NUEVA CANTINA

Name: NUEVA CANTINA
Address: 1625 4 ST S, ST. PETERSBURG, FL, 33701, US
Rating: 27.1

1625 4 ST S, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33701

License #6217087

🌮 Mexican/Latin ℹ️

27.1 Grade F / 100

Failing Health Score

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Latest inspection

October 12, 2026 · 14 findings · 0 critical

Routine - Food

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Critical

Highest-priority rows.

Major

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Minor

Usually lower-risk context.

Quick take

NUEVA CANTINA in ST. PETERSBURG currently holds an InspectFL Health Score of 27.1 out of 100 — an F grade — a serious pattern of repeat or critical violations. This restaurant has been inspected 9 times from Florida DBPR, with the most recent inspection on October 12, 2026. Across those visits, inspectors documented 87 total violations — 11 critical, 21 major, 55 minor.

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Record snapshot

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Inspections on file

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The latest inspection on October 12, 2026 shows 14 observation rows: no critical rows, 2 major, and 12 minor.

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Inspector notes

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NUEVA CANTINA has a rough inspection history. Would you risk it?

F record

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*Scores are calculated by InspectFL based on public DBPR inspection data and are not official state ratings.

Inspection timeline

Inspection History

Read the newest inspection first, then scan for patterns. Repeated high-priority findings matter more than one isolated bad day.

Critical Major Minor

Inspector notes are being added across all restaurants. Some inspections may only show violation codes until notes are available.

Disposition: Inspection Completed - No Further Action
[10-12-5] In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Ice scoop stored on top of ice machine. Employee put ice scoop in clean pan.
[14-33-4] Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Shelves of double door reach-in-cooler in back prep area are rusted.
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with food debris.
[24-05-4] Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Black bowls on shelf across from fryers on cook line not inverted. Employee inverted bowls.
[29-49-6] Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in the interior of keg cooler behind bar.
[36-22-4] Floor area(s) covered with standing water. In dish machine area near dish machine.
[40-06-5] Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on cutting board of deli cooler across from fryers. Employee removed phone from cutting board.
[50-09-4] Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License is hanging in the managers office..
[22-20-5] Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. White chute in the interior of ice machine soiled with mold like substance.
[12B-07-4] Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on shelf in dish area next to clean pans. Employee removed cup from shelf.
[08B-39-4] Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Bartender was squeezing limes behind the bar without washing them first. Inspector brought it to the attention of the operator. The operator intervened and stop the production of lime juice.
[21-10-4] Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Cook on front cook line using dry soiled clothes to wipe down counters.
[36-73-4] Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor on dish area under and around dish machine soiled with food debris.
[41-17-4] Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. 1 spray bottle of degreaser not labeled. 1 spray bottle of bleach not label. Both hanging on rack by chemicals in dish area. Operator labeled both bottles.

Disposition: Warning Issued
[31B-02-4] No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Missing at hand sink in bar area.
[22-20-5] Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine interior soiled with black mold like substance.
[16-21-4] Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
[14-09-4] Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Red, brown, blue, green, and yellow cutting boards stored on clean dish rack in dish area heavily grooved.
[24-08-4] Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean containers wet nesting with soapy water on dry rack in dish area.
[51-09-4] Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Observed 124 seats in outside patio area not on previous plan confirmed on OnBase.
[36-22-4] Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Walk way leading to dish area.
[08B-38-4] Food stored on floor. Pot of al pastor on a screwer stored on the floor inside the walk in cooler in kitchen area. Item removed off the floor.
[10-20-4] In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Store on oven handle on cook line.
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets in pull out drawer under flat top grill soiled
[08B-39-4] Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Employee cutting unwashed onions and avocados. Educated employee and item was discarded.
[29-49-6] Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Inside RIC across from fryer on cook line.
[01B-01-4] Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. One 6 LBS 12 oz. dented can of Black Beans.
[22-41-4] Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Ran dish machine multiple times and chlorine sanitizer is testing at 0 PPM. Employee set up three compartment sink to sanitize dish with quaternary sanitizer.
[01B-02-5] Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed employee reuse raw Al Pastor cone that was previously cooked yesterday 7/29 and cooled down in walk in cooler. Temperature recorded was 51 degrees.
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Reach in deli cooler cutting boards stained across from cook line. Soda gun in bar area soiled with black mold like substance.
[31A-09-4] Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Piece of equipment inside hand sink next to three compartment sink. Item was removed.
[31A-04-4] Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Observed hand sink removed in exterior outside bar area. Confirmed from plans dated 2018 on OnBase.
[16-37-1] No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No quaternary chemical test kit.
[53A-05-6] No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Not present with 6 employees preparing or cooking food. CFM came during inspection.
[51-16-7] No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. 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/. Observed ice machine where exterior bar previously was in patio area, hand sink also removed in exterior bar and added walk in cooler outside rear door of back kitchen.
[41-17-4] Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottle of light purple substance stored on counter of bar area. Observed spray bottles labeled as all purpose cleaner.

Disposition: Warning Issued
[16-03-4] Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
[16-21-4] Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
[08B-49-4] Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee food stored above food to be served to the public in upright two door reach in cooler by food preparation area. Manager discarded food.
[08B-38-4] Food stored on floor. Soda boxes stored on floor of outside closet area.
[33-19-4] Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster.
[36-68-5] Hood ventilation system inadequate as evidenced by grease accumulation on walls/ceiling.
[31B-04-4] No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees behind bar area.
[16-46-4] Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning.
[33-16-4] Open dumpster lid.
[24-18-4] Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Clean forks stored with food contact surfaces upright. Manager stored correctly.
[25-05-4] Single-service articles improperly stored. To go cups stored on floor behind bar.
[25-06-4] Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. To go boxes behind bar not inverted for protection.
[01B-01-4] Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 1 dented can of tomato salsa, 6 pounds.
[22-41-4] Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine is sanitizing at 0 ppm chlorine. Manager set up three compartment sink for sanitization at 100 ppm chlorine.
[50-08-7] Establishment operating without a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. 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 http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/ Unable to issue license at this time due to cold holding temperature issues and dish machine not sanitizing properly.
[03A-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler at server station: salsa (50F - Cold Holding); guacamole with cut tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding) Manager moved to reach in freezer. In walk in cooler: cooked chicken (50F - Cold Holding); raw beef (50F - Cold Holding); raw chicken (50F - Cold Holding) Manager moved items to reach in freezer.
[29-34-4] Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. No vacuum breaker on hose bib underneath hand wash sink across from hot holding station.
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener on prep table has built up food debris.
[41-17-4] Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Bottle of degreaser not labeled behind bar area.
[45-05-4] Portable fire extinguisher missing from its designated location. For reporting purposes only. Fire extinguisher on floor near ware washing area.