Popular beachfront restaurant ordered shut due to rodent issue

Casablance Cafe in Fort Lauderdale. (WPLG)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – State records show Casablanca Cafe, a popular Fort Lauderdale beachfront restaurant, was ordered shut last week due to a rodent issue.

According to records, droppings were spotted where clean utensils are kept.

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Record also indicate a roach issue was found in the kitchen at Lorelei in Islamorada.

Below is list of places ordered shut and some of their violations.

ALL the places mentioned were allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and re-inspection.

***CASABLANCA CAFE

FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH

3049 ALHAMBRA STREET

FORT LAUDERDALE

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 4/21/21

9 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed 6 rodent droppings on rack over dishwashing area where soiled dishes are placed to be washed. Observed 3 rodent dropping on top of dish machine Observed over 20 rodent droppings on shelves where wine bottles are stored at side bar/ server station located off cook line Observed over 30 rodent droppings on shelves in dry storage where packaged foods or stored. Located in room where ice machine, bulk oil and where clean utensils are store.”

“Food stored on floor. Containers of thawing calamari and packaged beef on floor in kitchen. Items moved to shelf in walk in cooler.”

“Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Walk in cooler: clam chowder (48°F), per cook item was out on cook line then replaced back in walk in cooler. Cook placed chill stick in container. Flip top across from stove top: raw fish (59°F); ravioli (59-60°F) per manager items placed in unit less than 1 hr. Per manager unit was unplugged and plugged back in less than 1 hr. Items moved to walk in to quick chill Expo: smoked salmon (49°F) on expo line in double pan. Item out less than 1.5 hrs. per manager. Remaining salmon placed to quick chill.”

“Soda gun soiled. Exterior of soda gun at server station soiled.”

“Hand wash sink not accessible for employee use due to items stored in the sink. At dishwashing area, metal scrubbers and sanitizer bucket in hand sink. Items were removed and made accessible.”

***LORELEI OF ISLAMORADA

96 MADEIRA ROAD

ISLAMORADA

INSPECTION BASED ON COMPLAINT

ORDERED SHUT 4/23/21

18 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed approximately 7 live roaches near cove base behind refrigeration reach in unit in prep kitchen. Observed 1 live roach on wall above hand wash sink in prep kitchen.”

“Dead roaches on premises. Observed approximately 10 dead roaches behind refrigerated reach in unit in prep kitchen. Observed 1 dead roach next to hand wash sink in prep kitchen.”

“Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed approximately 5 live flies in bar kitchen.”

“Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance on/around frozen drink dispensing nozzles.”

“Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dish machine.”

“In reach in cooler under toaster and heat lamps Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. salsa (47*°F - Cold Holding); potato salad (48*°F - Cold Holding); cooked shrimp (48*°F - Cold Holding); cooked-stone crab claws (46-49°F - Cold Holding) As per manager the units are emptied every night and filled every morning from the walk in cooler in prep area. ( less than 4 hours) all of these items were relocated to walk-in unit for rapid cool down. Butter pats @70°F wait station , ice was added to container holding butter.”

“Hand wash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Large pots of used oil on floor in front of hand wash sink in kitchen.”


About the Author
Jeff Weinsier headshot

Jeff Weinsier joined Local 10 News in September 1994. He is currently an investigative reporter for Local 10. He is also responsible for the very popular Dirty Dining segments.

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