RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE

Name: RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE
Address: 825 SR 66, ZOLFO SPRINGS, FL, 33890, US
Rating: 27.1

825 SR 66, ZOLFO SPRINGS, FL 33890

License #3500270

🌮 Mexican/Latin ℹ️

27.1 Grade F / 100

Failing Health Score

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Latest inspection

September 22, 2026 · 9 findings · 4 critical

Routine - Food

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Minor

Usually lower-risk context.

Quick take

RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE in ZOLFO SPRINGS 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 September 22, 2026. Across those visits, inspectors documented 63 total violations — 24 critical, 13 major, 26 minor.

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The latest inspection on September 22, 2026 shows 9 observation rows: 4 critical, 1 major, and 4 minor.

Official recordInspection data quality

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Inspection coverage

100%

Inspector notes

Coverage note

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DBPR

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RESTAURANT EL MESQUITE 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.

Official DBPR inspection report ↗

Disposition: Inspection Completed - No Further Action
[14-69-4] Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup up in reach in freezer back of kitchen.
[29-03-4] Water draining onto floor surface. Observed water dripping from bottom of reach in cooler into pan on floor in kitchen.
[12B-07-4] Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drinks at different preparation tables in kitchen.
[31A-11-4] Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed food debris at hand washing sink in the kitchen.
[33-12-4] Dumpster rusted out on bottom.
[41-05-4] Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Observed a can of household raid ant and roach spray in kitchen, owner removed.
[08A-05-6] Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed pan of chorizo sausage above orange juice in reach in cooler in kitchen, owner moved sausage to bottom shelf.
[08A-17-6] Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed raw chicken over raw beef in reach in freezer in back of kitchen.
[41-07-4] Container of medicine improperly stored. Observed bottle of medicine above reach in freezer in back of kitchen, owner moved.

Disposition: Warning Issued
[16-16-4] Equipment and utensils not rinsed between washing and sanitizing. Observed employee washing dishes in three compartment sink without rinsing before sanitizing. Employee set up a rinse bay in three compartment sink and rehashed the dishes.
[03D-01-5] Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. Enchiladas sauce (84F - Cooling) stored at room temperature on a dry storage shelf in the kitchen. Owner stated the enchiladas sauce was cooked at 10:00 am and placed on rack to cool. Owner discarded sauce.
[01B-36-5] Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. Enchiladas sauce (84F - Cooling) stored at room temperature on a dry storage shelf in the kitchen. Owner stated the enchiladas sauce was cooked at 10:00 am and placed on rack to cool. Owner discarded sauce.
[14-31-5] Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed raw beef stored in and in direct contact with black garbage bag in the reach in freezer chest by back exit. Owner removed the beef.
[08A-05-6] Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs stored over container of milk and container of margarine on the right side of reach in cooler in the kitchen. Owner removed the eggs. Observed a pan of raw beef stored over a pan ready to eat broccoli in the reach in cooler on the left side in the kitchen. Owner removed the beef.
[01B-13-4] Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Bag of ice, container of creamer and pitcher of lemonade stored in the ice machine and in direct contact with the ice in the machine used for customer drinks. Owner removed the items and discarded the ice in the machine.
[01B-02-5] Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. All the following items stored in the reach in cooler on the left side of cook line, Sliced tomato (54F - Cold Holding); Sliced American cheese (58F - Cold Holding); Shredded mix cheese (59F - Cold Holding); Sliced fresco cheese (55F - Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (55F - Cold Holding). Manager stated the items stored in reach in cooler over night, manager discarded the items.
[03A-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. All the following items stored in the reach in cooler on the left side of cook line, Sliced tomato (54F - Cold Holding); Sliced American cheese (58F - Cold Holding); Shredded mix cheese (59F - Cold Holding); Sliced fresco cheese (55F - Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (55F - Cold Holding). Manager stated the items stored in reach in cooler over night, manager discarded the items.
[29-34-4] Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker on the hose bibb under the preparation sink located in the kitchen.
[16-37-1] No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no chlorine test strips for sanitizer bucket or 3 compartment sinks.
[31B-03-4] No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at handwashing sink in wait station. Owner placed soap at sink.

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