VITA ITALIAN RESTAURANT
10014 GRIFFIN RD, Fort Lauderdale FL 33328 · 954.434.8422
Last inspected Mar 10, 2026 · 7 visits since March 2024
MAY 24
DEC 24
APR 25
OCT 25
MAR 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between B and F. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired December 1, 2023. License paid during inspection. Confirmation # 236059072
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Mar 10, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 7 findingsThe state's own report →
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw clams over ready to eat sausage and chicken in Atosa freezer. Operator properly separated foods
Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Flip top cooler- at 2:18 cut lettuce 49F ambient cooling for 15 minutes to 48F at 3:10pm. At this rate proper cooling to 41F in four hours will not occur. Operator voluntarily threw out food
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Observed raw fish in rop packaging bearing the label to remove from ROP before thawing. Per operator food in ROP for less than four hours ago. Operator removed fish from ROP
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee working with food without hair restraint p. Employee put on hat
Show the remaining 3 findings ▾
Equipment in poor repair. Gasket torn on front kitchen Pepsi cooler
Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall by dish area
Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Observed bottom shelf of Atosa freezer soiled with food debris
Oct 16, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk in cooler, tray of raw breaded chicken over tray of ground beef tubes. Manager rearranged for proper separation.
Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In left Pepsi cooler in kitchen, 5 pieces snapper fully thawed still in vacuum packaging. Per manager thawed more than 4 hours. See stop sale.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. In left Pepsi cooler in kitchen, 5 pieces snapper fully thawed still in vacuum packaging. Per manager thawed more than 4 hours. See stop sale.
Food stored on floor. Buckets of tomato sauce on floor in walk in cooler.
Apr 23, 2025Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 8 violations recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. 1) In kitchen right Pepsi reach in, bread bowl in standard plastic to go bag 2) At front service area, trayed rolls in black garbage bag. Employees removed all from plastic bags and wrapped with plastic wrap.
Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In kitchen reach in freezer, in house portioned raw philly steak meat on shelf above open bags of cooked bacon. Employee moved steak meat to bottom of freezer to properly separate.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Raw breaded veal and chicken and baked ziti in kitchen Pepsi reach in cooler missing date marked. Per employee, all made on 4-21.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. CO2 tanks behind front counter not secured.
Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Employee open beverage container on shelf next to microwave directly above dishware and kitchen make table. Employees removed all removed beverage and discarded.
No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. In both kitchen Pepsi reach in coolers.
Stored food not covered. Bulk container of salt in prep area not covered. Employee wrapped with plastic.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk container of salt missing label. Employee labeled.
Dec 17, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.
Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At cook line hand sink due to damaged faucet handle.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Small CO2 tanks by front counter not secured.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Faucet/handle missing or damaged at plumbing fixture. Hot water faucet handle stripped at cook line hand sink.
Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall between triple sink and dish machine.
Dec 16, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 15 recorded, 4 high priority.
4 High priority4 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 15 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. In Pepsi glassfront cooler in kitchen, bread bowls in standard plastic printed to go bags. Employee removed from bags and plastic wrapped with approved wrap.
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler, flat of raw shell eggs on shelf above container of cooked sausage and prepared eggplant. Employee moved eggs to bottom of adjacent shelf.
Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Employee at cook line handled cell phone and continued to prepare food items without washing hands and changing gloves. Reviewed proper had washing/ gloves procedures with employee for going forward.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In hallway DESSERT 2 DOOR GLASSFRONT - individual butters (53F - Cold Holding); house made cheesecakes (53-54F - Cold Holding); ricotta cheese filling (53F - Cold Holding). Per manager none prepared or portioned today. All in unit overnight. See stop sale.
Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In walk in cooler, house made cheesecakes and portioned lasagna from freezer missing date marks.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unknown substance in spray bottle on hostess stand.
Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. At cook line hand sink due to damaged faucet handle.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Small CO2 tanks by front counter not secured.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Employee's open container beverages at pizza station and on prep table by cook line.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee backpack on shelf with canned goods and pizza boxes at pizza station.
Faucet/handle missing or damaged at plumbing fixture. Hot water faucet handle stripped at cook line hand sink.
Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall between triple sink and dish machine.
In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Spatulas in container of standing water by glassfront dessert cooler.
May 29, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 10 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate6 Basic
Show 10 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken stored over bucket containing white sauce inside walk in cooler. Operator moved raw chicken and stored correctly.
Establishment not maintaining clams tags for 90 days.
No soap provided at handwash sink in kitchen. Operator provided
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Pizza slices using Time as a public health control without written procedures. Emailed written procedures.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured in pizza station and behind front counter in dining room.
Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee sneakers on top cause of tomato paste in pizza station. Operator moved
Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in or other damage to wall under hand sink and next to 3 compartment sink in cook line.
Stored food not covered. Buckets with sauces on floor in walk in cooler.
Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
Mar 25, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 12 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority3 Intermediate7 Basic
Show 12 findings ▾
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired December 1, 2023. License paid during inspection. Confirmation # 236059072
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Fresh garlic in oil at 60 F ( room temperature) held under no temperature control for food safety at wait station less than 4 hours ago. Operator moved to reach in cooler to quick chill. Suggested using time as a public health control.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Cheese not date marked inside walk cooler. Cheese prepped 2 days ago. Operator dated during inspection.
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. Provided procedures, operator posted.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Pizza slices using Time as a public health control without written procedures. Emailed written procedures form to manager.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense flour in kitchen. Operator removed bowl
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured in kitchen.
Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Container with tomato sauce on floor inside walk in cooler.
Hole in or other damage to wall under hand sink in cook line.
Single-service articles improperly stored. Pizza boxes wrapped in plastic stored on floor in hallway to restroom.
Stored food not covered. Flour container not covered in kitchen. Operator covered
Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
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.