CHAMPIONS RESTAURANT (DOWNSTAIRS KITCHEN)
1781 SW 60TH AVE, Ocala FL 34474 · 352.237.2154
Last inspected Apr 8, 2026 · 6 visits since September 2023
DEC 23
DEC 24
APR 25
NOV 25
APR 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections, one direction. The current grade is the worst on record.
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Female employee handling bread with bare hands, inspector addressed situation.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
1 case · $400
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5--2017001162 | Jan 5, 2017 | Jan 19, 2017 | $400 |
Inspection history
6 visits, newest first
Apr 8, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 16 violations recorded, 6 high priority.
6 High priority3 Intermediate7 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 16 findingsThe state's own report →
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. In walk-in cooler, chicken wings cooked 04/07/26 pm at 45-47F, stored in plastic cover containers.
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within six hours. See stop sale. In walk-in cooler, chicken wings cooked 04/07/26 pm at 45-47F, stored in plastic cover containers.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk-in cooler raw shell eggs stored above liquid eggs, manager moved.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. In walk-in cooler tomato soup date marked 03/01/26. At the bar area dairy date marked 3/21/26.
Show the remaining 12 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the cook line, sausage 117F, per manager sausage cooked around 8:45 and discarded at the end of breakfast time 10:00 every day. Inspector provided time as a public health control form
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray disinfectant stored next to single service, employee moved.
Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Breakfast menu advertised poached eggs no asterisk and no consumer advisory, during inspection manager print new menus with all information
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Handwash sink at the cook line, manager provided.
Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, dirty rice date marked 3/27/26, manager date marked properly.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep tables and above cleaned utensils, manager moved all.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee jacket next to food, also at the server area, employee purse above single service, employee moved all.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. For two male employees
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Handwash sink next to walk-in cooler entrance.
Thawed portions of ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food rose above 41 degrees Fahrenheit while being thawed under running water. In triple sink, raw fish 72F thawed in standing water, manager placed ice and moved to freezer.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. At the cook line cloth on prep table, manager moved to bucket.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. At the prep area bucket not labeled, manager labeled flour.
Nov 13, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
4 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. In walk-in cooler, beef and vegetable soup made 11/12/25 at 48F.
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Female employee handling bread with bare hands, inspector addressed situation.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. In walk-in cooler, vegetable soup date marked 10/23/25.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, cheese 45F, container place on a double container at 11:30am, Employee moved to freezer.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Handwash sink at the bar area, used to washed cups
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl no handle inside cheese containers, Manager moved.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. COn2 At the storage room
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Expired license display, manager request current one and print.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep tables, manager moved all.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Handwash sink at the walk-in cooler entrance.
Apr 14, 2025Inspection 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 ▾
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Reach-in cooler at the prep area, rice date marked 3/30/25, manage re date 04/11/25.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, turkey and ham date marked 4/6/25. Also sausage dated 4/6/25.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table, Manager moved.
Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system. One filter missing (hood system cross from office).
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk-in freezer floor
Single-service articles improperly stored. At the sever area, to go container not inverted, manager inverted.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. At the prep area, bulk container no name, manager labeled flour.
Dec 4, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Stainless steel cleaner and windex on shelf next to alcohol bottles at bar. Moved all.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Ham sliced two days ago with no date mark in reach in cooler near cooking equipment. Date was added during this inspection.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of microwave soiled with food debris.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Wet towel in sink at front counter.
Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system. Removed filter.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with grease near pass thru window.
Stored food not covered. Cup of sugar on dry storage shelf not covered. Manager discarded. Case of bread not covered in walk in freezer.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed tomatoes on shelf over buckets of pickles in walk in cooler. Moved all.
Dec 15, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
Recorded at 1701 SW 60 AVE, Ocala — this licence has since moved.
0 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of microwave soiled with food debris.
No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Missing for all new employees. Sent DBPR form to manager via email, manager printed, then employees began signing form.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Three tanks in beverage room.
Cloth used as a food-contact surface. Wiping clothes on drain boards under clean dishes. Manager removed.
Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Cleaning brush and sponge on shelf over prep table. All were moved.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Case of unwashed produce stored on shelf over prepared salads.
Sep 12, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
Recorded at 1701 SW 60 AVE, Ocala — this licence has since moved.
1 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Splitter missing device at hose connection side. Added during this inspection.
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.