PENELOPE'S DINER
7431 WEST ATLANTIC AVE, Delray Beach FL 33446 · 954-725-7783
Last inspected Feb 23, 2026 · 11 visits since September 2023
JAN 24
JUL 24
JAN 25
AUG 25
FEB 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. License expired 12-1-23. Operator renewed at time of inspection
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
11 visits, newest first
Feb 23, 2026□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Feb 4, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 10 violations recorded, 6 high priority.
6 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 10 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 (Chlorine 0ppm)
Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee Crack raw shell eggs and then proceeded to change gloves with no handwashing and then touch toast. Discussed with operator. Employee washed hands.
Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee touch soiled cloth and then touch ready to eat gyro bread without washing hands. Discussed with operator. Employee washed hands.
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 employee touch ready to eat gyro with no gloves on. Operator discarded.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Wait station cooler butter chips 62F. Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Per operator food held out of unit less than four hours p. Operator removed below to quick chill.
Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Observed Triple Sink (Chlorine 200+ppm). Operator remade to Triple Sink (Chlorine 100ppm);
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed soil residue on three door reach in freezer at back of kitchen.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed cutting board with cut marks at cook line.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employees with no hair restraint working in kitchen. Employees put on hair restraints.
Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Observed soiled cloths stored throughout cook line.
Jan 6, 2026Call 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/
Sep 12, 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 ▾
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/
Aug 25, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 8 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed 1 can of tomato sauce dented across the seam.
Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee crack raw shell eggs hand then proceeded to touch bread without washing hands or changing gloves. Advised employee to wash hands.
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed tortillas in walk in cooler stored in food grade bags. Operator removed.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. #1 observed at cook line pancake batter 71F, cooked onions 61F. Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Observed food stored under no temperature control. Food held out of temperature for less than four hours. Operator placed food back into walk in cooler to quick chill. #2 observed in flip top cooler #1; diced ham (47F). Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Food held in unit less than four hours. Operator placed food below into walk in cooler to quick chill. #3 observed in flip top in wait station; sour cream (47F); butter (61F); cream cheese (52F). Per operator food not prepared or portioned today. Food held in unit less than four hours. Observed foods stored past the fill line. Operator removed foods past the fill line into another container to quick chill below flip top cooler.
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/
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed at cook line trash can stored in front of handwashing sink. Operator removed.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable at cook line.
Stored food not covered. Observed berries in reach in freezer not covered.
Jan 30, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Observed Raw chicken tenders not in commercial packaging over French fries at white chest freezer, raw shell eggs over tortillas at flip top cooler. Operator stored products properly.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. 1 of 2 hose connections, no vacuum breaker at mop sink.
Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Sanitizer Bucket (Chlorine 200+ppm) Operator corrected to 100ppm chlorine sanitizer.
Sep 23, 2024□ 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 ▾
Objectionable odors in back hallway of establishment. Operator states plumber on call
Jul 25, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 7 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority3 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw ready to eat smoked salmon stored above ready to eat spinach in walk in cooler. Raw shell eggs stored stored above cheese in walk in cooler. Operator reorganized
Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. Raw shell eggs being held on cook line for less than 1 hour has no time marking. Operator time marked
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink blocked by chemical buckets, container stored. Operator made accessible
Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Establishment menu does not indicate poached eggs, nova salmon as being covered under consumer advisory. Discussed proper disclosure with operator
Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. Corned beef hash handle stored in contact with food product. Operator removed
Objectionable odors in back hallway of establishment. Operator states plumber on call
Jan 30, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 29, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 9 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority3 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Bagels stored in direct contact with plastic handle shopping/thank you bags. Operator replaced with food grade containers
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired 12-1-23. Operator renewed at time of inspection
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.; tuna (51F); coleslaw (48F); cottage cheese (51F); in cook line flip top cooler. Monitored unit for approximately 30 minutes with no changes in temperature. Operator states items have been in unit overnight. Unknown time out of temperature.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.;; tuna (51F); coleslaw (48F); cottage cheese (51F); in cook line flip top cooler. Monitored unit for approximately 30 minutes with no changes in temperature. Operator states items have been in unit overnight. Unknown time out of temperature. See Stop Sale feta (54F); sliced cheese (60F), shredded cheese (49F) operator states items have been in unit less than 2 hours. Operator moved to reach in section
Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. Reviewed with operator and provided hand out
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink used to fill water pitcher. Discussed with operator
No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. Operator unable to provide at time of inspection
Bathroom door left open other than during cleaning or maintenance. Operator closed
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee personal items stored on prep table with food contact equipment. Operator removed. Discussed proper storage with operator
Sep 18, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Colored bag used to store Crepes, Walk In Cooler. Owner replaced colored bag with clear cling wrap
Dishmachine not washing/rinsing properly. Must wash, rinse and sanitize all dishware, equipment and utensils in three-compartment sink until dishmachine is functioning properly. Owner set up 3 Compartment Sink.
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.