EL POTRO MEXICAN RESTAURANT #18
1553 N 3 ST, Jacksonville Beach FL 32250 · 904.241.6910
Last inspected Aug 24, 2026 · 7 visits since December 2023
SEP 24
FEB 25
AUG 25
FEB 26
AUG 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections, one direction. The current grade is the worst on record.
Insect control device not designed for food preparation area. Observed flying insect Device in ware washing area not designed for restaurant use. Operator discarded device.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Aug 24, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 7 violations recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee engaging in food preparation pick something off floor and proceeded to wipe counters. Manager intervened and spoke to employee. Employee removed gloves and washed hands.
Food placed in soiled container/equipment. Observed cooked chili peppers on sheet pan stored on top of garbage can. Employee removed and stored properly.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed in stand alone cooler Carnitas (46F - Cold Holding). See stop sale Manager stated carnitas was placed in cooler previous day and has not been removed from cooler. Cooler has an ambient temperature of 44F. Manager turned cooler down.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in stand alone cooler Carnitas (46F - Cold Holding). See stop sale Manager stated carnitas was placed in cooler previous day and has not been removed from cooler. Cooler has an ambient temperature of 44F. Manager turned cooler down.
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed interior of ice machine soiled with mold like substance near ice chute of unit.
Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Observed flying insect Device near walk in cooler not designed for restaurant use. Manager discarded device.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed walk in cooler door gasket soiled with mold like substance.
Feb 4, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 8 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority2 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Date marked combined ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days of preparing/opening the earliest ready-to-eat time/temperature for safety ingredient. See stop sale. Observed cooked beef dated 1-20-2026 located in walk in cooler. See stop sale.
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. Observed employee grab ready to eat cut lettuce with bare hands. Employee voluntarily discarded lettuce. Employee washed hands and placed gloves on.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in reach in cooler over filled Cut lettuce (45F-48F - Cold Holding); Mozzarella cheese (45F-48F - Cold Holding). Manager removed some cut lettuce and cheese and placed in reach in cooler.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda gun holders in bar area soiled with mold like substance.
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Observed some employee food training without original certificate.
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employee engaging in food preparation wearing a watch.
Insect control device not designed for food preparation area. Observed flying insect Device in ware washing area not designed for restaurant use. Operator discarded device.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed grill filters soiled with grease.
Aug 20, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed in stand alone cooler Raw chicken (47F - Cold Holding). Cooler has an ambient temperature of 43F. Manager stated has had the door open for prepping. Manager added ice at bottom of cooler.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed interior of ice machine soiled near ice chute of unit.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling tiles in disrepair in kitchen.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink on prep table in. Employee removed and stored properly.
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employee engaging in food preparation wearing a watch.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee engaging in food preparation without hair restraint.
In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Observed wet wiping cloth under cutting board. Manager removed and stored properly.
Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed wiping cloth chemical sanitizer solution at 0ppm. Manager provided chlorine for sanitizer solution. Second test 100ppm.
Feb 24, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw shell eggs stored over raw steak. Manager removed and stored properly.
Employee using bare hand contact with nonready-to-eat food (such as raw animal food or flour) unnecessarily without the use of gloves, deli paper, scoops, tongs or other utensils. Observed employee using bare hand contact on taco chips served to public.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda gun holders in bar area soiled.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed interior of ice machine soiled near ice chute of unit.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling vents on cook line soiled.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on prep table. Manager removed and stored properly.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed walk in cooler door gasket soiled.
Sep 10, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda gun holder in bar area soiled.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Observed ceiling air vents soiled in kitchen area.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed commercially packaged fish no longer frozen not removed or cut from packaging. Manager will cut packages now.
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. Observed employee unenclosed drink on shelf over prep table. Manager removed and stored properly.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee phone stored on shelf over prep table. Employee removed and stored properly.
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed light shining from outside at bottom of exit door.
Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Observed soiled dry wiping cloth used by employee to wipe counter top and handle hot pots and lids also stored over his shoulder. Manager intervened and had employee remove dry cloth and store properly.
May 7, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 5 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. Observed 2 cracked shell eggs stored on top of raw shell eggs in walk in cooler. See stop sale
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda gun holders in bar area soiled.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed bottle of water stored on shelf over prep area. Manager removed and stored properly.
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed light shining from outside at bottom of back door.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed filters over grill area soiled. Observed walk in cooler door gasket soiled.
Dec 11, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Observed in walk-in cooler Queso dated 11-30-2023. See stop sale
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda gun holders in bar area soiled.
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employee wearing watch engaging in food preparation.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee without hair restraint while engaging in food preparation.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Observed In-use knife stored in between equipment. Manager removed and stored properly.
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.