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GREAT SOUTHERN CAFE

83 CENTRAL SQUARE, Santa Rosa Beach FL 32459 · 850-231-7327

Last inspected Mar 4, 2026 · 7 visits since October 2023

Licence typeRestaurant
Seats196
Risk levelRisk Level 2
LicenceSEA7601084
Grade history
FEB 24
NOV 24
APR 25
OCT 25
MAR 26
≈ ERRATIC

5 inspections, swinging between A and C. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.

Worst finding on record
Live, small flying insects found. Observed 3 flying insects in kitchen beside make table.
High priority/35A-02-7
Badges — none earned
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined

Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →

Disciplinary actions

1 case · $1,000

CaseViolation dateFinal orderAmount
6--2015025417May 6, 2015Jul 2, 2015$1,000

Inspection history

7 visits, newest first

Mar 4, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 1 finding
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler.
Basic/29-49-6
Oct 28, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection

A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.

0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Oct 27, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection

Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 7 recorded, 3 high priority.

3 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed dish machine with chlorine sanitizer reading 0ppm. Operator set up triple sink with 200ppm quaternary sanitizer reading during inspection.
High priority/22-41-4/Corrective Action Taken/Repeat Violation/Warning
Live, small flying insects found. Observed 3 flying insects in kitchen beside make table.
High priority/35A-02-7
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Make table egg/buttermilk wash 60F for 2 hours, cut melons 60F for 1 hour, pancake batter 57F for 1 hour
High priority/03A-02-5/Warning
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On drying rack.
Basic/24-08-4
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed no hand washing sign at hand washing sink located at walk-in cooler entrance in prep kitchen.
Basic/31B-04-4
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed fan guard in walk-in cooler with accumulation of dust. Observed accumulation of dust on shelf above triple sink.
Basic/23-03-4/Repeat Violation
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Observed container of mahi in walk-in cooler labeled salmon on one side, mahi on opposite side. Operator removed old label during inspection.
Basic/16-46-4/Corrected On-Site
Apr 21, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

1 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Observed dish machine with 0ppm reading. Operator primed machine to 100ppm reading during inspection l
High priority/22-41-4/Corrected On-Site
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils.
Basic/12B-07-4
Nov 22, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

2 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed two five gallon containers of cooked collard greens held over night in walk-in cooler with temp of 50F.
High priority/03D-02-5
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed two five gallon containers of cooked collard greens held over night in walk-in cooler with temp of 50F.
High priority/01B-02-5
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed fan vents in walkin cooler with accumulation of dust.
Basic/23-03-4
Feb 22, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.

0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Oct 30, 2023Inspection 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 ▾
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.
Intermediate/01C-05-4
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.
Intermediate/01C-03-4
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed walk in cooler racks with accumulation of black mold like substance.
Basic/23-03-4
Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust, beside mixer.
Basic/36-27-5
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name, corn muffin mix and rice.
Basic/02D-01-5

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.