PIZZA EXPRESS AND LA CEIBA
2602 SW 19 AVE STE 104, Ocala FL 34471 · 352.877-8630
Last inspected Jan 13, 2026 · 6 visits since August 2023
JAN 24
AUG 24
MAY 25
AUG 25
JAN 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between B and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. At the prep area, observed roach and flying insect killer on prep table next to steam table, manager moved to chemical area.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
6 visits, newest first
Jan 13, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 10 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority5 Intermediate2 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 10 findingsThe state's own report →
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over raw beef in reach-in cooler next to walk-in freezer. Manager placed chicken on bottom shelf.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items stored in reach-in cooler across from pizza oven: ham (51F - Cold Holding). Manager stated ham placed in cooler two hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved ham to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Items stored on cook line grill: seafood soup (101F - Hot Holding). Manager stated soup placed on grill two hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager placed soup on stovetop to reheat, 177F.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Nozzle for Tamarindo dispenser. Manager cleaned nozzle during inspection.
Show the remaining 6 findings ▾
Probe thermometer not accurate within plus or minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Probe thermometer reading 50F when calibrated in ice water. Manager calibrated thermometer to read 32F in ice water.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Marinara sauce stored in reach-in cooler next to office. Manager stated sauce was prepared on 1/10. Manager added proper date marked to marinara sauce.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottle of cleaner stored in dish area.
Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Cook line hand washing sink, 74F. Manager fixed hot water, 103F.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee bottle of water on prep table across from cook line. Manager placed bottle of water in managers office.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above cook line greasy.
Aug 20, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 8 violations recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority3 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw fish stored over bananas in reach-in cooler across from office. Manager moved fish to bottom shelf.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items stored in reach-in cooler across from cook line hand washing sink: cheese (58F - Cold Holding). Manager stated cheese placed in cooler one hour prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved cheese to reach-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F.
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. Pizza stored on front counter. Manager stated pizza was placed on counter at 3:00 pm. Manager placed proper time marking on pizza.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Items stored on top of cook line grill: potatoes (113F - Hot Holding); beans (127F - Hot Holding). Manager stated items placed on grill two hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager turned up grill to reheat items.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk stored in reach-in cooler next to office. Manager stated milk was opened on 8/17. Manager placed proper time marking on pizza.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on reach-in cooler next to kitchen entrance.
Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hand washing sink at end of cook line,77F.
Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Mop stored on floor at end of cook line.
May 7, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Large open bowl containing raw frozen chicken stored directly above pan containing raw frozen beef on shelf inside walk-in freezer. Manager moved the chicken to another freezer during this inspection.
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. One National Registry of Food Safety Professionals Food Handler certificate expired on 02/24/2025.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Large vent on ceiling in back of kitchen soiled with dust.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on prep table beside clean dishes and above food near ice machine.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old date labels stuck to side of two pans on clean dishes and rack in back of kitchen.
Aug 14, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 9 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority3 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 9 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Food-contact surface of commercial can opener soiled with food debris, mold-like substance.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Milk opened two days earlier per manager not date marked, also portioned beef in walk-in-cooler prepared two days earlier not date marked.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed spray bottle not properly labeled with identifying contents ( Fabuoso ). Manager labeled bottle
Bathroom facility in disrepair. Bathroom on pizza side of establishment is marked out of order.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee water bottle stored on prep table and above flour bags. Manager removed water bottle
Establishment using sponges on cleaned and sanitized, or in-use food-contact surface. Establishment using sponge on in-use food-contact surface at three-compartment sink.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach in freezer has ice build up
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in reach in cooler on cook line.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed produce ( plantains ) stored over ready-to-eat food ( pupusa sauce ) in reach in cooler. Manager removed sauce
Jan 5, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 11 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority4 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 11 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. Female employee at the cook line touched with her bare hands already heated Cuban sandwich, Inspector explained the correct handling of ready to eat food.
Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. At the prep area, observed roach and flying insect killer on prep table next to steam table, manager moved to chemical area.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At the cook line at room temperature, fresh garlic and oil 76F, per employee items is in constantly used. Inspector explained the use of time as a Public Health control.
Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. No tags available for fresh clams.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. No documents available, Inspector provided a digital copy.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At the mop sink area, spray bottle with liquid not labeled.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table at the cook line.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor under triple sink heavily soiled.
No copy of latest inspection report available.
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in cooler next to pizza cooler with shelves soiled.
Aug 22, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. At the cook line, observed white rice stored in thank you bags, Manager discarded the rice.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. At the cook line, observed raw chicken tray stored above pork and beef, Manager stored food properly.
Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. For clams.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Reach-in cooler at the cook line, soup no date marked, per manager item was made 08/20/23.
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.