EL TAMARINDO CAFE
233 SR 84, Fort Lauderdale FL 33315 · 954-467-5114
Last inspected Mar 17, 2026 · 6 visits since August 2023
FEB 24
OCT 24
FEB 25
SEP 25
MAR 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections trending down, 17 points off where it started.
Live, small flying insects found 4 flies around dishwasher area- outside of kitchen. Employee killed, cleaned and sanitized area. After 20 minutes, not flying insect activity.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
1 case · $200
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2--2025072142 | Sep 3, 2025 | Oct 22, 2025 | $200 |
Inspection history
6 visits, newest first
Mar 17, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 14 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate10 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 14 findingsThe state's own report →
Live, small flying insects found 4 flies around dishwasher area- outside of kitchen. Employee killed, cleaned and sanitized area. After 20 minutes, not flying insect activity.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Preparation- Oven- grilled chicken (112F - Hot Holding), per employee food hot held less than two hours, employee reheated on oven to high temperatures, second temperature (169F).
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Dough mixer head, build up of black like substance.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Bar area, spray bottle containing a cleaning solution, employee labeled.
Show the remaining 10 findings ▾
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic cup inside container of ceviche inside walk in cooler. Manager removed.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Entire kitchen and dishwasher area. AC vents and tiles, build up of grease and dust.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. 3 flip top- cutting board unable to get clean.
Equipment in poor repair. Under shelves of all prep tables with build up of rust.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Soiled floor with loose food debris in cook line and preparation area.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Several broken tiles in cook line,preparation area and dishwasher area.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Cook line- old food spills and residues inside oven.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filter at cook line- right side substantial build up of grease.
Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. Multiple soiled wiping cloths around cook line cutting boards and preparation tables. Employee removed all.
Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 10ppm), employee de new solution, sanitizer chlorine at 50 ppm.
Sep 3, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 6 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed can of mashed potatoes dented on seam on shelf in kitchen. Stop Sale.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. 1). Observed raw pork over cooked noodles in walk in cooler. Manager placed on other shelf for proper storage. 2). Observed raw shell eggs over cooked noodles in low boy #2. Manager rearranged for proper storage.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. LOW BOY #1 // Heavy Cream (47F - Cold Holding); Raw Fish (51F - Cold Holding). Per operator foods not prepped or portioned today; foods out of temperature for approximately 3 hours. Manager placed in freezer for quick chill.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed clam tags were not marked with last date served.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed plastic bowl without handle in container of salsa in walk in cooler. Manager removed.
Cleaned and sanitized equipment or utensils not properly stored. Observed spatulas stored between knife holder and wall at main cook line. Manager removed.
Portable fire extinguisher gauge in red zone. For reporting purposes only. Observed fire extinguisher gauge in red, on wall next to back kitchen entrance.
Feb 11, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 13 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority3 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 13 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed chimichurri (46F - Cold Holding)at cook line. Per operator, food not prepped or portioned today; food out of temperature for approximately 30 mins. Operator put food inside cooler to quick chill.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed meatballs (126F - Hot Holding)at cook line. Per operator, food out of temperature for approximately 35 minutes. Operator reheated meatballs to 171F for hot holding.
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. Observed Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 200ppm) at cook line. Employee remade sanitizer to 50ppm.
Clam tags not marked with last date served.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed spoon stored inside handwashing sink at cook line.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed Piccadillo stored inside walk in cooler without date marking. Per operator, food prepared two days prior to inspection.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed deep grooves on cutting board at cook line flip top cooler.
Food stored on floor. Observed carton of frying oil stored on floor at cook line, next to hand wash sink.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup on floor inside walk in freezer.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Observed ice scoop stored inside ice bin at bar, handle in contact with ice.
In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Observed wiping cloth stored under flip top cooler cutting board at cook line.
Ten (10) foot-candles of light at least 30 inches from floor not provided in walk-in freezer.
Utensils in poor condition. Observed rubber spatula, stored at cook line, in poor condition. Operator discarded.
Oct 3, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over canned/bottled drinks. Observed in walk in cooler - raw beef stored above soda cans. Operator stored correctly.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. chimichurri garlic oil (62F - Cold Holding) as per operator - item held out of temperature for approximately 90 minutes - operator stored in cooler for quick chill
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowl in rice container. Operator removed.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed at bar - 3 drink container stored next to clean glassware. Operator removed and stored properly.
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed employee with bracelet while engaged in food preparation. Employee removed and complied.
Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Observed in front of pizza oven.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed throughout kitchen. Operator stored in sanitation buckets.
Feb 21, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef patty stored over mayo inside salad station flip top cooler. Operator properly stored.
No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed no soap at cook line hand wash sink. Operator provided.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed two spray bottles containing unknown solutions stored at triple sink in kitchen. Operator labeled.
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed cookline cooler doors soiled with food debris.
Aug 15, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 4 hours. Observed diced tomatoes (47°F - Cooling) since 9:00am, at 1:12pm; raw fish (45°F - Cooling) since 9:00am, at 1:12pm; at flip top cooler on cook line. Operator put foods inside walk in cooler to quick chill.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at hand wash sink next to back kitchen exit. Operator provided.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Observed knife stored between flip top cooler and wall at cook line. Operator removed.
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.