A vegan restaurant in Winter Park temporarily closed last week after roaches and flies were spotted during a health inspection.
Ethos Vegan Kitchen, which is located at 601-B S New York Avenue in Winter Park, was forced to close its doors on Wednesday, March 20, after the restaurant failed a health inspection conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
During that initial inspection, the eatery was cited for 14 health code violations, including three that were considered high priority, according to a report from the department.
The health inspector noted that one live roach was observed on a wall across from the beer cooler and milkshake mixer, four live roaches were under a handwashing sink near the bar entrance, and one live roach was under the oven in the kitchen.
Additionally, six dead roaches were found in the restaurant, and roach droppings were found on a wall and behind the toaster in the pantry station. Nearly two dozen flies were also spotted around the bar area.
Other violations listed in the report include: an employee using a handwashing sink to fill a container with water; an employee’s cellphone being stored in or above a food preparation area; an employee handling drinks and bagging bread while wearing jewelry other than a plain ring; and standing water being observed in the reach-in cooler in front of the sauté station.
The restaurant remained closed, and a second inspection was conducted on Thursday, March 21. During that visit, the health inspector observed one live roach near the bar entrance, one dead roach on a rack near the walk-in cooler, and five flies in the bar area.
Later that same day, the health inspector returned to Ethos Vegan Kitchen. The report stated that all inspection standards were met during that third visit, and the restaurant was permitted to reopen.