LEMON TREE
3125 OCEAN DRIVE, Vero Beach FL 32963 · 772-231-0858
Last inspected Apr 29, 2026 · 9 visits since July 2023
JUL 24
DEC 24
JUN 25
NOV 25
APR 26
— STEADY
5 inspections within 20 points of each other. Whatever this kitchen does, it does consistently.
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Cook cracked eggs and then place raw tomatoes on plate. Tomatoes replaced by a different cook
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
2 cases · $680
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4--2023017850 | Jan 4, 2023 | Apr 19, 2023 | $520 |
| 4--2019053049 | Aug 27, 2019 | Nov 7, 2019 | $160 |
Inspection history
9 visits, newest first
Apr 29, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cut melon
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut melon observed at 47f. In cooler overnight. Manager discarded
Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Cold smoked salmon and poached eggs on menus. Managers added asterisk to menu items.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Next to dish machine
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Food stored on floor. Bag and box sodas and potatoes in dry storage
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Cut lettuce with unwashed avocados in cook line. Manager moved Unwashed berries over ready to eat items in walk in cooler. Manager moved
Dec 3, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Grease build up under fryers on cooks line
Nov 19, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 9 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority1 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 9 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. Sanitizer line is cracked and leaking onto floor. Manager tried to tape line. Ran and primed. Reading 0 ppm
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shelled eggs over canned crabmeat in walk in
No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. 2 new servers. Manager had forms signed
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In sugar bin
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee coffee. Manager moved
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Grease build up under fryers on cooks line
Ice bucket not stored inverted or in a protected manner.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Box of mushrooms over sliced cheese in walk in
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
Jun 18, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food stored on floor. Ketchup and water bottles on floor in dry storage
Jun 17, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 9 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Mahi in ROP
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Corned beef hash 49 Ham 51 Cheese 49 cold holding. In service for 2 hours. Advised to rapid chill
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Diced tomatoes for omelette in steam well being hot held at 117f. Advised to reheat
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. Manager is unable to locate binder with certificates
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Mahi in walk in cooler thawed
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean containers on drying rack
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Build up of grease on floor under fryers
Food stored on floor. Ketchup and water bottles on floor in dry storage
Ice bucket not stored inverted or in a protected manner.
Dec 9, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 11 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 11 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. In reach in freezer, Waffles removed from original plastic packaging and placed back into box for storage. Educated manager
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw bacon sitting on top of cheese and deli meat in walk in cooler.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled in old residue
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. In dry storage room- sink used to store containers. Manager removed
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Soufflé cup in oats
Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice bucket not inverted on top of ice machine
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone on back prep table
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook on line with no hair restraint
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -Hood filters soiled in grease -gasket in grill cooler is soiled
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Cook line grill cooler has built up food residue
Jul 2, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw pooled eggs stored over ready to eat corn bread
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Fan blocking sink at servers station
No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. One new employee, hostess. Printed and had employee sign form during inspection
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone on prep table
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters
Jan 23, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Shell eggs over unwashed cantaloupe
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Several milks. Creamer Walk in cooler and glass reach in cooler
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Dry storage mats in front of sink
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. In front dining area
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Both cooks
Hood filters/grease extractors not designed to be easily removable for cleaning. Gap in hood filters
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets make table Gaskets chest freezer
Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk in cooler
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar
Jul 6, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority3 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Cook cracked eggs and then place raw tomatoes on plate. Tomatoes replaced by a different cook
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Red hose in prep area
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Storage room sink had multiple items in it.
No color/concentration comparison chart available for chemical test kit used to check sanitizer.
Toxic substance/chemical on premise that is not required for the operation of establishment. Sanitizer
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. 2 cooks on line
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Prep area
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
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.