EL TAINO RESTAURANT
4347 UNIVERSITY BLVD S, Jacksonville FL 32216 · 904.683.7997
Last inspected Feb 10, 2026 · 8 visits since August 2023
JAN 24
SEP 24
JAN 25
OCT 25
FEB 26
— STEADY
5 inspections within 8 points of each other. Whatever this kitchen does, it does consistently.
No mop sink or curbed cleaning facility provided at establishment. Operator removed mop sink in restaurant because decided he didn't need it and says he dumps waste water outside on concrete at back door. No evidence of waste water on ground when observed. Provided technical assistance and operator will submit plans to have mop sink relocated outside back door
★ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5--2019064440 | Dec 27, 2019 | Feb 3, 2020 | $200 |
| 5--2019064522 | Dec 26, 2019 | Feb 3, 2020 | $400 |
Inspection history
8 visits, newest first
Feb 10, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
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. Operator has 2 employees with no proof of written agreement. Provided blank form
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Reach in cooler in kitchen under handle with encrusted food debris
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vent in kitchen with dust build up
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Employee on cook line preparing food with watch on wrist
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler with torn gasket
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of fryer with grease build up
Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Walls in kitchen with stained with food debris
Oct 2, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Utensils stored in hand wash sink in kitchen. Moved by manager.
Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler with torn gasket
In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In use utensils stored in 78F standing water. Manager discarded water
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler with soiled gasket
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. Power tool stored over reach in cooler next to food o dry storage shelf. Moved by manager.
Jan 17, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink with pan inside in kitchen. Moved by manager.
Equipment in poor repair. Upright reach in cooler with torn gasket
Propane tank (larger than 2.7 lb. water capacity/1 lb. gas capacity) located inside of the building. For reporting purposes only. In back storage area near office
Sep 5, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food stored on floor. Case of plastic water bottles on floor behind bar area. Case of fry oil on floor in back storage area. All items Moved by manager.
Jan 23, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Soap dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense soap. At ware washing hand wash sink
Sep 15, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Sep 1, 2023Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 6 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority2 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Soup and cooked chicken/beef mixture (45-50F - Cooling), stored in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen area with lid and condensation under lid from overnight with no additional preparation today as per manager. Stop sale issued
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Soup and cooked chicken/beef mixture (45-50F - Cooling), stored in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen area with lid and condensation under lid from overnight with no additional preparation today as per manager. Stop sale issued 10 prep containers flan (51-52F - Cold Holding), stored in bottom make table reach in cooler at wait station area from over night as per manager. Unit has torn gasket and no ambient thermometer. Inspector ambient thermometer reading at 49F. Stop sale issued. Advised manager not to store any TCS food in this unit.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Deli meat and raw shell eggs - ambient temperature (49-50F - Cold Holding); cooked plantains (73F - Cold Holding), all items stored in make table reach in cooler in kitchen no stored overnight. Manager was cleaning and said he unplugged unit for approximately 1 hour and just plugged it back in. 10 prep containers flan (51-52F - Cold Holding), stored in bottom make table reach in cooler at wait station area from over night as per manager. Unit has torn gasket and no ambient thermometer. Inspector ambient thermometer reading at 49F. Stop sale issued. Advised manager not to store any TCS food in this unit.
Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Soup and cooked chicken/beef mixture (45-50F - Cooling), stored in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen area with lid and condensation under lid from overnight with no additional preparation today as per manager. Stop sale issued
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/. Operator removed mop sink in restaurant because decided he didn't need it and says he dumps waste water outside on concrete at back door. No evidence of waste water on ground when observed. Provided technical assistance and operator will submit plans to have mop sink relocated outside back door. Also, operator removed some cooking equipments and relocated hand wash sink at wait station area to where mop sink was originally installed
No mop sink or curbed cleaning facility provided at establishment. Operator removed mop sink in restaurant because decided he didn't need it and says he dumps waste water outside on concrete at back door. No evidence of waste water on ground when observed. Provided technical assistance and operator will submit plans to have mop sink relocated outside back door
Aug 28, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 20 violations recorded, 6 high priority.
6 High priority5 Intermediate9 Basic
Show 20 findings ▾
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Soup and cooked chicken/beef mixture (45-50F - Cooling), stored in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen area with lid and condensation under lid from overnight with no additional preparation today as per manager. Stop sale issued
Food/ice received from unapproved source/no invoice provided to verify source. See Stop Sale. Operator has 1 bag of prep Alcapurrias (cooked beef tamales type wraps) in kitchen upright reach in cooler and 4 bags in reach in freezer in back storage area is purchased from lady who makes them at home and not licensed and no invoice of purchase. Stop sale issued
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Prep container of raw shrimp stored over cooked foods in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen. Moved by manager.
Stop Sale issued due to food originating from an unapproved source. Operator has 1 bag of prep Alcapurrias (cooked beef tamales type wraps) in kitchen upright reach in cooler and 4 bags in reach in freezer in back storage area is purchased from lady who makes them at home and not licensed and no invoice of purchase.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Soup and cooked chicken/beef mixture (45-50F - Cooling), stored in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen area with lid and condensation under lid from overnight with no additional preparation today as per manager. Stop sale issued 10 prep containers flan (51-52F - Cold Holding), stored in bottom make table reach in cooler at wait station area from over night as per manager. Unit has torn gasket and no ambient thermometer. Inspector ambient thermometer reading at 49F. Stop sale issued. Advised manager not to store any TCS food in this unit.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Deli meat and raw shell eggs - ambient temperature (49-50F - Cold Holding); cooked plantains (73F - Cold Holding), all items stored in make table reach in cooler in kitchen no stored overnight. Manager was cleaning and said he unplugged unit for approximately 1 hour and just plugged it back in. 10 prep containers flan (51-52F - Cold Holding), stored in bottom make table reach in cooler at wait station area from over night as per manager. Unit has torn gasket and no ambient thermometer. Inspector ambient thermometer reading at 49F. Stop sale issued. Advised manager not to store any TCS food in this unit.
Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Soup and cooked chicken/beef mixture (45-50F - Cooling), stored in double door upright reach in cooler in kitchen area with lid and condensation under lid from overnight with no additional preparation today as per manager. Stop sale issued
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/. Operator removed mop sink in restaurant because decided he didn't need it and says he dumps waste water outside on concrete at back door. No evidence of waste water on ground when observed. Provided technical assistance and operator will submit plans to have mop sink relocated outside back door. Also, operator removed some cooking equipments and relocated hand wash sink at wait station area to where mop sink was originally installed
Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Operator offers and serves under cooked beef if requested but no consumer advisory posted. Provided consumer advisory sign and manager posted.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Multiple cooked foods in reach in cooler with wrong date marked showing past 7 days but validated with manager that they were prepared less then 7 days ago.
Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At hand wash sink in kitchen. Hot water valve turn off. Manager attempted to turn on but not able to during inspection
Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Bottom make table reach in cooler at wait station area from has torn gasket and no ambient thermometer. Inspector ambient thermometer reading at 49F. Advised manager not to store any TCS food in this unit.
Equipment in poor repair. Upright double door reach in cooler with torn gasket in kitchen area
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tile crack and in disrepair in front of oven in kitchen area
Food stored on floor. Case of plastic bottles of water stored on floor behind bar area
Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers. At frappe prep station missing light shield
No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Bottom make table reach in cooler at wait station area
No mop sink or curbed cleaning facility provided at establishment. Operator removed mop sink in restaurant because decided he didn't need it and says he dumps waste water outside on concrete at back door. No evidence of waste water on ground when observed. Provided technical assistance and operator will submit plans to have mop sink relocated outside back door
Open dumpster lid. Shared dumpster in back parking lot area with lid open
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White powdered stored in container under prep table in kitchen. Manager stated it's flour
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.