THE WORKS BISTRO
12169 S WILLIAMS ST, Dunnellon FL 34432
Last inspected Dec 23, 2025 · 8 visits since December 2023
□ Not on the state's active licence list
This licence isn't in DBPR's current active file, which usually means the business has closed, been sold, or let the licence lapse. Everything below belongs to this licence, not to whoever may be trading here now. The history stays public because it is a public record.
JUN 24
AUG 24
MAY 25
SEP 25
DEC 25
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and F. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Raw sewage on ground of establishment. Drain pipe with cap removed on side of building on opposite side of three-compartment sink. Sewage and/or food debris on ground below pipe. Manager stated the cap was removed the previous day to temporarily fix a clog. Administrative complaint and following day callback per Robert Protomastro.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
8 visits, newest first
Dec 23, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 17 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority4 Intermediate10 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 17 findingsThe state's own report →
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Opened box containing frozen raw beef stored on shelf above bags of frozen fries inside reach-in freezer at cookline. Manager moved the raw beef to the bottom shelf during this inspection.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bottle containing "Goo Gone" stored on prep table in back of kitchen, near food and clean dishes. Employee removed the chemical from the table during this inspection.
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Backflow prevention device missing at spigot on wall in maintenance room near employee break area.
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 proof of manager certification for manager, Lisa W. This manager has been employed since the restaurant opened in May 2025.
Show the remaining 13 findings ▾
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Handwash sink at cookline blocked by cooking oil containers and bucket down inside sink. Manager unblocked the handwash sink during this inspection.
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. No proof of food handler training for employee S. Carver. This employee signed the health reporting agreement on 08/20/2025.
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. One photocopy of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association food handler card for employee, A. Dawson.
Clean linens stored on floor. Bag containing clean wiping cloths stored directly on floor in storage closet located in dining area. Manager placed the wiping cloths on a shelf during this inspection.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink cup stored on prep table at cookline, beside clean dishes. Manager removed the cup from the table during this inspection.
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. One cracked plastic pan stored on clean dishes rack.
Food stored on floor. Several containers of cooking oil stored directly on floor in kitchen. Manager removed the oil from the floor during this inspection.
Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. Trash on ground behind dumpster.
Hole in or other damage to wall. 1. Hole in wall below handwash sink in prep area. 2. Hole in wall around wires near cookline.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters above cookline soiled with grease.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Remnants of old label left on pan stored on clean dish rack.
Single-service articles improperly stored. 1. Box containing single-use utensils stored directly on floor in storage closet located in dining area. 2. Several rolls of paper towels stored directly on floor in storage closet located in dining area. Manager removed both items from the floor during this inspection.
Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. 1. Screwdriver stored on shelf directly above cake inside walk-in cooler. 2. Screwdriver stored on shelf above prep table in back of kitchen. Manager removed all tools during this inspection.
Sep 16, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Date marked combined ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days of preparing/opening the earliest ready-to-eat time/temperature for safety ingredient. See stop sale. 1. Pasta salad with date marked of 9/6 on shelf inside reach-in cooler at cookline. Manager stated they make the pasta salad themselves. 2. Jug of milk with date marked of 9/2 inside reach-in cooler in bar area.
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Backflow prevention device missing at spigot in employee break area.
Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Manager provided one photocopy of food handler training card in binder.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two co2 tanks not secured in bar area.
Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall in back of kitchen around wires and/or tubes.
Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. 12 pans with remnants of old labels still attached on clean dishes rack near walk-in cooler.
Open dumpster lid. Lids of dumpster left open.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Pan containing sugar missing label on shelf in back of kitchen. Manager added the proper label during this inspection.
May 5, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 2 findings ▾
Missing drain plug at dumpster. Drain plug missing from dumpster inside enclosure.
Portable fire extinguisher gauge in red zone. For reporting purposes only. Fire extinguisher at kitchen entrance.
Aug 12, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days. Only one clam tag available. Manager stated he believes another employee may have discarded them by mistake.
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. No certified food manager certificate available for Alex Ferns, the manager on duty. Manager stated that his certificate is expired, but did not it have it available during this inspection. Alex Ferns was the manager on duty present during the last inspection.
Clean utensils stored between equipment. Two knives at cookline stored between folding she,ves on rolling rack. Manager removed knives from area during this inspection.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup on shelves inside reach-in freezers at cookline.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fans at cookline soiled with dust.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink stored on shelf inside reach-in cooler above pans containing lemons. Manager removed drink from area during this inspection.
Wall not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, warewashing areas or bathroom. Back-side of sliding door to kitchen is made of unsealed plywood.
Jun 26, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jun 24, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 18 violations recorded, 5 high priority.
5 High priority1 Intermediate12 Basic
Show 18 findings ▾
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One fly in kitchen near cookline.
Raw sewage on ground of establishment. Drain pipe with cap removed on side of building on opposite side of three-compartment sink. Sewage and/or food debris on ground below pipe. Manager stated the cap was removed the previous day to temporarily fix a clog. Administrative complaint and following day callback per Robert Protomastro.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside reach-in cooler at cookline: tzatziki (53F - Cold Holding); pork (46F - Cold Holding); calamari (47F - Cold Holding); octopus (47F - Cold Holding); shrimp (45F - Cold Holding); fish (45F - Cold Holding); sausage (51F - Cold Holding). Ambient air temperature of unit 61F. Manager stated all food was placed into unit appropriately three hours prior and began placing food into the walk-in cooler to cool to 41F.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Three aerosol cans containing glass cleaner stored on top of reach-in freezer beside takeout containers. Inspector had manager remove glass cleaner from area during this inspection.
Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Four backflow prevention devices missing at hose connections at three-compartment sink.
No soap and/or paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No towels at handwash sink at kitchen entrance. Manager replenished towels during this inspection. No soap at handwash sink at front counter. Manager replenishedsoap during this inspection.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Condiment cup without handle stored inside container of sugar at front counter.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two co2 tanks not secured near back door.
Clean utensils stored between equipment and wall. Two knives stored between table and reach-in cooler at cookline.
Food stored on floor. Plastic bottles of water on floor behind front counter. Employee placed waters on a bucket off the floor during this inspection.
Hood filter missing from automatic fire suppression/exhaust system. Hood filters missing at hood above grill.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup on shelving inside reach-in freezer at cookline.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee bottled water on shelf above cucumbers in walk-in cooler.
Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Reuse of single-use foil pans stacked on storage shelf near three-compartment sink.
Stored food not covered. Pan of pork stored uncovered inside reach-in freezer near walk-in cooler.
Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Floor soiled with construction debris near handwash sink behind front counter. Hood above grill soiled with grease.
Wall not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, warewashing areas or bathroom. Inside of door to kitchen is unsealed plywood.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Metal pan containing sugar missing label at front counter.
Dec 15, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Bread stored inside black garbage bag in box on shelf inside reach-in cooler.
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Two unisex restrooms in establishment missing covered waste baskets.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup on shelving inside reach-in freezers throughout kitchen.
Dec 6, 2023Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 13 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority4 Intermediate5 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 had no chemical lines leading into unit. Manager stated they manually add bleach and soap to dish machine. Manager ran dish machine, chlorine 0PPM. Inspector instructed manager to discontinue use of the dish machine for sanitizing and to use the three-compartment sink to sanitize dishes until the dish machine is repaired.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw pan of raw beef stored on shelf above cucumbers and pan of cooked sausage inside walk-in cooler. Raw chicken stored on shelf above cooked potatoes inside walk-in cooler. Manager moved all cooked items to upper shelves inside walk-in cooler during this inspection.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside reach-in cooler near cookline: fish (45F - Cold Holding). Manager stated he believes the hot pans he placed inside unit has warmed the ambient temperature (50F). Inspector had manager place fish into the freezer to cool to 41F.
Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Backflow prevention device missing from hose connection at mop sink behind building.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Coffee dumped into handwash sink behind front counter.
No certified food manager for establishment. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Manager unavailable to locate a certified food manager certificate for any employees.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No towels at handwash sink at cookline. Manager replenished towels during this inspection.
Warewashing machine not automatically dispensing the detergent and/or the sanitizer. Dish machine does not automatically dispense chemicals, staff is adding chemicals to machine by hand.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two co2 tanks behind front counter not secured.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Heavy ice buildup on shelves inside both blue reach-in freezers in kitchen.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Foil pans stored not inverted on top of blue reach-in freezer in kitchen. Manager inverted pans during this inspection.
Stored food not covered. Pan of frozen fish stored uncovered inside blue reach-in freezer in kitchen.
Wood food-contact surface not properly sealed. Wooden food storage shelves in dry storage area of kitchen not sealed.
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.