Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Last inspected: Jan 26, 2026
58
Score
Tropical Smoothie Cafe has been inspected seven times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Jan 26, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around six violations, down from roughly eight violations earlier in the record.
The pattern that stands out is “food-contact surface soiled with food debris”, which has been cited three times.
Compared to other St. Johns restaurants (averaging 69), there's room to close the gap. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
4
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 26, 2026
Routine - Food
4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Shift leader on site does not have any proof of training and has been working on site for 2 years. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
53B-02-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station by triple sink.
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Blade of can opener on table across from walk in cooler has a build up of food debris. Inside lid of ice machine in back of kitchen has a build up of mold like substance and orangish substance. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station by triple sink.
31B-02-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. In reach in cooler next triple sink.
29-49-6
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Fan guards of condenser in walk in cooler have a build up of white substance.
36-50-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Box of whole unwashed pineapples stored over containers of cut pineapples in walk in cooler.
08B-17-4
58
Feb 27, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Single-Use/Single-Service Articles Properly Stored and Used
FL-45
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
41
Jan 4, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 28, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. At time of inspection no proof of employee food handler training, per operator most food handlers employed under sixty days. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-11-28: At time of follow up inspection operator has a new leadership team and postponed completion of employee food handler training. Operator has the training material present in the establishment but needs additional time. **Time Extended**
53B-01-5
90
Oct 19, 2023
Complaint Full
4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. In the flip top reach in cooler used for smoothie ingredients, opened containers of coconut cream and yogurt mix with not product date marking from the previous day per operator.
02C-03-5
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. Inspector provided written procedures. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on prep line and small purple cutting board on dry storage shelf have build up of food residue staining. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. At time of inspection no proof of employee food handler training available. Establishment is on open warning with callback due 11-27-2023.
53B-01-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf over the three compartment sink, clean plastic containers stacked while wet. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Container of single service gloves stored on the floor between the dry storage shelf and office area.
25-05-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Accumulation of dust on wall behind the main cook line. **Repeat Violation**
36-27-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Two wet wiping cloths stored on smoothie prep counter. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
55
Sep 28, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Observed employee on personal phone near the front counter begin to handle utensils in containers of smoothie powder mixes with no hand wash after handling cell phone.
12A-16-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle stored on shelf over clean utensils and squeeze bottles. Operator relocated the chemical spray bottle. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
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. No bodily fluid clean up kit or written procedures available. Inspector provided written procedures. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards on the bottom shelf of the prep table have food residue staining build up.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. At time of inspection no proof of employee food handler training, per operator most food handlers employed under sixty days. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen ready to eat chicken thawing at ambient air temperature on the prep table. Operator relocated the chicken to the walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Build up of dust on the wall behind the main cook line.
36-27-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth stored on smoothie prep station by the blender. Operator relocated the wet wiping cloth. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Mop stored with wet mop head in the mop sink. **Repeat Violation**
42-01-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverages stored on dry storage shelf over single service carry out bowls. Operator relocated the employee beverages. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee aprons hanging off storage shelf over smoothie powder mixes and chocolate syrup. Operator relocated the employee aprons. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf over the three compartment sink, clean containers stacked while wet.
24-08-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available. No copy of the most recent inspection available.
51-18-6
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Single service drink cups stacked in dispenser over the container lid with top cups not inverted or covered for protection. Single service catering trays on top shelf of the dry storage area not inverted or covered for protection. Operator inverted the catering trays and covered the single service cups. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
25-06-4
35
Sep 22, 2022
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. At time of inspection one certified food manager certification available expired 03/2022. **Warning**
53A-01-7
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling tile over the convection oven has build up of dust on the tile and wall.
36-34-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. At time of inspection current license available expired from 06/01/2022.
50-09-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. In the walk in cooler and walk in freezer, multiple open containers of employee waters and smoothies. Operator relocated all employee beverages to the proper storage shelves. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. On the back storage shelf in between the walk in freezer and rear exterior door, single service carry out containers stored on top shelf without being inverted/covered. Operator inverted the carry out containers. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. At the smoothie make line, flip top reach in cooler, standing water in the base of the cooler.
29-49-6
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. At the mop sink area, wet mop stored with the mop head in the mop sink, operator hung the wet mop to dry. **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. On the bottom shelf of the prep table opposite the walk in cooler, bulk container of sugar with no product labeling.
02D-01-5
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tropical Smoothie Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tropical Smoothie Cafe on file is from Jan 26, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tropical Smoothie Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
How does Tropical Smoothie Cafe compare to other restaurants in St. Johns?
Tropical Smoothie Cafe most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Johns average of 69.
Has Tropical Smoothie Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Tropical Smoothie Cafe have averaged around six violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Tropical Smoothie 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 Tropical Smoothie Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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