What do restaurant inspectors look for?
Each inspection report is a “snapshot” of the conditions prevailing in the restaurant at the time of the inspection.
Ginny Beagan, Wochit
You can search the database by county or restaurant name.
Restaurant owners in Florida are not required to post restaurant inspection results for guests to see, which is why we provide this information to you each week.
For a complete list of local restaurant inspections, including violations that do not require warnings or administrative action, visit our Okaloosa County Restaurant Inspections page.
Here is the breakdown of recent health inspections in Okaloosa County, Florida for the week of August 12-18, 2024. Please note that some more recent follow-up inspections may not be included here.
Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a snapshot of the conditions that existed at the time of the inspection. On any given day, a facility may have fewer or more violations than were found during the last inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the general, long-term conditions at the facility.
For detailed information about restaurant inspections, please visit our Okaloosa County Restaurant Inspection website.
Which restaurants in Okaloosa County received top marks in their health inspections?
These restaurants met all standards during inspections from August 12 to 18 and no violations were found.
- Aj’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, 116 E. Hwy 98, Destin**
- Buffalo Wings and Rings, 402 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach
- Chick-Fil-A Beal Parkway Fsu, 743 NW Beal Pkwy, Fort Walton Bch
- Ice Cream Shop, 34896 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin**
- Johnny O’Quigley’s Ale House & Marina, 172 Harbor Blvd., Destin
- Lou’s Tavern LLC, 605 James Lee Rd, Fort Walton Beach
- O Sha Thai Bar and Restaurant, 326 Eglin Pkwy NE, Fort Walton Bch
- Pad Thai Kitchen, 119B Racetrack Rd, Fort Walton Beach
- Papa John’s Pizza #860, 410 John Sims Pkwy #1, Niceville
- Papa’s Smokehouse, 205 John Sims Parkway W, Niceville
- Rockin Tacos, 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy, Unit 203, Fort Walton Beach
- Sugar Mill Sweets, 913 E Beal Pkwy NW, Fort Walton Bch
- Waffle House #91, 263 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach
- Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, 1022 John Sims Pkwy, Niceville**
** Restaurants that failed an inspection and passed a follow-up inspection with flying colors in the same week
Which restaurants in Okaloosa County have high priority violations?
1130 John Sims Parkway, Niceville
Routine inspection on August 12
Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further inspection but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
4 violations in total, including 1 high priority violation
- High Priority – Vacuum breaker missing from faucet or fitting/manifold added to faucet. Wash basin **Repeat violation**
925 N. Beal Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach
Routine inspection on August 16
Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further inspection but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
1 total violation, of which 1 violation with high priority
- High Priority – Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license: License expired on June 1, 2024. **Administrative Complaint**
1022 John Sims Pkwy, Niceville
Routine inspection on August 13
Follow-up inspection required: Violations require further inspection but do not pose an immediate threat to the public.
A total of 7 violations, 2 of which are high priority
- High Priority – Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food prep area, food storage area and/or bar area. Approximately 4-5 small flying insects observed near the sink and rear storage area. **Warning**
- High Priority – Time/Temperature control for safe food held cold above 41 degrees F. Second row upright in cooler, sliced cheese, 52/53/53F. Less than 4 hours according to manager. Cheese moved to second cooler. **Corrective action taken** **Repeat violation**
Which agency inspects restaurants in Florida?
Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is carried out by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department of Health is responsible for the investigation and control of foodborne disease outbreaks in all food establishments.
How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?
If you see violations of state standards, report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors. Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online.
You can read the full story in our restaurant inspection database.
What does all the terminology mean in restaurant inspections in Florida?
Basic violations are considered in terms of best practices.
A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a certain number of days after receiving the inspection report.
A Administrative complaint is a form of legal action initiated by the department. Inadequate compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeated violations, or the presence of serious circumstances requiring immediate action may result in the department initiating an administrative complaint against the facility. The department’s website states, “Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still be assessed for violations corrected after the warning period has passed.”
A Emergency Ordinance – when a restaurant is closed by the inspector – is based on an imminent threat to the public. In this case, the Director of the Department of Hotels and Restaurants has determined that the establishment must cease operations and any license from the department will be suspended in order to protect the health, safety or welfare of the public.
Following an emergency closure or license revocation, a 24-hour recall inspection will be conducted.
