roach and sanitized area. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. In men's restroom. **Warning**
31B-04-4
47
Mar 12, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Some cutting boards in kitchen are stained at time of inspection
22-02-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed small unlabeled spray bottle filled with blue liquid stored over mop sink at time of inspection.
41-17-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee McDonalds coffee drink stored on edge of lift top reach in cooler at time of inspection
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee phone stored on prep area in front of microwave at time of inspection.
40-06-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled behind equipment on cooks line at time of inspection.
36-73-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed food stored on floor in walk in freezer at time of inspection.
08B-38-4
58
Feb 21, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
70
Apr 1, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
45
Feb 13, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Manager Melanie Milinkovich. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: Eric Brown 06/25/2023 current food manager on site, Melanie Milinkovich in progress **Time Extended**
53A-01-7
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. For chlorine. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
16-37-1
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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. Operator provided 1 food handler certification. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
53B-13-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cook line. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
22-08-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Containers wet nesting above 3 Compartment Sink. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
24-08-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Bottom of reach in cooler at bar. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
22-16-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards on cook line. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-13: **Time Extended**
22-20-5
55
Oct 24, 2022
Complaint Full
3 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
No Discharge from Eyes, Nose, and Mouth
FL-07
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
55
Aug 15, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer used to sanitize clean in place equipment not at proper minimum strength. Do not use equipment not properly sanitized. Sanitizer bucket measured at 100ppm. Operator refilled bucket to measure at 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-53-4
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 3CS measured at 100ppm. Operator refilled three compartment sink and it measured at 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-43-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. chilli 110F reheated to 166F **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of employee health policy and health requirements.
11-03-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Establishment missing quaternary test kit.
16-37-1
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand wash sign missing in mens restroom. Operator hung sign in restroom.**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
50
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tom's Tavern Forest Hills last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tom's Tavern Forest Hills on file is from Mar 13, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tom's Tavern Forest Hills?
Across the inspection record, “no chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Tom's Tavern Forest Hills.
How does Tom's Tavern Forest Hills compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Tom's Tavern Forest Hills most recently scored 52 out of 100, which is lower than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Tom's Tavern Forest Hills' inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Tom's Tavern Forest Hills have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Tom's Tavern Forest Hills 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 Tom's Tavern Forest Hills inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tom's Tavern Forest Hills is inspected around three times per year on average.
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