MELLOW MUSHROOM LAKELAND
3555 LAKELAND HIGHLANDS RD, Lakeland FL 33803 · 863-825-6000
Last inspected Jan 28, 2026 · 9 visits since September 2023
AUG 24
JAN 25
AUG 25
JAN 26
JAN 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections, one direction. The current grade is the worst on record.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 1 flying insects on the prep table in the back prep table. The fly was eradicated and the prep table was cleaned and sanitized.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
9 visits, newest first
Jan 28, 2026□ Call Back - CompliedComplaint Investigation (Partial)
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 27, 2026Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 4 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee used his cell phone while making salad and didn't change his gloves before engaging making a salad.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Bruschetta Blue cheese crumbles Cut tomatoes Boneless chicken Chicken wings Feta cheese 50F Inside the salad reach in cooler in the kitchen.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. bruschetta (50F - Cold Holding); blue cheese crumbles (50F - Cold Holding); feta cheese (50F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); boneless chicken (50F - Cold Holding); chicken wings (50F - Cold Holding) Salad flip top reach in cooler.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee making a salad with no hair restraints. Employee put on a hat.
Jan 9, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade is soiled. End of the table in the prep area.
Aug 22, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Dented can of Ron Son Quartered Artichole Hearts on the can good rack near the walk in cooler.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Blue lunch bag n the shelf with cooked Italian style meatballs and ham inside the walk in cooler. The lunch bag was removed.
Ice buildup in the walk-in freezer.
In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Pizza cutter in water at 113 F in the hotwell at the expo window. The water was discarded and replaced.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on the last reach in cooler door at the end of the pizza station.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Pizza boxes stored on the floor at the expo station. The boxes was removed from off the floor.
Jan 23, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Employee drinking in the food prep area next to the pizza reach in cooler. The beverage was discarded from off the prep table. The employee washed his hands.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelf across from the prep sink in the back area / dry storage area.
Aug 13, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Employee dried hands on clothes/apron/soiled towel after washing. Employee dried his hands on his clothes. I had the employee to wash his hands and dried his hands with a disposable paper towels.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 1 flying insects on the prep table in the back prep table. The fly was eradicated and the prep table was cleaned and sanitized.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee making food on the cook l8ne. The employee put on a baseball cap.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Starbucks beverage in the wood cutting board on the salad reach in cooler. The beverage was discarded. The cutting board was sanitized.
Dec 22, 2023Inspection 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 ▾
Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Beverage on the prep table next to the can opener. The beverage was discarded. The area was washed, rinsed and sanitized.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Plaid jacket on the can good rack next to the walk in cooler. The jacket was removed.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Pizza boxes stored on the floor in the breezeway in front of the expo line. The boxes was removed.
Nov 9, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Sep 5, 2023Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 5 recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority3 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Spray hose at dish sink lower than flood rim of sink. In prep sink
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed buildup on can opener blade. Manager put in dish pit
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.
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.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-coolers on cook line
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.