LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. – If you love fresh fish and a clean place to eat, we’ve found the perfect spot for you.
Local 10 News highlights restaurants that recently achieved zero violations during their unannounced food safety inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The Fish Shack, located at 2460 N Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point, has landed the ultimate catch: zero violations on its latest food safety inspection.
Manager Brandy Jones takes great pride in the accomplishment.
“You know what you got on your last inspection?” Local 10′s Jeff Weinsier asked.
“100 percent,” Jones proudly responded.
To recognize the achievement, Local 10 awarded the restaurant its coveted Clean Plate Award.
“Ohh, thank you! For you and the staff,” Jones said as she accepted the award.
Keeping a kitchen in perfect shape is no small task, but the team at Fish Shack makes it a priority every single day.
“We clean this place every night. We sweep, we mop,” said Jones. “Everyone takes pride in this place.”
Serving South Florida for over 15 years, Fish Shack has built a reputation for its fresh seafood, with a daily selection posted on its menu board.
“We have all our fresh fish on the board, fresh fish that comes in every day,” Jones explained.
Customers certainly appreciate the commitment to quality. Brian Burke, a loyal patron from Jacksonville, had high praise for the restaurant.
“Every time I come down here to go fishing, this is the place to go,” he said.
Behind the scenes, the hardworking kitchen staff ensures that food safety remains a top priority.
“It’s a lot of hard work, I’ll tell you that much,” said Kitchen Manager Dennis. “You have to be disciplined and work hard.”
Justin Stevenson, the district manager, echoed the sentiment.
“We work tirelessly with the staff,” he said. “Just being vigilant daily, doing walk-throughs, keeping stations sanitized.”
Stevenson also highlighted Fish Shack’s commitment to sourcing fresh seafood locally.
“We believe in giving the freshest seafood possible from locally sourced vendors as much as possible. We work closely with the fishing community,” he said.
With a spotless record, Fish Shack proves it’s more than just another fish in the sea.
“I am extremely proud of the team here and the work they do daily,” said Stevenson. “I don’t think we recognize them enough, especially from an owner-operator standpoint.”
While the Hialeah Pollo Tropical was recently ordered shut due to a roach issue, Local 10 News decided to find one that does it right.
A standout is the Pollo Tropical located at 20403 Biscayne Blvd in Aventura’s Promenade Shops.
Despite corporate policy prohibiting cameras inside the restaurant, Local 10 News still made sure to recognize their achievement.
This location has maintained a perfect record, earning zero violations on its latest inspection. Even more impressively, they’ve had no high-priority violations since 2022!
When presented with the Clean Plate Award, an employee humbly accepted it.
“No, no, no… not going to throw it out,” said a manager on duty.
“Everyone needs to know you are doing a good job, and we thank you.” Weinsier told her.
From fresh seafood to fast food, these establishments prove that spotless kitchens and top-tier food safety are always on the menu.
Congratulations to Fish Shack and Pollo Tropical in Aventura for doing it right!