Health Inspectors Shut Down Nine South Florida Restaurants Over Rodent and Pest Infestations

Health department inspectors conducted a series of enforcement actions across South Florida in mid-August, identifying severe sanitation failures at nine establishments and ordering immediate closures. The violations ranged from dozens of rodent droppings discovered on food preparation surfaces to live and dead roaches found throughout kitchen areas and storage spaces. All facilities were subsequently allowed to reopen following mandatory cleanup and reinspection procedures.

LongHorn Steakhouse in Fort Lauderdale faced 15 violations tied to roach activity, including approximately 15 live roaches found behind a three-compartment sink and additional pests on walls, pipes, and equipment throughout the kitchen. Inspectors also documented temperature abuse violations, with foods including liquid eggs held at 62 degrees Fahrenheit, far exceeding the 41-degree requirement for refrigerated items.

Moonlite Diner, also located in Fort Lauderdale, logged 15 violations and received a stop sale order for multiple food items stored at dangerously high temperatures. Turkey was documented at 53 degrees Fahrenheit, raw shrimp at 44 degrees, and liquid eggs at 62 degrees, with the operator indicating some items had been held in the unit for more than four hours.

Eat and Run Subs in North Miami Beach revealed extensive rodent contamination, with more than 110 rodent droppings identified across multiple locations within the facility. Inspectors discovered over 20 droppings on the floor beneath fryers, an additional 20-plus under a display case, and 25-plus droppings under a three-compartment sink, alongside evidence of live roaches in the kitchen entrance.

El Machetico in Doral accumulated 18 violations, including live roaches observed in handwashing sinks, sanitizer water, and storage cabinets. An employee was documented handling dirty dishes and then preparing coffee without washing hands, constituting a direct cross-contamination risk.

Chill N Kendall Place in Kendall presented a distinct but equally serious problem: inspectors documented more than 80 live flying insects contaminating food directly. Fifteen-plus flies were found inside containers holding chocolate crunch bars, graham crackers, gummy worms, chopped pecans, Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, Kit Kats, and peanut butter cups at the front counter, prompting an immediate stop sale order.

Family Kitchen Restaurant and Catering in Tamarac showed roach infestations with approximately 40 live roaches scattered throughout storage and kitchen areas, coupled with catastrophic temperature violations. Raw turkey wings were held at 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and the establishment lacked any dishwashing facilities whatsoever, with all required employee training expired for the entire staff.

The Licking South Beach in Miami Beach logged 11 violations including roach activity, temperature-abused mac and cheese stored at 50 degrees in a walk-in cooler, and a buttermilk marinade held at 70 degrees. The manager lacked proof of food manager certification, and no documentation of required state-approved employee training was provided.

Seph Restaurant & Bakery in North Miami Beach faced 10 documented violations featuring approximately 50-plus rodent droppings scattered across kitchen floors and shelving where clean utensils were stored. Inspectors identified a potato bearing gnaw marks by the hot water heater and documented heavily soiled floors beneath cooking equipment. During a reinspection conducted one day later, inspectors discovered an additional 14 rodent droppings in the kitchen and behind freezer units.

CM Chicken, also in North Miami Beach, disclosed rodent and roach excrement totaling more than 50 droppings across kitchen surfaces, including 20-plus droppings at the front counter and 15-plus beneath a three-compartment sink. Inspectors further documented two dead roaches on the floor near an oil filter and soiled kitchen storage shelves.

Boardwalk Bar & Grill in Big Pine Key documented 11 violations, with approximately 10 rodent droppings discovered atop a dish machine. Additional deficiencies included a soiled potato cutter blade, mold accumulation in an ice machine, and temperature abuse of refrigerated items in a walk-in cooler.