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PEPPER'S MEXICAN GRILL AND CANTINA

309 REID AVE, Port St. Joe FL 32456

Last inspected Mar 2, 2026 · 7 visits since October 2023

Licence typeRestaurant
Seats370
Risk levelRisk Level 2
LicenceSEA3300806
Grade history
MAR 24
DEC 24
MAY 25
DEC 25
MAR 26
— STEADY

5 inspections within 18 points of each other. Whatever this kitchen does, it does consistently.

Worst finding on record
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
High priority/50-17-3/Admin Complaint
Badges — 1 earned
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined

Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →

Inspection history

7 visits, newest first

Mar 2, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

1 High priority4 Intermediate2 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findings
Employee washed hands with no soap.
High priority/12A-20-4
Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Mop sink.
Intermediate/12A-03-4
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink at the pickup window use for dumping.
Intermediate/31A-11-4
No hot water provided at handwash sink on the cook line.
Intermediate/27-08-4
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Food in the walk in cooler.
Intermediate/02C-02-5
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Basic/22-20-5
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice inside ice bin in the waitress station.
Basic/10-08-5
The state's own report →
Dec 2, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

1 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Swai 49 F Krab 51 F scallop 49 F
High priority/03A-02-5
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade and cutting board on the cook line.
Intermediate/22-02-4
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Basic/22-20-5
Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine.
Basic/16-23-4
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Stacking in the dish washing area.
Basic/24-08-4
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside by walk in cooler.
Basic/35B-01-4
May 27, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

3 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands.
High priority/12A-17-4
Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands.
High priority/12A-10-4
Employee washed hands with no soap.
High priority/12A-20-4
Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster.
Basic/33-19-4
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice.
Basic/10-08-5
Open dumpster lid.
Basic/33-16-4
Dec 3, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

0 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade.
Intermediate/22-02-4
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed employee using the hand sink to rinse off a towel on the cook line.
Intermediate/31A-11-4
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Basic/22-20-5/Repeat Violation
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside,by the walk in cooler.
Basic/35B-01-4
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Dish room.
Basic/31B-04-4
Walk in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
Basic/22-16-4
Water leaking from faucet/handle cook line.
Basic/29-11-4
Mar 14, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection

Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.

3 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands.
High priority/12A-17-4
Employee washed hands with no soap.
High priority/12A-20-4
Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed employee handling raw chicken went back touching cleaned equipment failed to wash his hands.
High priority/12A-09-4
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled,in the dish area.
Intermediate/41-17-4
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Basic/22-20-5
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed raw shrimp thawing in prep sink with no running water. Manager turned water on over the shrimp.
Basic/06-01-5/Corrected On-Site
Oct 27, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection

A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.

0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Oct 24, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection

Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 5 violations recorded, 1 high priority.

1 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
High priority/50-17-3/Admin Complaint
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed a Five Gallon bucket setting in the employee hand sink on cook line. Employee removed bucket from the hand sink.
Intermediate/31A-11-4/Corrected On-Site
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook.
Basic/13-03-4
Stored food not covered.cinnamon in the waitress station. Manager covered the food items.
Basic/08B-12-5/Corrected On-Site
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Cinnamon container not identified with common name in the waitress section.
Basic/02D-01-5

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.