ZARZA RESTAURANT LATIN FOOD & GRILL
4848 CLEVELAND HEIGHTS BLVD, Lakeland FL 33813 · 863.607.3702
Last inspected Aug 12, 2026 · 10 visits since September 2023
JAN 25
SEP 25
JAN 26
MAR 26
AUG 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections trending down, 12 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. Emailed copy to manager
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
10 visits, newest first
Aug 12, 2026Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 4 recorded.
0 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 4 findings
Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification.
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Walk in cooler.
Light not functioning. Hood system over the right fryer on the cook line.
Mar 24, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over or with produce. Raw shrimp in reach in cooler over yucca, operator removed raw shrimp to the other side over raw chicken.
Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. In walk in freezer containers of raw chicken, operator removed from the floor.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Soda dispenser- outside panel, operator cleaned and sanitized area.
Jan 28, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Thank you bag holding corn
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot holding cooks line whole chickens 115-121, manager placed to reheat
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime.
No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Currently 4 food handlers no CFM present. Manager Richard Avelino 6/10/21 Servsafe arrived during the inspection
Equipment in poor repair. Gasket torn walk in cooler
Food stored on floor. In walk in freezer. Employee picked items up
Sep 5, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clear pans on the table in the dishwasher area.
Jan 3, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Silverware/utensils dried with a towel/cloth. Employee dried equipment with a yellow towel. I informed the employee to let the utensils air dry.
Aug 20, 2024□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Nonfood-contact equipment exposed to splash/spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Bottom shelf of the table in the dishwasher area is pitted and rusty.
Aug 16, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 3 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Product in the top and bottom section of the flip top reach in cooler. The product was moved into the walk in cooler. cheese (46F - Cold Holding); pork (45F - Cold Holding); beef (45F - Cold Holding); chicken (46F - Cold Holding)
Warewashing sanitizing solution exceeding the maximum concentration allowed. Chlorine 200 ppm. The operator made new sanitizer at 100 ppm
Nonfood-contact equipment exposed to splash/spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Bottom shelf of the table in the dishwasher area is pitted and rusty.
Mar 21, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Food stored on floor. A case of chicken on the floor under the prep table in the dishwasher area. The chicken was removed from off the floor.
Jan 5, 2024Inspection 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 ▾
Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 200 ppm. Operator made fresh sanitizer solution at the correct ppm.
Food-contact surfaces in contact with time/temperature control for safety food not cleaned at least every four hours. Container with flour and eggs for battering meat. The operator removed the container to the dishwasher area to be washed, rinsed and sa.
No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator had the employees to read and sign the forms.
Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured. Next to the beverage syrup rack in the hallway across from the bathrooms.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Black backpack on a bag of long grain brown white rice in the dishwasher area. The backpack was removed.
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knives between large flip top reach in cooler and small table across from the cook line. The knives was removed to be washed, rinsed and sanitized.
Light not functioning. Hood system. Epoxy on kitchen and prep area floors damaged.
No copy of latest inspection report available.
Sep 23, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 6 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
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. Emailed copy to manager
No proof provided that some food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Some employees have not acknowledged. Emailed Spanish and english copies to owner
Equipment in poor repair. Observed missing warmer door on cook line
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Observed damaged epoxy on cook line and prep area
No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Emailed copy to owner
Observed cracked squeeze bottle lid on cook line. Manager discarded
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.