Southwest Florida is hovering near the state average for culinary mishaps. In recent weeks, the region racked up 167 high-priority hits from inspectors. The list of offenders includes a mix of 1 American, 1 Bar, 1 Brunch, and 1 Fast Food establishment. It is a diverse ecosystem of violations, much like any other part of the state.
Emergency Orders
24 records this window
Restaurants closed by DBPR emergency order in the last 90 days.
HAAGEN DAZS in Naples, LA CASA DEL TACO MOLCAJETES in Naples and CILANTRO GRILL in Sarasota left the most visible scars on Southwest Florida's recent inspection records. These are the kind of immediate, unpleasant surprises that don't wait for paperwork or slow-moving bureaucracy to catch up with them. Inspectors ordered 24 kitchens shut via emergency orders during the 90-day window, a move that effectively pulls the plug on operations faster than a license cancellation or corporate dissolution can move through the system. The Red Alert cohort was a diverse collection of culinary mishaps: 1 Buffet, 1 Ice Cream, 1 Mexican, and 1 Tacos.
- 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
167 records this window
Inspections in the last 30 days that posted high-priority violations but were not shut down.
LITTLE GUYS PIZZA & SUBS in Port Charlotte, POKEHUB in Venice and MISAKI SUSHI in Port Charlotte led the pack of high-priority citations across Southwest Florida. In a 30-day window, these kitchens drew 167 citations that functioned as narrow escapes from total disaster. None of these establishments were hit with an emergency order to shut down, but they remain on the near-miss watch list. These restaurants managed to stay open despite drawing inspector attention for HP and BAS violations, leaving them squarely in the crosshairs for a follow-up inspection.
- LITTLE GUYS PIZZA & SUBSPort Charlotte4 HP2 INT9 BASPestScore 479last visit 2026-05-01
- POKEHUBVenice6 HP3 INT16 BASPestScore 696last visit 2026-02-20
- MISAKI SUSHIPort Charlotte5 HP2 INT6 BASPestScore 576last visit 2026-02-17
- JOYS KOUZINEVenice4 HP4 BASPestScore 454last visit 2025-11-20
- BOB EVANS RESTAURANT 467Venice3 HP4 INT9 BASPestScore 399last visit 2025-09-23
+162 more in this section on the live site.
Worst Offenders
210 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.
An eleven-year pattern of dietary hazards has surfaced in Southwest Florida, revealing a collection of historical bad actors that have made a habit of ignoring the rules. Leading this parade of repeat offenders are CHINA KITCHEN and FAFA INC CHINA BUFFET. The full list of these chronic recidivists follows.
- CHINA KITCHENSarasotaActive bad actorlast visit 10/31/2025
- FAFA INC CHINA BUFFETNorth PortActive bad actorCurrently Activelast visit 05/08/2026
- LAKE JACKSON LANDINGSebringActive bad actorCurrently Activelast visit 04/07/2026
- CILANTRO GRILLSarasotaActive bad actorlast visit 05/12/2026
- LA CASA DEL TACO MOLCAJETESNaplesActive bad actorCurrently Activelast visit 05/14/2026
+205 more in this section on the live site.
Closures
27 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.
CHASIN CHICKEN in Venice, PEPSI CART - SUMMERTIME CONCESSIONS in Fort Myers and ANNIE P'S FOOD TRUCK in Port Charlotte drew the loudest scorecard in Southwest Florida. Like a sudden tropical storm surge hitting a low-lying diner, 27 restaurants have flashed closure signals in the recent 90-day window. These indicators—ranging from silent inspectors to dissolved corporations—suggest establishments may be heading for the exit. The cohort of likely defunct spots includes 2 ice-cream shops, 2 sandwich spots, 2 taco stands, and 1 Burritos location. This group consists of 22 standalone restaurants and 5 chain locations. It is important to note these are signals rather than confirmed permanent closures; only a third-party verified score of 4/4 confirms a business has truly gone dark.
- CHASIN CHICKENVeniceclosure score 3
- PEPSI CART - SUMMERTIME CONCESSIONSFort Myersclosure score 3
- ANNIE P'S FOOD TRUCKPort Charlotteclosure score 3
- CAFFE' DA MICHELEEsteroclosure score 3
- ESTERO FLATSBonita Springsclosure score 3
+22 more in this section on the live site.
Distressed
73 records this window
Active status-20 licenses with a 365+ day coalesced DBPR inspection gap and proof-of-life from Google or Sunbiz.
In Southwest Florida, a peculiar kind of culinary ghost story is unfolding. There are 73 active DBPR-licensed restaurants that appear to be breathing, according to Google or Sunbiz, yet they have slipped into a regulatory slumber. These establishments occupy a public-health blind spot where the lights stay on but state inspections haven't been seen in over 365 days. It is a quiet stretch of silence in the inspection files that leaves diners wondering if what they are eating was last vetted before the current season even began.
- MOMS CRACKER BOXFort Myers
- BEACH BISTROHolmes Beach
- CHINA BUFFETFort Myers
- BIRD KEY YACHT CLUBSarasota
- MANASOTA BCH CLUB DINING ROOMEnglewood
+68 more in this section on the live site.
New Owners
35 records this window
DBPR ownership-change records in the last 30 days — "Approve Change Owner Request" actions.
BAGELS & BREWS CAFE MANATEE in Bradenton, OLD 41 RESTAURANT in Bonita Springs and ASTON GARDENS AT PELICAN MARSH in Naples drew the most attention in recent weeks. These names stood out on Southwest Florida's list of notable shifts, though they aren't exactly falling victim to a regulatory hurricane just yet. There were 35 ownership-change filings posted in the 30-day window. These are simple operator turnovers where a new owner-of-record takes over an existing license, rather than the dramatic closures or revocations that usually make the headlines.
- BAGELS & BREWS CAFE MANATEEBradenton
- OLD 41 RESTAURANTBonita Springs
- ASTON GARDENS AT PELICAN MARSHNaples
- ISLAS MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANTNaples
- LOTUS THAI BISTROFort Myers
+30 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.
A sudden migration of 112 chain brands has surfaced in the Southwest Florida rollup, accounting for a total of 401 locations. The landscape is shifting underfoot, leaving behind 147 FSQ-confirmed closures and 18 lapsed licenses. Leading the pack are Subway, Dunkin', and 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
2 records this window
Restaurants whose recent-window violation count is at least 50% lower than the prior window, with the most recent inspection clean.
EGGSPERIENCE EATERY in Bradenton and WOW STEAKHOUSE in Cape Coral managed to navigate the culinary swamp better than most. These two restaurants passed the sustained-improvement test, a metric that requires at least four inspections in each 12-month window and an active license. In a display of progress that was more impressive than a calm afternoon in the Everglades, EGGSPERIENCE EATERY in Bradenton managed to cut its high-priority and critical violations by half. The establishment dropped its count from 4 down to 2 across two 12-month windows, representing a 50.0% improvement.
- EGGSPERIENCE EATERYBradenton2 INT4 BASPestScore 74
- WOW STEAKHOUSECape Coral4 INT2 BASScore 42
Openings
59 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.
Only in Florida does this read like routine paperwork: surge of new arrivals, with 59 opening signals recently recorded. The state has issued 63 DBPR-new license records that are currently waiting for the real world to confirm they actually exist. The fresh list includes MRT LAWN AND GARDEN CENTER in Venice, CASA COTZELLI in Naples and HECTOR TACOS in Bradenton. It remains to be seen if these newcomers will thrive or simply vanish into the humid Florida landscape.
- MRT LAWN AND GARDEN CENTERVenice
- CASA COTZELLINaples
- HECTOR TACOSBradenton
- LETI CUBAN SANDWICHESSarasota
- EL COMEDOR DEL CHAPIN EN USABradenton
+54 more in this section on the live site.
Clean Plates
332 records this window
Restaurants with multiple inspections in the current quarter and zero high-priority or intermediate violations.
In an era where some kitchens seem to operate with the sanitary precision of a swamp after a hurricane, 332 Southwest Florida licensees managed to navigate the second quarter of 2026 without tripping over a single high-priority violation. Among those maintaining a steady course were NEW ENGLAND MOORINGS SEA REST, PINCHERS CRAB SHACK, and POLLOS KIKY. These aren't just lucky one-off winners; these are operators who have mastered the art of staying on the right side of the law through multiple inspections. NEW ENGLAND MOORINGS SEA REST has managed a particularly impressive streak, stretching its high-priority-free run to 20 inspections covering roughly 5 years.
- NEW ENGLAND MOORINGS SEA RESTCape Coral
- PINCHERS CRAB SHACKNaples
- POLLOS KIKYNaples
- FIRST RESPONSE CATERINGBradenton Beach
- TWO NICHOLS COPort Charlotte
+327 more in this section on the live site.