Whales Rib (The)
Last inspected: Jan 29, 2026
90
Score
Whales Rib (The) has been inspected 10 times since 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 29, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around four violations each, up from closer to one violation before.
The pattern that stands out is “accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior”, which has been cited two times.
Among Deerfield Beach restaurants, the typical score is 83; Whales Rib (The) is comfortably above that bar. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 29, 2026
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Lights in dry food storage area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. **Warning**
38-07-4
90
Nov 13, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 12, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 1. Observed approximately 25 live, small flying insects, flying and resting on shelving, buckets, bottles and boxes in dry storage room. 2, Observed approximately 8 live, small, flying insects resting on cleaned utensils and on walls in ware wash area. 3. Observed approximately 10 live, small, flying insects flying and resting on walls near ice ice machine in kitchen. **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-7
High Priority - Time/temperature control for Butter identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Operator time marked 9a to 1p. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink in kitchen. **Warning**
31B-02-4
Basic - Ceiling tiles and vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance in kitchen. **Warning**
36-34-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable at flip top cooler in kitchen. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. 1. Torn door gasket at two door reach in freezer in kitchen. **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water in dry storage room. **Warning**
36-22-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1. Door gaskets on four door reach in cooler in kitchen. 2. Door gaskets at La Rosa two door reach in cooler in kitchen. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed stored at food prep table opposite cookline in kitchen. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
21-12-4
Basic - Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine in ware wash area **Warning**
22-20-5
47
Mar 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
95
Sep 17, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Employee beverage container in ice bin in kitchen. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-14-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of single door reach-in-cooler opposite cook line in kitchen. Operator dried cooler interior. **Corrected On-Site**
29-49-6
90
May 17, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Cooler gaskets
14-11-5
95
Apr 23, 2024
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Holes in ceiling where pipes go into ceiling
36-32-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No Hand wash signs at hand wash sinks. Manager posted signs . **Corrected On-Site**
31B-04-4
90
May 1, 2023
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 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 enter building, put on gloves and start working with food without first washing hands. Discussed with operator. Operator discussed with employee. Employee washed hands **Corrected On-Site**
12A-16-4
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. Fish still partially frozen. Operator opened up packaging **Corrected On-Site**
06-09-1
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Raw shrimp thawing in standing water at triple sink. Operator turned on running water **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Quat sanitizer at cook line sanitizer bucket tested at 50ppm. Operator remade and retested at 200ppm **Corrected On-Site**
21-08-4
74
Mar 31, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Three door infrico cooler by cook line at shrimp, snails, scallops, fish, (45-47F - Cold Holding) chef removed all items Said items in unit approximately three hours Maintenance person on site during inspection **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At front counter maintenance fix hot water **Corrected On-Site**
27-16-4
78
Dec 20, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items at open air cooler overfilled top at crab (51F - Cold Holding); grouper (53F - Cold Holding), chef lowered items to fill line and put the rest in walk-in cooler
03A-02-5
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Whales Rib (The) last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Whales Rib (The) on file is from Jan 29, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Whales Rib (The)?
Across the inspection record, “accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Whales Rib (The).
How does Whales Rib (The) compare to other restaurants in Deerfield Beach?
Whales Rib (The) most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Deerfield Beach average of 83.
Has Whales Rib (The)'s inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Whales Rib (The) have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Whales Rib (The) 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 Whales Rib (The) inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Whales Rib (The) is inspected around three times per year on average.
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