PLAZA TAPATIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT BAR AND GRILL
16319 N FLORIDA AVE, Lutz FL 33549 · 813-264-4989
Last inspected Apr 21, 2026 · 7 visits since December 2023
DEC 23
MAR 25
DEC 25
APR 26
≈ ERRATIC
4 inspections, swinging between A and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 flies in kitchen, employee killed
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
1 case · $200
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2026003381 | Dec 17, 2025 | Feb 26, 2026 | $200 |
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Apr 21, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate3 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw shell eggs above unwashed produce in walk in cooler, operator removed the eggs to bottom shelf
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stained in kitchen
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No test kit for both of dish machine and triple sink
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked beef and cooked chicken no date mark over 24 Hours in walk in cooler, operator marked them correctly
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table in kitchen, operator removed it
Food stored on floor. Bottle water on floor in bar, operator removed it to on shelf
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler gasket soled and black mold like substance buildup in kitchen Soda gun holder soiled in bar
Dec 23, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Dec 22, 2025Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 1 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler by steam table ambient air temperature 50F cook line cold holding: cheese 52F cut tomatoes 48F mozzarella cheese 46F sour cream 45F cut tomatoes 47F cook pepper 52F held less than 4 hours employees moved food to walk in cooler raw
Dec 17, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 4 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 4 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. Both dish washing machines bar and kitchen tested at 0 ppm discussed to use three compartment sink. Filled up chlorine for bar dish machine retested to 100ppm retested dishwasher machine in kitchen retested to 100ppm
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler by steam table ambient air temperature 50F cook line cold holding: cheese 52F cut tomatoes 48F mozzarella cheese 46F sour cream 45F cut tomatoes 47F cook pepper 52F held less than 4 hours employees moved food to walk in cooler raw
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Queso 72F cook pork 75F cook vegetables 72F held less than 4 hours.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bar sink had a knife inside manager removed
Mar 27, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Dec 22, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 11 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority3 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 11 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. Dish machine sanitizer at 0ppm, dish machine sanitizer was primed, ran dish machine again after priming, now at 100ppm
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 flies in kitchen, employee killed
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Chimi date marked 11/2 Cuban mustard 11/7 Jerk mayo 12/7 Chili 12/12 All items prepared onsite
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Provided operator with printed copy of DBPR HR 5030-104
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled
No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Establishment expanded to next unit. Holding food, cold holding units and hot boxes in unit, added on unit is not on plans
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation.
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employees put hats on
Food stored on floor. Food stored on floor in walk in freezer
Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
Dec 22, 2023Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 5 violations recorded.
0 High priority3 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment.
No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Establishment has taken additional space next door in same building and added a cooler, hot hood unit, and single service storage.
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.
Food stored on floor. Multiple food items on floor in walk in freezer.
Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
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.