STEPH'S SOUTHERN RESTAURANT
14519 5TH ST, Dade City FL 33523 · 352-437-5907
Last inspected Mar 10, 2026 · 7 visits since October 2023
APR 24
JAN 25
MAY 25
SEP 25
MAR 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections trending down, 14 points off where it started.
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. Sent clean up poster to operator via email.
★ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2018063137 | Dec 10, 2018 | Jan 11, 2019 | $400 |
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Mar 10, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate3 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 6 findingsThe state's own report →
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter packs at room temp on counter 70, employee stated that the butter was not out very long. Employee placed butter packs in the freezer.
Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Two employee certificates
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Black eyed peas, cooked rice, gravy all prepared over the weekend
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Show the remaining 2 findings ▾
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
Sep 19, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 2 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee removed drink from prep table.
In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. On prep table to in front of three compartment sink.
May 8, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee entering kitchen through screen door from outside and without washing hands employees handling clean and sanitized dishes, container of ore made foods. Discussed with operator employees washed hands.
Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee rinsed off spatula and did not sanitize before using to stir food products. Discussed it operator employee.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. At front counter serving area bottle of hand sanitizer stored with clean and sanitized dishes, discussed with operator who removed hand sanitizer.
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. Sent clean up poster to operator via email.
Jan 17, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line - milk dredge (50F - Cold Holding), held less than 4 hours, added ice to ice bath
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Sanitizer bottle in dining room, labeled
Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
Apr 25, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade soiled with an accumulation of food debris. Operator had employee clean and sanitize.
Oct 4, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority2 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Oven in kitchen
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. For some employees
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket of vertical cooler in storage room
Oct 3, 2023Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 7 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 7 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. O ppm, technician is scheduled for today
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Beef (55F - Cold Holding) sliced tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); cut melon (51F - Cold Holding)
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In glass 2 door cooler in storage room - Beef (55F - Cold Holding), cooked yesterday, temperatures not taken today. see stop sale In drop in cooler at front line - sliced tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); cut melon (51F - Cold Holding) cut and put out at 10:30 this morning. On front counter -butter pats (69F - Cold Holding)removed from refrigeration approximately 3 hours ago, moved to freezer
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Oven in kitchen
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. For some employees
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket of vertical cooler in storage room
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. In vertical single door cooler in back storage room, unwashed produce over hush puppy mix
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.