EL SOL DE MEXICO BAR AND GRILL
31077 CORTEZ BLVD, Brooksville FL 34602 · 352.777.4011
Last inspected Apr 21, 2026 · 8 visits since December 2023
MAR 24
JUL 24
JAN 25
DEC 25
APR 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections trending down, 20 points off where it started.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on 02/01/2025. Operator contacted the customer contact center to renew license and was waiting to renew over the phone by the end of the inspection.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
8 visits, newest first
Apr 21, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 3 violations recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 3 findings
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on 02/01/2025. Operator contacted the customer contact center to renew license and was waiting to renew over the phone by the end of the inspection.
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb outside at mop sink and in outside back seating area with hoses attached to spigots.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable on lift top of reach-in cooler on cook line.
Dec 5, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority3 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Employee removed bowl with raw chicken in it. That was on top of a pan of onions in reach in cooler on cook line.
Wiping cloth solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed stored in a location that could result in the cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer bucket tested at 500ppm. Employee remade bucket retested at 200ppm.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with food debris.
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Operator is using quaternary tablets for sanitizer buckets and does not have any quaternary test strips.
No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Manager came during inspection.
Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Shelf with unwashed produce on it in the walk in cooler.
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Employee removed beef in cracked pan in walk in cooler.
Food stored on floor. Boxes of lettuce on floor of the walk in cooler.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Employee removed tongs from oven door.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Employee placed towels on prep table in bucket in prep area.
Jan 29, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 28, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 5 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food.raw beef over cook pork reach in cooler on main cooks line
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler on cooks line Cold holding: cook sauce 48 f cook shrimp 48 f cook cheese peppers 47 f raw beef 47 f ambient air temperature 49 f held less than 4 hours employee moved items to walk in cooler
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cook beef in big soup pot not dated.
Food stored on floor. Lemons and produce on floor in boxes in walk in cooler
Stored food not covered. Chicken, salsa,and cook beef not covered.
Oct 3, 2024Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedComplaint Investigation
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 3 violations recorded.
0 High priority2 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. File 32685 5-22-20 reflect a dry storage room were water heater is located and is missing 3 reach in freezers and a ice machine shelves across has dry goods stored on shelving wall chips storage in white bins in entrance of storage room.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cook peppers make yesterday morning and Cooked salsa made yesterday morning in walk in color.
Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Dry storage area by bathroom area.
Jul 18, 2024Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 9 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority3 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw muscles frozen over frozen fruit in white reach in freezer.
Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee touched door from coming inside and did not change gloves and grabbed clean equipment. Discussed with management the importance of hand washing.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked in dry storage area.by chemical bottles
No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. File 32685 5-22-20 reflect a dry storage room were water heater is located and is missing 3 reach in freezers and a ice machine shelves across has dry goods stored on shelving wall chips storage in white bins in entrance of storage room.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cook peppers make yesterday morning and Cooked salsa made yesterday morning in walk in color.
Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Dry storage area by bathroom area.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table employee removed.
Food stored on floor. Liquid butter bottle on floor. Cooks line employee removed from floor. Unwashed vegetables in box on floor in walk in cooler. Mojo fat in white buckets on floor in walk in cooler.
Stored food not covered. Cook salsa,pork, mojo fat, chicken multiple items walk in cooler.
Mar 20, 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 ▾
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Bar Hand sink blocked by ice bucket, flat ware tray. Operator removed
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Light mold like growth on metal guard of ice machine in dry storage room
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Food stored on floor. Multiple items on floor in Walk-in-Cooler
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees in men's room
Reach-in cooler in bar interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
Dec 8, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin behind bar. Operator states it's not currently being used
Cases of produce stored on floor in walk in cooler
Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Acoustic ceiling tile in dish area, kitchen
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. -walk in cooler floor soiled
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees in men's room
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -behind nozzles of soda fountain soiled
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.