CANTINA MEXICAN GRILL AND BAR
10032 CROSS CREEK BLVD, Tampa FL 33647 · 813-406-4856
Last inspected May 5, 2026 · 8 visits since November 2023
APR 24
JAN 25
JUN 25
JAN 26
MAY 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and F. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 02/01/2024. Operator renewed during inspection. Confirmation #236061711.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
8 visits, newest first
May 5, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 4 findings
Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed damaged or missing tiles in server area above service window and in hallway to kitchen entrance.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Two employee beverages stored on dry storage rack next to managers office with containers of spices. Discussed appropriate places to store employee beverages with manager. He moved drinks.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. observed knife stored in between prep tables. Manager cleaned and sanitized knife and placed it on magnetic knife strip.
Plumbing system in disrepair. Soda gun behind bar has a leak in the water line going to the gun. Manager contacted Coke Cola company to come fix line.
Mar 16, 2026Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 3 violations recorded.
0 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Expired 12/2025
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed on multiple tiles and vents throughout kitchen
Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets torn on flip top cooler at cookline
Jan 14, 2026Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 17 recorded.
0 High priority4 Intermediate13 Basic
Show 17 findings ▾
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Open milk gallon in walk in cooler.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink blocked by rolling cart at cookline. Operator moved cart
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed brush and drain pipe stored in bar hand sink. Operator removed.
Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Expired 12/2025
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Operator cleaned
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed on multiple tiles and vents throughout kitchen
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. On warmer prep surface. Operator removed.
Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Pink/purple mug with no lid, no straw on food prep surface. Operator removed.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone on package of tortillas in pan at cookline. Operator removed phone
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Metal 1/6 pans on clean dish shelf. Operator separated to dry
Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets torn on flip top cooler at cookline
Food stored on floor. Fryer oil on floor in prep area. Operator placed on shelf.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Operator placed correctly
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. 3 tongs stored on oven door handles. Operator removed. Operator removed.
Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Spoons in silverware caddy at expo. Operator placed handle up.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Multiple unwashed produce items stored over milk and sour cream in walk in cooler. Operator moved RTE to upper shelf.
Waste line missing at soda gun holster. Operator replaced drain line
Jun 6, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed stained cutting boards being used on the prep table.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed water stained ceiling tiles near the expo area. Observed dust soiled ceiling in the dining area. Observed missing, soiled and water stained ceiling tiles by the entrance of the kitchen. Observed dust stained ceiling tiles above the cook line.
Food stored on floor. Observed several cases of tortillas and drinks being stored on the floor in the walk in cooler. Manager corrected storage.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees near the entrance of the kitchen.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the shelves in the walk in cooler and freezer being soiled with build up food debris.
Walk-in cooler and freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
Mar 18, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 10, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 3 recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority2 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Employee wash hands with gloves on to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee wash hands with gloves on.
Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Yecid Cardenas exam date 9/19/19 expired 9/19/24
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun in bar area. Employee wash, rinsed, and sanitized
Apr 3, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 21 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
6 High priority1 Intermediate14 Basic
Show 21 findings ▾
Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm); Dishwasher (Chlorine 100ppm). Operator primed chemical to comply.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 02/01/2024. Operator renewed during inspection. Confirmation #236061711.
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed raw chicken stored over raw beef, operator fixed it. Moved raw chicken.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked chicken (50F) in walk in cooler. From overnight.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked chicken (50F) in walk in cooler. From overnight.
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Provided form to operator.
Bathroom facility not located on the same floor as the food establishment. Both men and women's doors.
Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors.
Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty container, on clean dish storage rack.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed boards on cutting board rack.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observe food debris behind cook line equipment.
Food stored on floor. Observe box of shrimp on walk in freezer floor and operator removed shrimp from floor to shelf.
Ice buildup in walk-in freezer. On floor of walk-in freezer.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop on soft drink rack. Operator removed and solved the solution.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed on oven door handle. Operator removed from door handle.
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observe debris between line cook line equipment.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed container on floor in dry storage. Operator removed container on floor.
Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed near mop sink and behind dishwasher.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed container of white sauce in walk in cooler.
Nov 8, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken stored behind raw shrimp in reachin cooler on cookline Corrected -observed employee place chicken in front of raw shrimp
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cheese (44F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (45F - Cold Holding) in reach in cooler on cookline Corrective action observed employee move to walkin cooler
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed a push cart blocking hand sink in cookline Corrected observed employee remove
Clean linens stored on floor. Observed stored on floor in dry storage room Corrected -observed employee place on shelf
Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed a container of oil stored on floor on cookline
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed 4- pairs of tongs stored on oven handles
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed missing at hand sink in dish area
Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed Togo cups stored on floor in dry storage room adjacent to mop sink Corrected observed employee place items on a crate
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.