SONNY'S BBQ
425 SR 19 N, Palatka FL 32177 · (386) 328-4655
Last inspected Mar 16, 2026 · 8 visits since August 2023
MAR 24
AUG 24
JAN 25
JUL 25
MAR 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections trending down, 12 points off where it started.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 2 flies in smoker prep area.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
1 case · $400
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5--2018001382 | Nov 29, 2017 | Jan 24, 2018 | $400 |
Inspection history
8 visits, newest first
Mar 16, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate6 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 8 findingsThe state's own report →
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In cookline drawer reach in cooler, beef (47F - Cold Holding) stored in same drawer as cooked chicken wings cooling down. Operator removed the hot chicken wings.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemical spray bottle labeled bleach on cook line next to steam table. Operator relocated. At bar area windex spray bottles over bottles of juice. Operator relocated.
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Food debris residue on cook line door handles.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On shelf of warewashing area, clean metal trays stacked while wet.
Show the remaining 4 findings ▾
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Build up of ice on fan guard and door of walk in freezer.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cookline with debris build up on fan guard.
Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil. Sanitizer solution on shelf of smoker prep area visibly soiled. Two sanitizer solution buckets at 0ppm. Operator refilled new bucket to 200ppm.
Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Leaking pipe to thermalizer on cook line. Leaking pipe to hand wash sink in warewashing area.
Jul 21, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Employee rubbed hands together for less than 10-15 seconds while washing hands. Observed employee wash hands while switching gloves rinse hands under water, no soap and no rubbing together for an approximate length of time. Discussed with operator.
Live, small flying insects found. Observed 4 live flies in drive through wait station area landing on a box on the shelf. Operator was able to kill and remove at least 2 flies. Observed 1 live fly in smoker area over trash can.
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. At pass through window, onion straws held utilizing time as public health control missing time marker. Operator replaced time marker.
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Cookline warmer door handles build up of food residue.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink at front counter prep table by smoker, employee relocated beverage. Employee drink on top of dishmachine.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. At pass through window, clean plastic containers on top shelf stacked while wet.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Build up of food debris in microwave on cook line and on waitstaff side of pass through.
Jan 3, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In the walk in cooler raw candied bacon over cooling ready to eat chicken wings. Operator relocated the candied bacon.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener in smoker area with debris build up on the blade. Soda nozzle at bar counter with mold like substance build up. Per operator not in use as soda gun doesn't have connection to carbonation. Operator had employee clean and sanitize the bar nozzle.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand wash sink by warewashing area. Operator provided paper towels.
Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice buckets by bulk ice bin not inverted or covered. Employee relocated the ice buckets.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. In the walk in freezer employee personal ice cream over food for customers.
Food stored on floor. On the side of the cook line, jug of fryer oil stored on the floor. In the walk in cooler container of Alabama sauce stored on the floor. Operator relocated all items from the floor.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Interior of the microwave at the pass through window with food debris build up. Employee cleaned the microwave.
Aug 1, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 2 flies in smoker prep area.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on top shelf by dish area with deep groove marks.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the shelf of the smoker prep area, clean metal containers stacked while wet. On the shelf by the waitstation walk in cooler, clean plastic containers stacked while wet. Operator had employee remove the wet nesting containers and discussed with employee.
Equipment in poor repair. Drive through sliding door reach in cooler with torn gasket. Hot box in cook line with torn gasket.
Floors, walls and ceiling soiled/has accumulation of debris. Cook line floor with standing water by drain and in floor cracks. Ceiling with build up of food residue staining.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Build up of dust on cook line hood filters. Multiple door gasket with mold like substance staining. Sides of fryers on cook line with grease build up.
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Bar cooler for kegs interior soiled with residue.
Mar 14, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ One certified food manager expired from 02/2024 scheduled to take class on the 25th.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Clean cutting board on the top of the shelf closest the dish area with black food residue staining. Can opener opposite the smoker with debris on the blade. Operator removed the can opener to the dish area to be cleaned and sanitized.
Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Three employees observed with no beard guards.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Standing water on the floor of the cook line and dish area. Operator had employee mop the water. Ceiling vents through kitchen have mold like substance build up. Ceilings with food residue staining. Remodel scheduled for may.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. In the dry storage area, catering trays not inverted or covered. Operator inverted the trays.
Stored food not covered. In the standup reach in freezer adjacent to the cook line, uncovered burger patties. Operator covered the burger patties.
Oct 24, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
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. No time marking on fried onion straws at the pass through window. Operator replaced time marking that previously fell off the container per operator.
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Build up of residue/food debris in the handles to the hot holding units on the main cook line.
Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Accumulation of dust, mold like substance on multiple ceiling vents through kitchen area.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean drinks cups stored at waitstation area stacked while wet.
Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Multiple spots of pooled standing water on the floor of the kitchen area.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Build up of ice on the walk in freezer door seal.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of food debris. Build up of food residue on rotating plate of microwave on the main cook line.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Build up of grease and food debris on the side of the oven closest to the fryers. Build up of grease on the bottom shelf of the cook line prep table area.
Oct 6, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Aug 18, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed dishwasher handle dirty dishes at dishpit, then handle clean dishes without hand wash. Person in charge spoke to employee.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Vacuum breaker in incorrect location at mop sink. Needed on both sides of splitter.
Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Wiping cloth solution at 500+ ppm. Person in charge added water and retested at 200ppm.
Floors not constructed to be easily cleanable. Floors in kitchen not smooth and easily cleanable. Standing water observed in spots.
Food stored on floor. Case of food on floor in walk in freezer, person in charge raised.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan in produce walk in cooler with debris buildup.
Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Self closer disconnected from back door.
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.