Inspectors found 181 restaurants in Southwest Florida with high-priority violations in recent weeks. This failure rate aligns with the statewide average as part of a larger pattern where 1538 facilities across Florida were hit recently. The list includes two diners, one American restaurant, one American Steakhouse, and one Deli. These numbers reflect a consistent lack of compliance with safety standards throughout Southwest Florida.
Emergency Orders
24 records this window
Restaurants closed by DBPR emergency order in the last 90 days.
Inspectors ordered 24 kitchens shut in Southwest Florida recently. HAAGEN DAZS in Naples, LA CASA DEL TACO MOLCAJETES in Naples and CILANTRO GRILL in Sarasota drew the most severe marks. These emergency orders are the fastest regulatory tools available to remove a public health threat before administrative actions or license cancellations can take effect. The group of shut-down operators includes 1 Buffet, 1 Ice Cream, 1 Mexican, and 1 Tacos. Emergency order volume has remained steady since the last report. The pattern suggests that critical sanitation failures continue to trigger immediate closures across Southwest Florida.
- HAAGEN DAZSNaples1 HP3 INT5 BASPestScore 185last visit 2026-05-20
- LA CASA DEL TACO MOLCAJETESNaples2 HP3 INT5 BASPestScore 285last visit 2026-05-14
- CILANTRO GRILLSarasota3 HP1 INT6 BASPestScore 366last visit 2026-05-12
- KING BUFFETArcadia4 HP3 INT6 BASPestScore 486last visit 2026-05-12
- FAFA INC CHINA BUFFETNorth Port5 HP5 INT11 BASPestScore 611last visit 2026-05-08
+19 more in this section on the live site.
Near Miss
181 records this window
Inspections in the last 30 days that posted high-priority violations but were not shut down.
Inspectors flagged TIKKA INDIAN CUISINE in Venice, PRIME STEAKHOUSE in Venice and APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL AND BAR in Okeechobee for serious sanitation failures. A total of 181 high-priority citations were posted across Southwest Florida in the 30-day window. None of these violations resulted in an emergency-order closure. These establishments are now on a near-miss watch list. They drew inspector attention but remained open to the public. Each is now vulnerable to a follow-up inspection to ensure compliance. The specific citations recorded were HP and INT.
- TIKKA INDIAN CUISINEVenice3 HP1 BASScore 301last visit 2025-12-04
- PRIME STEAKHOUSEVenice4 HP2 INT2 BASPestScore 472last visit 2026-01-22
- APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL AND BAROkeechobee3 HPScore 300last visit 2025-08-29
- MEDITERRANONaples3 HP3 INT3 BASPestScore 383last visit 2025-04-21
- UNIQUE CUISINEVenice3 HP2 INT5 BASPestScore 375last visit 2026-02-06
+176 more in this section on the live site.
Worst Offenders
223 records this window
Active enforcement targets and repeat offenders: restaurants carrying emergency-order history, chronic 11-year systemic violation patterns, or cross-flag enforcement tiers.
The public record leaves one hard question: 223 historical bad actors surface in Southwest Florida on the 11-year pattern view, led by CHINA KITCHEN, FAFA INC CHINA BUFFET. The full repeat-offender record sits below. The numbers are the story.
- CHINA KITCHENSarasotaActive bad actorlast visit 10/31/2025
- FAFA INC CHINA BUFFETNorth PortActive bad actorCurrently Activelast visit 05/08/2026
- RICKEMA FOOD SERVICENaplesActive bad actorlast visit 04/16/2026
- COUNTRY GRILL T&TNaplesActive bad actorlast visit 04/02/2026
- LAKE JACKSON LANDINGSebringActive bad actorCurrently Activelast visit 04/07/2026
+218 more in this section on the live site.
Closures
57 records this window
The closed-door file: confirmed shutdowns, owner-validated closure posts, DBPR status signals, and external places data that say service has stopped.
Florida statute 61C-1.002 sets the cadence; the inspectors honor it: GLADYS M LOPEZ in Punta Gorda, GUISADOS LA CUMBRE in Port Charlotte and OCHOA IVAN in Okeechobee led the board in Southwest Florida. 57 restaurants carry one or more defunct-indicator signals (silent inspector, license inactive, corp dissolved, or third-party verifier confirmation) in the 90-day public window. Across the closure-signal cohort: 5 pizza spots, 5 sandwiches, 3 fast-food spots, and 2 cafes. 47 standalone restaurants and 10 chain locations. Trend line: closure-signals volume is steady against the last public cut. These are signals, not all confirmed permanent closures — Closure Score 4/4 = third-party verified; lower scores = likely / probable / DBPR-flagged-inactive. That is not atmosphere; it is a compliance record.
- GLADYS M LOPEZPunta Gordaclosure score 3
- GUISADOS LA CUMBREPort Charlotteclosure score 3
- OCHOA IVANOkeechobeeclosure score 3
- FRESH CATCH FISH MARKET & GRILLSarasotaclosure score 3
- HAMPTON INN & SUITESCape Coralclosure score 3
+52 more in this section on the live site.
Off the Radar
549 records this window
Merged ghost + distressed licenses: active on paper but no DBPR inspection in 365+ days, or carrying administrative-lapse signals (status 45/46 grace, Sunbiz IFLAL, near-expiry).
Three years of inspection records tell this story: have surfaced as off-radar in Southwest Florida this cycle. This includes 112 DBPR-active licenses that have not seen an inspector in 365+ days, a direct violation of the inspection cadence required by Florida statute 61C-1.002 FAC. Another 257 licenses show formal DBPR distress signals, including Status 45 or 46 designations, IFLAL filings, and annual inspection gaps. There is a significant overlap in these failures, with 112 licenses appearing in both categories. The regulatory gap extends further into permanent exits. An additional 25 licenses were escalated to closures based on stronger confirmation signals.
- VIET YUMFort Myers
- A+ GELATOFort Myers
- PALETERIA Y ANTOJITOS LA MORELIANAPalmetto
- CHOO CHOO'S CATERING INC.Parrish
- ICE CREAM LA OAXAQUENABradenton
+544 more in this section on the live site.
New Owners
34 records this window
DBPR ownership-change records in the last 30 days — "Approve Change Owner Request" actions.
The regulatory question is simple: BAGELS & BREWS CAFE MANATEE in Bradenton, OLD 41 RESTAURANT in Bonita Springs and CASEY KEY FISH HOUSE & TIKI in Osprey put the sharpest marks on Southwest Florida's list. 34 ownership-change filings posted in the 30-day window. Trend line: ownership-change volume is even with the last public cut. These are operator turnovers — a new owner-of-record on an existing license — not closures, cancellations, or revocations. That is not atmosphere; it is a compliance record.
- BAGELS & BREWS CAFE MANATEEBradenton
- OLD 41 RESTAURANTBonita Springs
- CASEY KEY FISH HOUSE & TIKIOsprey
- LA DO LLCSarasota
- BUBBAKOOS BURRITOSEstero
+29 more in this section on the live site.
Chain Activity
112 records this window
Multi-location chain brands flagged via aggregated signals across all locations.
Trajectory tells the truth statistics hide: 112 chain brands surface in Southwest Florida’s rollup, covering 401 locations between them: 147 FSQ-confirmed closures, 19 lapsed licenses. Leading brands: Subway, Dunkin', Quality Brand Group Florida Llc.
- SubwayFlorida93 flagged locations
- Dunkin'Florida51 flagged locations
- Quality Brand Group Florida LlcFlorida23 flagged locations
- Burger KingFlorida33 flagged locations
- Taco BellFlorida39 flagged locations
+107 more in this section on the live site.
Most Improved
4 records this window
Restaurants whose recent-window violation count is at least 50% lower than the prior window, with the most recent inspection clean.
This is the part operators cannot wave away: FOXBORO SPORTS TAVERN in Naples, EGGSPERIENCE EATERY in Bradenton and WOW STEAKHOUSE in Cape Coral drew the loudest scorecard in Southwest Florida. 4 restaurants met the sustained-improvement test: at least four inspections in each 12-month window, recent HP+Critical counts cut by 50% or more, and an active license. FOXBORO SPORTS TAVERN in Naples dropped HP+Critical counts from 7 to 3 across the two 12-month windows (57.1% better).
- FOXBORO SPORTS TAVERNNaples2 INT3 BASScore 23
- EGGSPERIENCE EATERYBradenton2 INT4 BASPestScore 74
- WOW STEAKHOUSECape Coral4 INT2 BASScore 42
- BUFFALO WILD WINGS GOSarasota2 INT1 BASPestScore 71
Openings
50 records this window
New DBPR licenses plus confirmed opening signals: the places that just joined the map and still need their first public-record track record.
The inspection record spans eleven years; the pattern is clear: Southwest Florida ledger: 50 opening signals. 53 DBPR-new license records still awaiting outside confirmation. Current names include SOUL FOOD KITCHEN in Fort Myers, OKEE DOUGHKEE BAKERY LLC in Okeechobee and TACO WORX in Cape Coral. The numbers are the story.
- SOUL FOOD KITCHENFort Myers
- OKEE DOUGHKEE BAKERY LLCOkeechobee
- TACO WORXCape Coral
- FLAMINGO BAY BREWING COBradenton
- DA SPOT 11/77Bradenton
+45 more in this section on the live site.
Clean Plates
266 records this window
Restaurants with multiple inspections in the current quarter and zero high-priority or intermediate violations.
A total of 266 licensees in Southwest Florida maintained a record of zero high-priority or intermediate violations across multiple inspections during the second quarter of 2026. This group includes LOUIE'S BISTRO in Fort Myers, VICTORIA'S HONG KONG CAFE in Fort Myers, and CARIBBEAN GRILL & BAKERY in Fort Myers. These operators are being recognized for consistent compliance rather than a single successful visit. LOUIE'S BISTRO in Fort Myers has extended its streak to 6 consecutive inspections without a high-priority violation over approximately 1.5 years. This level of consistency is the benchmark for food safety and regulatory adherence.
- LOUIE'S BISTROVenice
- VICTORIA'S HONG KONG CAFESarasota1 BASScore 1
- CARIBBEAN GRILL & BAKERYNaples
- MIMOSASEnglewood
- MONTERREY REAL ESTATEFelda
+261 more in this section on the live site.