JOE'S FAMILY RESTAURANT
1754 US HWY 41, Inverness FL 34450 · 352-400-9219
Last inspected May 4, 2026 · 6 visits since February 2024
FEB 24
SEP 24
MAR 25
SEP 25
MAY 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and F. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 2/1/2025
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
1 case · $160
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2025049359 | Mar 18, 2025 | Aug 14, 2025 | $160 |
Inspection history
6 visits, newest first
May 4, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 16 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority6 Intermediate7 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 16 findingsThe state's own report →
Date marked combined ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days of preparing/opening the earliest ready-to-eat time/temperature for safety ingredient. See stop sale. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, tuna date marked 4/23/26.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, ham 57F, cheese 51F, raw pork 46F, manager add ice on top and moved to freezer., ham dropped to 42F.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the cook line grilled onions 125-128F, employee moved to grill
Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ For one employee with a manager certifications (E. Jones).
Show the remaining 12 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.can opener blade with food residue, manager moved to dish machine.
Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. In walk-in cooler meatloaf no date marked, manager dated 05/4/26.
Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. For one male employee.
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Two photocopies
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At the host station, spray bottle with blue liquid not labeled.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks above prep table, manager moved.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee personal items above cooler, manager moved off over the cellphone.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. In walk-in cooler, case of lemons above dessert tray, manager moved.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. In front of walk-in cooler, wet whipping cloth on prep table.
Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Sanitizer bucket on cook line on floor, manager moved off the floor.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. At the server area, sugar bin not labeled, manager labeled.
Sep 2, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. Cooked cracked raw eggs without washing hands and touching RTE veggies, manager spoke to him and he washed hands properly and changed gloves. Employee cooked vegetables in omelette.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ice machine deflector plate soiled Can opener blade soiled
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine test kit expired
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards grooved.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink cup at triple sink area. Operator removed cup.
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Kitchen back door gaps along with bottom part of frame
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled underneath dish machine
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris Toaster oven inside soiled and grease buildup
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed pineapple on top coleslaw in walk in cooler Operator removed pineapple to bottom shelf
May 22, 2025Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 1 violations recorded.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Owner Sean Donnelly
Mar 18, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 5 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority4 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 2/1/2025
Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Owner Sean Donnelly
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Cutting boards in cook line area
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Sliced pork in walk in cooler dated 3/6. Operator states pork was thawed on 3/16.
Sep 3, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 13 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
6 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 13 findings ▾
Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Dishwasher touched dirty dishes, then clean dishes, no handwashing. Spoke with manager and dishwasher about importance of handwashing.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 63F butter pats wait staff area 39F, manager moved to freezer 2nd temps 10:21 am.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast cooling (90F) walk in at 8:55 am manger moved to freezer, 2nd temp at 10:20 am. 119F sautéed onions cook line 9:12 am, employee moved to stove, 166F at 10:23 123 sausage cook line,employee moved to stove at 143F at 10:24 am, stuffed peppers 123F at 9:19 am in oven, reheated by manager2nd temp 166F at 10:22 am
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Sanitizer bucket stored on prep table, manager moved.
Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Dishwasher sanitizer too strong, over 200 ppm. Manager fixed and second reading was 50 ppm.
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 over 200 ppm. Manager fixed second test 50 ppm.
Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Owner, Sean Donnelly food manager certificate expired.
Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. No asterisk on consumer advisory on bottom of menu matching asterisk on menu descriptions. Manager placed asterisk next to consumer advisory.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards deeply grooved on cook line.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee personal food in reach in cooler in back kitchen. Manager moved to segregate from customer food.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled under equipment in kitchen.
Inside/outside of dumpster not clean. Outside of dumpster soiled. Spoke with manager.
Open dumpster lid.
Feb 2, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing 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.