TALA BAY SEAFOOD AND GRILL
8771 US 301, Jacksonville FL 32234 · 9046700476
Last inspected Jul 29, 2026 · 7 visits since November 2023
NOV 23
MAR 25
OCT 25
JUL 26
≈ ERRATIC
4 inspections, swinging between A and F. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Five live ants in gasket of left door of kitchen reach-in cooler. Employee killed and discarded ants.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Jul 29, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 18 violations recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority4 Intermediate10 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 18 findingsThe state's own report →
Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Five live ants in gasket of left door of kitchen reach-in cooler. Employee killed and discarded ants.
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Open case of flounder stored on top of ready-to-eat ham and french fries. Employee moved flounder to proper storage.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Vacuum breaker missing on threaded faucet with attached hose at outside mop sink.
Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Wiping cloth solution at the front counter tested at 200+ppm chlorine. Operator remade solution to 50ppm chlorine.
Show the remaining 14 findings ▾
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Open gallon of milk in kitchen reach-in cooler not date marked with open date. Employee states milk opened on Sunday(today is Wednesday) and added date mark to milk.
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 written procedures available. Provided DBPR Form HR 5030-104.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bucket in kitchen handwash sink. Employee removed bucket. Handwash sink at front counter used to fill a bucket with water.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Establishment holds hush puppy mix and milk for breading on time controls. No written procedures available. Provided DBPR Form HR 5022-090 and assisted with written procedure completion.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior top where ice is made in the machine has yellow slime-like substance.
Clean equipment/dishware/utensils stored below soap or paper towel dispenser exposing the items to drips from people's hands. Kitchen paper towel dispenser stored directly over single-service lids and spices.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee backpack and aprons stored on top of bag in box sodas at soda rack. Operator removed items to proper storage.
Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors under three compartment sink, under rack with dry goods in the office, under all kitchen equipment and under handwash sink at front counter are soiled.
Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Interior of kitchen microwave is soiled with food debris.
Missing drain plug at dumpster. Missing drain plug on dumpster.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have grease build up. Stove top in kitchen with heavy food debris. Flat grill in kitchen with food debris.
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of reach-in cooler on cook line is heavily soiled with food debris.
Thawed portions of ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food rose above 41 degrees Fahrenheit while being thawed under running water. Raw fish at 60F in kitchen cold bar. Per employee, fish was thawed with running water 1.25 hours prior. Fish moved to reach-in freezer and approximately 15 minutes later fish at 43F.
Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed bell peppers in stand-up reach in refrigerator by breading station stored over cooked potatoes.
Dec 19, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Oct 17, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 11 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority2 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 11 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer in kitchen, 2 open bags of raw chicken stored on top of ready to eat French fries. Operator moved raw chicken off of fries.
Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer in kitchen, open bags of raw chicken stored over commercially packaged raw shrimp.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. In reach in cooler on cook line, gallon of milk opened yesterday morning and not marked with date. Operator wrote date on container.
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. No proof of food handler training for operator Dina who is server/handles to go food.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In blue tub on bottom shelf of table next to reach in freezer, bowl used as scoop in flour. Operator removed bowl from product.
Floor, wall and/or ceiling soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor under fryers and warmer on cook line soiled with grease/food debris. Also, floor under reach in cooler on cook line soiled with food debris. Also, ceiling vent in men's restroom soiled with build up of dust.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice build up in stand up reach in freezer at end of cook line.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on door handle of stove. Operator removed tongs.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters above cook line have build up of grease. Also, multiple gaskets throughout kitchen soiled with food debris.
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of both reach in coolers on cook line soiled with food debris.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. In bottom on reach in cooler on cook line standing water/slime buildup.
Apr 7, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedLicensing Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Mar 26, 2025Warning IssuedLicensing Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 2 recorded.
0 High priority2 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Establishment removed handwash sink in kitchen area.
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/. Restaurant set up does not match plan review. Establishment moved triple sink to different wall, handwash sink and vegetables washing sink removed from kitchen area and water heater moved from kitchen area to back mechanical room.
Jan 17, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Nov 18, 2023Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 11 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority5 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 11 findings ▾
Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Employee washing and rinsing food contact containers and utensils, but did not sanitize them before putting them up to dry.
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Raw pork in black grocery bags in reach in freezer chest in back storage area, pork removed from bags.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs stored over produce in refrigerator in kitchen, eggs moved.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. blood sausage (89F - Cold Holding) sitting out on steam table at front counter, per operator sausage was made several hours prior, and sausage is left to sit out and be served at room temperature, operator will place sausage on time as a public health control.
Food service manager not certified within 30 days of employment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ No one on site is a certified food manager.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. In men's bathroom.
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 3 employees on site have where hired back in June do not have training. Also operator's food handler certification is a photocopy.
No soap provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station in back storage area.
Well water testing report/documentation is not available upon request. Operator is in the process of getting a contractor for well water testing and does not have a report.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At hand wash station in back storage area.
No mop sink or curbed cleaning facility provided at establishment. Exterior mop sink by back door to establishment by office has been removed.
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.