SONNY'S BBQ
2700 N WALDO RD, Gainesville FL 32609 · 352-378-7881
Last inspected Aug 4, 2026 · 10 visits since July 2023
JUL 24
DEC 24
JUL 25
JAN 26
AUG 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between B and D. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Live, small flying insects found Three live flies in kitchen area.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
10 visits, newest first
Aug 4, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
Live, small flying insects found. Approximately 3 flies flying in office inside kitchen.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. turkey (105F - Hot Holding); pork (125F - Hot Holding) items in hot cabinet at end of cooks line, manager stated they were currently hot holding. Meat placed back on smoker.
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Backflow missing from hose Bibb at outside mop sink.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cups in server line with water droplets on the interior of cups.
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Under drink machine.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters above cooks line soiled with grease.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Box of straws in floor in shed, operator placed straws on shelf.
Jan 21, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bleach spray bottle hanging and facing clean glove holder in dishwash area. Manager removed spray bottle.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Tea machine has white crust accumulated on tip of liquid discharge spout. Mold like substance on the inside food contact surface of the ice bin at the server soft drink dispensing machine at drive thru window.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Soda nozzles in handwash sink at server station. Nozzles removed.
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered waste receptacle provided in women's bathroom.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing n back area near walk-in-cooler
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Plastic bin on clean ware rack has cracks.
Ice bucket not stored inverted or in a protected manner between uses. Ice bucket not inverted or protected manner by ice machine. Manager inverted ice bucket.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom of reach in freezer soiled with food particles.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels not removed from food containers before cleaning, stored on the clean ware rack.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of liquid margarine in walk-in-cooler not labeled. Manager placed label on container
Jul 9, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 16 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
4 High priority2 Intermediate10 Basic
Show 16 findings ▾
Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee touched broom handle then put on gloves and began slicing meat without washing hands.
Live, small flying insects found Three live flies in kitchen area.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw ground beef on shelf over raw bacon in walk in cooler near back door. Manager moved to proper order.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. One cup of ranch dressing 45F. Manager voluntarily discarded.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Queso in reach in cooler opened yesterday morning with no date marked after opening.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of reach in freezer soiled with food debris near walk in cooler. Tea nozzles have lime/calcium build up. Interior of ice machine soiled with mold like substance.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vents on cook line soiled with grease.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drink on table next to corn muffins
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee cell phone on shelf over prep table near smoker. Moved.
Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Two male employees.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On clean dish shelf plastic pans stacked together wet.
Equipment in poor repair. Handle of hot box broken off.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters are soiled with grease.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Label residue on plastic pans on clean dish shelf.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Aluminum lids on back room shelf. Cases of foam trays on floor of paper goods shed. Manager picked up trays.
Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall behind fryers soiled with grease.
Dec 2, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Cooked poultry not reaching a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Item cooked on cook line grill: chicken (158F - Cooking). Employee placed chicken back on grill to finish cooking, 175F.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Item stored in warmer at end of cook line: pork (128F - Hot Holding). Manager stated pork placed in warmer one hour prior to temperature being taken. Manager placed pork in oven to reheat.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on steam table across from cook line.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine in dish area.
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Floor in dry storage shed behind building.
Food stored on floor. Case of soda stored on floor in front of soda box stand in smoker area. Manager placed case of soda on soda box stand.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand washing sink in smoker area.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above cook line grill. Fan covers in walk-in cooler. Rolling racks in walk-in cooler.
Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Plastic pans stored on clean dish rack across from dish area.
Open dumpster lid. Dumpster behind building. Manager closed lid during inspection.
Jul 2, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority1 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed three flies in kitchen area. Observed one fly near ice machine in wait station.
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. Onion straws stored in cook line steam table. Manager stated onion straws placed in steam table at 11 am.
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Faucet beneath table next to dish machine.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Blade of can opener on prep table across from smoker. Shelves in walk-in cooler.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine in dish area.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vent in dish area.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Vents above potato oven in kitchen.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Aluminum lids stored on kitchen shelf. Manager turned lids over.
Jan 8, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 9 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority0 Intermediate8 Basic
Show 9 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 across from three compartment sink, 0 ppm. Manager changed sanitizer bucket and primed machine, 50 ppm.
Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. Dish machine across from three compartment sink.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on top of mug cooler on server aisle.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee purses stored on bbq sauce in server aisle.
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Holes in floor in dry storage shed.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cook line.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above cook line grill. Rolling rack in kitchen. Gasket of walk-in cooler across from office.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Case of straws stored on floor in storage area at end of server aisle.
Stored food not covered. BBQ sauce stored on prep table next to smoker.
Sep 22, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedComplaint Investigation (Partial)
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 24, 2023Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 1 recorded.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Wall soiled and emitting odor. Wall in drive thru area has odor.
Jul 10, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedComplaint Investigation
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 7, 2023Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 13 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority1 Intermediate8 Basic
Show 13 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, 0ppm. Manager stated they would sanitize dishes in three compartment sink.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed three flies in cook line area. Observed two flies in back of kitchen.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Items in cook line grill drawers: chicken (48F - Cold Holding); ribs (46F,47F,47F - Cold Holding). Manager stated items stored in cooler over night.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Items stored in cook line drawers: queso (50F - Cold Holding); cheese (51F - Cold Holding); hamburger (48F - Cold Holding). Manager stated items placed in cooler 3 hours prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved items to walk-in freezer to reduce temperature to 41F. Items in cook line grill drawers: chicken (48F - Cold Holding); ribs (46F,47F,47F - Cold Holding). Manager stated items stored in cooler over night.
Operator is doing a special process, conducting reduced oxygen packaging, cooking time/temperature control for safety food to a time and temperature combination lesser than those in the Food Code or operating a molluscan shellfish tank for human consumption without a HACCP plan approved by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Establishment is placing cooked pork in sealed bags to cool, without a HACCP plan. Manager stated going forward the establishment would cool pork before sealing in bags.
Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. Shelf across from three compartment sink.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Vent in dish area.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table at end of cook line. Manager removed drink.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans stored on clean dish rack in front of kitchen.
Ice bucket/shovel not inverted between uses. Ice bucket stored across from ice machine. Manager turned bucket over.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Outside of dish machine. Walk-in cooler gasket.
Stored food not covered. Ribs stored on rack in walk-in cooler. Manager placed lid on top of ribs.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Bagged sauce thawing in standing water. Manager turned water on thawing item.
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.