A Mexican restaurant near the University of Central Florida was forced to temporarily close its doors last week after a health inspector found more than 30 roaches.
Las Patronas Mexican Restaurant, which is located at 10034 University Boulevard in Orlando, shut down on Monday, July 29, due to a failed health inspection conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
During the initial inspection, the restaurant was cited for 11 violations, including the presence of over a dozen live roaches. The health inspector noted that 8 roaches were observed on paper towels near the mop sink, one roach was on a bucket under a sink, one roach was crawling on a wall behind a paper towel dispenser, and another roach was under a garbage can.
In addition, the inspector found a total of 22 dead roaches throughout the restaurant, including a dozen in the freezer and three on the floor behind a cart in the kitchen.
Other violations cited in the report include raw chicken nuggets being stored on top of fries and seafood salad in the freezer, an employee’s open drink being stored in front of a microwave in the kitchen, standing water being found on the floor under the stove, and a covered waste receptacle not being provided in the women’s bathroom.
The restaurant remained closed, and the inspector returned on Tuesday, July 30, for a follow-up inspection. During that visit, no further roach activity was found inside the restaurant.
While six violations were cited in the July 30 report, the inspector noted that inspection standards were met, and Las Patronas Mexican Restaurant was permitted to reopen.