CARETTA ON THE GULF
500 MANDALAY AVE, Clearwater Beach FL 33767 · 727.441.2425
Last inspected Jul 30, 2026 · 14 visits since August 2023
JUL 24
FEB 25
AUG 25
OCT 25
JUL 26
▼ IMPROVING
5 inspections, climbing. The current grade is the best on record.
Live, small flying insects found. 4 flies observed in bar area.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
2 cases · $600
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2019044103 | Jul 8, 2019 | Sep 23, 2019 | $400 |
| 3--2019017632 | Mar 5, 2019 | Apr 30, 2019 | $200 |
Inspection history
14 visits, newest first
Jul 30, 2026□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 28, 2026Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 4 recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Fresh mozz 50f, cut melon 51f, sliced tomatoes 52f, fresh mozz 51f, salad area. Ice bath added to containers. Sliced tomatoes 48f, diced ham 49f, goat cheese 48f, feta 49f, salmon 48f, cooks line. Ice added to containers.
No soap provided at handwash sink. Bar sink, east end hand sink.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Stored food not covered. Frozen watermelon and ice cubes in glass freezer not covered.
Dec 16, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedComplaint Investigation
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority1 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Mixer guard. Can opener blade.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Bar floor next to dish washer in bar and under equipment.
Oct 21, 2025Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 9 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority4 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Yogurt display not covered by sneeze guard. Plates not inverted or covered at buffet area.
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Raw snapper. Raw salmon. Impossible bolognese. All three items sealed with no oxygen in ROP package. Items discarded.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter 110f, cooks line.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Approximately 12 tags missing date mark.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Mixer guard. Can opener blade.
Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Raw snapper. Raw salmon. Impossible bolognese. All three items sealed with no oxygen in ROP package. Items discarded.
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Bar floor next to dish washer in bar and under equipment.
No current insurance inspector boiler report or boiler certificate available for boiler. For reporting purposes only. FL139654,098759,136232,136231 all expired 3/8/2025
Aug 13, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
4 High priority3 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Fish not held frozen before, during and after being packaged onsite using a reduced oxygen packaging method. See stop sale. ROP raw grouper cryovac, grouper discarded.
Live, small flying insects found. 4 flies observed in bar area.
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. ROP raw grouper cryovac, grouper discarded.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter 90f, hollandaise 83f, held on line.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda nozzles at bar soiled.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Bar area, under and between equipment.
Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Front area.
Expired boiler report or boiler certificate available for boiler. For reporting purposes only. FL139654,098759,136232,136231 all expire 3/8/2025
Feb 11, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Feb 3, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 7 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 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. Bar washer 0 ppm.
Fish not held frozen before, during and after being packaged onsite using a reduced oxygen packaging method. See stop sale. 15 pounds grouper found to be ROP, no approved plan. Items discarded.
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. 15 pounds grouper found to be ROP, no approved plan. Items discarded.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Behind and next to bar washer. Floor drain in bar soiled.
Food stored on floor. Food boxes on floor in walk in freezer.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Cooks line.
Water draining onto floor surface. Bar dish washer.
Aug 1, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 29, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 7 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Heat strip failed to turn black to indicate the sanitization temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit was achieved on the dish surface and/or high temperature holding thermometer did not reach 160F. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired. Temperature of 128f,.
Self-service buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Temporary buffet table still needs to be protected with a sneezeguard.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Potato casserole 71f, 7 containers sitting out on speed rack. Moved to walk in cooler.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Approximately 11 plus tags no Last used by date.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade. Self service soda machine employee break room- ice chute.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Bar floor next to bar washer soiled with debris.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses.
May 29, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Chute soiled for self service soda.
May 23, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Feb 22, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority4 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter on line 80f,
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda chute in employee break area.
Original container of toxic substance or chemical does not bear the manufacturer's label. Hand soap in dessert area no label.
Aug 25, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Bar- broken glass on floor next to glass holder.
Aug 24, 2023Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 5 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Displayed food not properly protected from contamination. Yogurt parfaits not covered,granola not covered. Both items corrected.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw steak over sliced ham in line cooler.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Walk in cooler-milk 47f, butter 52f, cut melon 46f. Cooks line-Diced ham 69f, diced tomatoes 56f, items put in reach in cooler.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Container clarified butter 80f,
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Bar- broken glass on floor next to glass holder.
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.