PAPA JOE'S ITALIAN REST
814 CAPE CORAL PKWY, Cape Coral FL 33904 · (941)945-1700
Last inspected Jul 28, 2026 · 7 visits since August 2023
AUG 24
NOV 24
JUL 25
OCT 25
JUL 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections, one direction. The current grade is the worst on record.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
★ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7--2017033493 | Jun 2, 2017 | Jul 31, 2017 | $160 |
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Jul 28, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate7 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 9 findingsThe state's own report →
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed chopped ham and cheese 52F cold hold less than 4 hours in upright reach in cooler across from salad prep cooler. Operator moved time/temperature control for safety foods to working reach in cooler.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment.
Show the remaining 5 findings ▾
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with gray-like substance on walk in cooler curtains.
Open dumpster lid.
Walk in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour bin.
Oct 29, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed tomato sauce 50F cooling overnight. Stop Sale. Operator discarded sauce.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed, salami 50F cold hold, ham 50F cold hold less than 4 hours in upright reach in cooler across from salad prep cooler. Educated operator on maintaining temperature at 41F or below. Note: operator stated he just prepped foods an hour ago. Operator moved time/temperature control for safety foods to working reach in cooler.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense chicken bouillon. Operator removed cup.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Handwash sink next to three compartment sink. Educated operator on the importance of having hand wash sign.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Operator removed cloth.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Salt/sugar/cheese and chicken bouillon containers. Educated operator on importance of labeling. Operator labeled containers.
Jul 30, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Butter pats 48F cold hold and milk 59F cold hold more than 4 hours. Stop Sale. Operator discarded butter pats and milk. Observed chopped ham 58F cold hold, salami 60F cold hold in reach in cooler across from salad prep reach in cooler less than 4 hours. Operator placed foods in working reach in cooler.
Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Observed employee washing hands at three compartment sink.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Can opener and behind slicer blade. Educated operator on cleaning can opener and slicer daily.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense chicken bouillon.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand wash sink next to three compartment sink.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler across from salad prep reach in cooler.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Chicken bouillon.
Nov 1, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 5 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 chlorine concentration at 0 ppm. Operator primed sanitizer. Rechecked chlorine concentration at 50 ppm.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Can opener.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled.
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice.
Aug 8, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
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.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee open beverage stored on top of dishmachine.
In-use ice scoop stored on top of outside ice machine between uses. Educated operator on proper storage of ice scoop. Operator placed ice scoop in bucket.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand wash sink in dishwash area.
Dec 14, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand wash sink used to fill container with water.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand wash sink in dishwash area. Operator placed paper towels at hand wash sink.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Educated operator on importance of labeling bottles. Operator labeled bottle.
In-use ice scoop stored on top of outside ice machine between uses. Educated operator on proper storage of ice scoop.
Open dumpster lid. Educated operator on importance of keeping dumpster lid closed.
Aug 15, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 7 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. Observed barehand contact with ready to eat cheese. Educated employee. Employee washed hands and put on gloves.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed cleaning chemical stored on shelving above salad prep reach in cooler. Operator removed chemical.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Educated operator on importance of having vacuum breaker on hose bibb.
Spray bottles in dishwash area containing toxic substance not labeled. Operator labeled bottles.
Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Women's restroom.
In-use ice scoop stored on top of outside ice machine between uses. Educated operator on proper storage of ice scoop.
Open dumpster lid. Educated operator on importance of keeping dumpster lid closed.
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.