LA COCINA AT THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS
157 KING ST, Saint Augustine FL 32084 · 904-826-1594
Last inspected May 7, 2026 · 9 visits since November 2023
APR 24
OCT 24
MAY 25
OCT 25
MAY 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw pork. Person in charge rearranged.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
9 visits, newest first
May 7, 2026□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
May 6, 2026Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 10 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw pork. Person in charge rearranged.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Sitting on counter; raw salmon 75F, pork belly 71F; ( - Cold Holding). Person in charge discarded. Cooler on line; octopus 45F, rib meat 45F, salmon 45F; ( - Cold Holding) per person in charge states doors were open and closed a bunch.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sitting on counter; raw salmon 75F, pork belly 71F; ( - Cold Holding). Person in charge discarded. Cooler on line; octopus 45F, rib meat 45F, salmon 45F; ( - Cold Holding) per person in charge states doors were open and closed a bunch.
Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. Not marked with last date sold or kept for 90 days.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice bin has mold at the bar.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Co2 tanks not secured.
Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler on cook line have torn gaskets.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach in freezer has ice buildup.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Missing at bar hand washing sink.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets to both reach in cooler on cook line are soiled.
Oct 1, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on drink reach in coolers by hand washing station torn.
Faucet/handle missing at plumbing fixture. Observed missing faucet in hand washing station near drink cooler. Person in charge is waiting on part.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets in kitchen reach in coolers soiled with black/green mold like substance.
May 9, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 6 violations recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 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 dishwasher at 0ppm chlorine. Person in charge changed chlorine bucket and primed machine. Machine retested at 50ppm chlorine.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed double door reach in cooler: cheddar cheese (48F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (54F - Cold Holding) in cooler with ambient air 48F. Person in charge voluntarily threw out.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed interior deflector plate of ice machine at bar soiled with black/green mold like substance.
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. Observed double door reach in cooler with ambient air temperature of 48F and torn gaskets. Person in charge called in service.
Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets on multiple reach in coolers torn.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on flip-top cooler and reach in cooler soiled with black/green mold like substance.
Feb 25, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 7, 2025Call Back - Extension given, pendingRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems were not fixed yet and the kitchen was given more time.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
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 http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Observed complete kitchen remodel with moved ware washing, hand washing stations, and food prep areas.
Oct 22, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 8 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority4 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 8 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 dishwasher at 0ppm chlorine. Detergent and sanitizer lines were reversed. Person in charge corrected dish machine lines, drained and rinsed out machine and ran cycles until sanitizer was at 100ppm.
Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Observed dishes in dish machine not being sanitized. Dish machine at 0ppm chlorine. Person in charge fixed dish machine and sanitized food contact surfaces.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed shrimp (54F - Cold Holding); salmon (56F - Cold Holding) left on prep table from thawing. Person in charge placed in reach in cooler.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed hand washing stations on cook line and prep area missing paper towels.
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 http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Observed complete kitchen remodel with moved ware washing, hand washing stations, and food prep areas.
Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Observed short ribs in a reduced oxygen vacuum sealed bag. Discussed with person in charge all available options and provided Special Processes hand out card.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed lamb made two days prior to inspection per person in charge not date marked. Person in charge added date mark.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed sausage, short rib, salmon thawing on prep table. Observed shrimp thawing on prep table in water. Person in charge placed product in reach in cooler.
Apr 18, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Faucet/handle in disrepair at plumbing fixture. Observed hot water handle free spinning on the hand washing station sink by dish machine. Person in charge tightened up handle.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed gaskets on deep freezer and flip-top cooler and large door reach in cooler soiled with food debris and black/green mold like substance.
Waste line missing at soda gun holster. Observed soda gun holster at outdoor bar next to ice machine missing waste line.
Nov 3, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Observed pesticide emitting strip hanging above dish machine in kitchen. Discussed with person in charge and they removed strip.
Food stored on floor. Observed cooking oil in plastic tub stored on floor. Person in charge placed on shelf.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed hand washing station near triple sink missing sign. Provided sign to person in charge.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed multiple gaskets on kitchen reach in coolers and down stairs walk-in coolers soiled with both food debris and black/green mold like substance.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Observed multiple employee beverages in reach in cooler above food.
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.