FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The popular Southport Raw Bar, located at 1536 SE Cordova Road in Fort Lauderdale, was ordered to shut down today by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The closure followed an inspection prompted by a consumer complaint. Inspectors discovered 22 violations.
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According to records, a roach was found inside a pest trap in the kitchen, and a bug trap was stored next to food ingredients above a handwashing sink.
The inspection also revealed a significant problem with live flying insects. Inspectors observed approximately 35 small flies throughout the kitchen.
They noted 15 flies landing on the ceiling, two on wrapped bread, two on a bread rack shelf, six on a wall behind dry storage, eight on plate boxes above dry storage, and two on the dishwashing machine.
Food safety violations were also found.
Inspectors observed frozen crawfish, conch salad, and lobster bisque being thawed at room temperature, which is not allowed. Chili meant for hot holding was not reheated to the required 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and cooked chicken wings were found stored at an unsafe temperature.
A stop-sale order was issued for raw mahi-mahi that was stored in its original vacuum-sealed packaging, despite clear labeling indicating it must be removed upon thawing. The operator was unable to determine how long the fish had been left in that condition.
The dishwasher was found with zero chlorine sanitizer, rendering it ineffective for cleaning dishes.
A reinspection has not yet been conducted. The Southport Raw Bar must correct the violations before it is allowed to reopen.