ESTHER'S CAFE
3001 E HILLSBOROUGH AVE, Tampa FL 33610 · 813-232-6217
Last inspected Jul 31, 2026 · 7 visits since July 2023
AUG 24
FEB 25
SEP 25
DEC 25
JUL 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
★ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2024046335 | Aug 1, 2024 | Oct 3, 2024 | $400 |
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Jul 31, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 21 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
4 High priority3 Intermediate14 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 21 findingsThe state's own report →
Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed manager wash and rinse without sanitizing. Discussed sanitizing dishes.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Rice marked 5/31/26
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. Rice marked 5/31/26
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Beef 84 F in reach in cooler. Manager voluntarily disposed of it.
Show the remaining 17 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Stained cutting board in front prep area.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Handwashing sink in back kitchen area no paper towels.
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Food handler certificates are written on copies.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. License displayed expired Feb 2026
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board in front prep area.
Duct tape used to repair nonfood-contact surface. Tape on ric gasket in back kitchen area
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on prep table.
Equipment in poor repair. Gasket torn on reach in cooler in front prep area.
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Handle in flour.
Missing drain plug at dumpster. Shared.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Handwashing sink in front by triple sink no sign. handwashing sign provided to operator.
Open dumpster lid. Shared
Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Ric in back kitchen area had rusted shelves.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Chicken thawing in bucket. Manager moved to reach in cooler.
Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Drain pipe not properly connected at mop sink. Manager hooked it back up to plumbing properly.
Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Mop stored in mop bucket.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Stored on prep table.
Dec 8, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw shelled eggs stored overtop raw beef inside double door refrigerator. Employee removed and properly stored eggs.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on reach in cooler has stains.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwashing sink by 3 compartment sink. Owner placed paper towels at handwashing sink.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Refried beans cooked and held longer then 24 hours has no date markings inside double door refrigerator. Employee added proper dates to beans.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No handwashing sign at handwashing sink across from reach in cooler.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink stored inside refrigerator. Employee removed and discarded drink.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Plastic bottles of sauces have no labeling of ingredients inside reach in cooler.
Sep 29, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Copy provided.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand washing sink in main kitchen, employee provided paper towels.
Dead roaches on premises. Observed 1 dead roach in bathroom, employee discarded, cleaned and sanitized the area.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting on pots above 3 compartment sink.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup in reach in chest freezer.
Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed mop stored in mop bucket with water.
Feb 24, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink.
Water shut off at employee handwash sink.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public.
Light not functioning.
Lights in food preparation, food storage or warewashing area missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers.
Aug 2, 2024□ Emergency Order Callback CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink.
Ice buildup in white reach-in freezer
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Large white container not labeled.
Aug 1, 2024■ Emergency order recommendedRoutine Inspection
Ordered shut on the spot. 9 violations recorded. A reinspection is required before this kitchen may reopen.
0 High priority5 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Mop bucket stored in front of Handwashing Sink
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked rice no dates marked in Reach-In-Cooler near handwashing sink.
The establishment is unable to properly sanitize equipment, dishware, and utensils because they do not have a proper functioning 3 Compartment Sink that can be used for ware-washing. There is a missing metal divider at the 3-compartment sink between the wash and rinse sink. Maintenance repair is scheduled for today.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed personal items on top of soda cans.
Ice buildup in white reach-in freezer
Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Large white container not labeled.
Jul 20, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
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.