BELLA'S ITALIAN CAFE
1413 S HOWARD ST, Tampa FL 33606 · (813)254-3355
Last inspected Feb 5, 2026 · 6 visits since August 2023
FEB 24
JUL 24
JAN 25
OCT 25
FEB 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections, one direction. The current grade is the worst on record.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 dead fly inside bottle of Triple Sec.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
6 visits, newest first
Feb 5, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 12 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
4 High priority2 Intermediate6 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 12 findingsThe state's own report →
Food stored in ice used for drinks. See stop sale. Bottle of champagne stored inside ice bin at bar area. Ice in ice bin is for drinking. Bartender discarded 7 lbs of ice at time of inspection.
Pesticide-emitting strip present in bar area. 2 strips present, manager discarded strips at time of inspection.
Quaternary ammonium sanitizer used to sanitize clean in place equipment not at proper minimum strength. Do not use equipment not properly sanitized. Quaternary ammonia tested at 0ppm. Manager readjusted Quaternary ammonia sanitizer to 150ppm at time of inspection.
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Bottle of champagne stored inside ice bin at bar area. Ice in ice bin is for drinking. Bartender discarded 7 lbs of ice at time of inspection.
Show the remaining 8 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Multiple cutting boards in establishment soiled. Interior nozzle of both soda guns at bar area are soiled.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled chemical spray bottle located at bar area next to dump sink. Manager added label at time of inspection.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Multiple cutting boards in establishment with cut marks.
Food stored on floor. 1 jug of oil stored and 2 cases of cacciatore sauce stored on floor inside dry storage room. Manager relocated all items off floor at time of inspection.
Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in kitchen wall behind dish machine. Cause of hole due to plumber conducting repairs on a broken pipe behind well.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Located on drying rack next to dish machine.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed a small sheet pan of frozen raw salmon thawing in room temperature inside kitchen area adjacent to dish machine. Manager placed raw salmon inside walk in cooler at time of inspection.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Multiple squeeze bottles with oil not labeled on front line.
Oct 22, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Small white cutting board on reaching cooler-in cooler on cooks line is stained and no longer cleanable
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottles at a bar area and server station
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has mold-like substance
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor in walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer heavily soiled
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on oven door handle at far end of line by pizza oven
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels on clean containers on storage shelf in dish machine area
Single-service articles improperly stored. Multiple boxes of Togo containers stored less than 6 inches off floor in dry storage area
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frozen chicken breast thawing in standing water. Operator turned water on to thaw chicken breast
Jan 31, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Egg yolks stored overtop ready to cakes inside walk in cooler. Chef removed and properly stored eggs.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup inside walk in freezer.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife stored in between reach in coolers on cooks line. Chef removed tongs and placed at dishwasher.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on fryer basket handle. Chef removed tongs and placed at dishwasher.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels stuck on clean dishes on shelves overtop dishwasher.
Jul 24, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Plastic lids on shelves in dry storage have cracks.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on equipment handles on cooks line. Chef removed tongs and placed at dishwasher.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels stuck on clean dishes by dishwasher.
Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Romain lettuce not washed before preparation. Employee washed Romain lettuce.
Feb 13, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 dead fly inside bottle of Triple Sec.
Stop Sale issued due to adulteration of food product. Half bottle of triple sec has dead fly inside it.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vents overtop dishwasher has buildup of dust.
Food stored on floor. Bread stored on floor near pizza ovens.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Spatula stored between pans inside reach in cooler on cooks line.
Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Pipe leaking from ceiling overtop dishwasher. Plumber on site fixing problem at time of inspection.
Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Sanitizer solution stored on floor in back kitchen area. Managed removed and properly stored sanitizer.
Aug 24, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has buildup of black-mold like substance.
Food stored on floor. Bag of flour stored on floor underneath food preparation table in back kitchen area. Manager removed flour and properly stored it.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knife stored between reach in coolers on cooks line. Chef removed and placed knife's at dishwasher.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink stored inside reach in cooler on cooks line. Manager discarded drink.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom of reach in cooler in pizza station.
Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop sitting inside mop bucket. Chef removed mop and properly stored it.
This record follows the licence, not the owner. Restaurants change hands and the licence history normally does not, so an older entry may describe people who no longer run the place. Every inspection above links to the state's own report. Something wrong? Tell us.