DON PEPE MEXICAN RESTAURANT
20744 W PENNSYLVANIA AVE, Dunnellon FL 34431 · 352-465-8445
Last inspected Feb 9, 2026 · 7 visits since July 2023
FEB 24
OCT 24
FEB 25
SEP 25
FEB 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between B and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen at cookline. One fly in kitchen in prep area near back door. Two flies in kitchen in warewash area.
★ 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--2016052952 | Nov 15, 2016 | Nov 29, 2016 | $400 |
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Feb 9, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate7 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 9 findingsThe state's own report →
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Backflow prevention device missing at spigot on backside of storage building.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Nozzles at fountain machine in server station soiled with lime-like substance.
Dead roaches on premises. 1. One dead roach inside cabinets below prep below prep sink in server station. 2. Two dead roaches on floor in storage room, near reach-in freezers. Manager swept both areas during this inspection.
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. One employee scooping ice and handling food with bracelet on wrist.
Show the remaining 5 findings ▾
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Several cracked floor tiles throughout kitchen.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee's personal milkshake stored inside reach-in cooler door, directly beside condiments. Manager removed the cup from the shelf during this inspection.
Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Utensils stored food contact surface upward in container on table in storage room.
Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. 1. Floor below cabinet at cookline soiled with food debris. 2. Interior of cabinets below prep sink in server station heavily soiled either dirt and/or debris. 3. Floor along wall in exterior storage room soiled with food debris (dried beans).
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth stored on corner of prep table near cookline. Manager placed the cloth back into the solution during this inspection.
Sep 16, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 9 violations recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority3 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Container of medicine improperly stored. Two bottles containing medicine stored in bowl on shelf in back of kitchen, above containers of spices. Manager removed bowl of medicine from the shelf during this inspection.
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. Dish machine chlorine 0ppm. Dish machine has been in-use previously during this inspection. Manager replenished the chlorine bucket and primed machine, then 100ppm. Inspector instructed manager to sanitize all dishes that were washed previously today, now that the dish machine is functioning properly.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Package of raw beef stored directly on top of pan containing shredded cheese inside walk-in cooler. Manager removed raw beef from top of cheese during this inspection.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Pan containing raw chicken stored on top of pan containing raw beef inside reach-in cooler in front of kitchen. Employee removed the raw chicken from top of beef pan during this inspection.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. 1. Shelf inside reach-in cooler door in front of kitchen soiled with food debris. 2. Nozzles on fountain machine soiled with mold-like substance.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Containers containing red salsa and green salsa missing dates inside reach-in cooler in front of kitchen. Manager stated they were both made on 9/13 and added the proper date marks during this inspection.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Two spray bottles containing degreaser missing labels inside cabinet below handwash sink at cookline. Employee added the proper labels during this inspection.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1. Interior of reach-in freezer containing chicken soiled with frozen food debris. 2. Shelving below cabinet at handwash sink near warewash area soiled with dirt and/or debris.
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. Nonfood-grade power drill stored on shelf above clean dishes on shelf near back door of kitchen. Manager removed drill from the shelf during this inspection.
Feb 3, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pan of raw chicken and pan of raw beef stored on shelf directly over pan of cooked rice inside reach-in cooler in front of kitchen. Manager moved the raw foods to the bottom shelf during this inspection.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Pan containing raw chicken stored directly above pan containing raw beef in shelf inside reach-in cooler near storage closet in front of kitchen. Manager moved the raw chicken to shelf below the raw beef during this inspection.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Ice dumped inside handwash sink in server station.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plate without handle stored down inside pan of rice in reach-in cooler at front of kitchen. Manager removed plate from rice during this inspection.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink cup stored on prep table beside cutting board near back door. Manager removed drink cup from table during this inspection.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Several cracked floor tiles in kitchen and in dishwashing area.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Buildup of frozen meat juice in bottom of reach-in freezer in storage area.
Oct 28, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority3 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. 1. Interior of microwave at cookline soiled with food debris. 2. Nozzles of fountain machine at server station soiled with mold-like substances. Employee began removing and cleaning nozzles during this inspection.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee at cookline dumped and refilled a sanitizer bucket at the handwash sink near cookline.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottles containing degreaser in cabinet below handwash sink at cookline. Manager added proper labels to bottles during this inspection.
Dead roaches on premises. One dead roach on floor below shelving in exterior dry storage room. Manager swept up and discarded the dead roach during this inspection.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drink cup and "happy meal" sitting on top of reach-in freezer in exterior storage area. Manager removed both items from the area during this inspection.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Several cracked floor tiles at cookline.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. 1. Handle of microwave at cookline soiled with grease.
Feb 5, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee entered the kitchen from outdoors, put on gloves, and began work at cookline. Inspector had employee stop and wash hands before handling food.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Pans containing raw chicken and raw beef stored on shelf above ready-to-eat guacamole inside reach-in cooler in kitchen. Manager moved guacamole to another cooler during this inspection.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Nozzles of fountain machine in kitchen soiled with mold-like substance. Employee removed nozzles and began cleaning them during this inspection.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup inside reach-in chicken freezer in exterior storage area.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Area around nozzles of fountain machine in kitchen soiled with mold-like substance. Shelving in cabinets below handwash sink in kitchen soiled with food debris. Interior of reach-in freezer in storage area heavily soiled with frozen chicken debris.
Nov 2, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
Recorded at 809 N MAGNOLIA AVE, Ocala — this licence has since moved.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 17, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen at cookline. One fly in kitchen in prep area near back door. Two flies in kitchen in warewash area.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 06/2023.
Dead roaches on premises. Two dead roaches on floor in warewash area of kitchen below three-compartment sink. Three dead roaches on dry food storage shelves in kitchen near back door. All were cleaned up and discarded during this inspection.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Interior of cabinets below prep sink near warewash area soiled with dirt and/or food debris.
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.