Shakespeare might say, “All’s well that ends well.”
The Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, reopened its doors April 15 after a short closure by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The restaurant was visited April 14 by an agency inspector who, during a routine inspection, found 38 live cockroaches in the kitchen and in boxes stored in a secondary kitchen.
The inspector cited the restaurant for seven other infractions, including improper food handling temperatures and an ice scoop without a handle, according to the DBPR report.
After the initial inspection, general manager Joe Rogers called in the restaurant’s pest control service, but during a follow-up inspection, three dead roaches and three living ones were found in the same areas.
A third inspection was conducted at about 1 p.m. April 15, clearing the restaurant and allowing it to reopen for business.
In a news release, Rogers said, “I am confident that this is an isolated incident and not an accurate reflection of our restaurant, its staff or our product, and I personally apologize for any inconvenience our temporary closing has caused and, more importantly, for letting our customers down.”
The restaurant was closed less than 24 hours.
Health concerns with the restaurant’s practices didn’t keep patrons away for long. Guests readily returned to the restaurant when it reopened April 15.
On April 17, Oma’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 201 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, was ordered to close by the DBPR. The inspector reported 20 dead roaches, tongs hanging on the oven door, household pesticide stored on premises, live roach activity and employees who lacked current training certificates.
Starting April 8, following several failed inspections, Jose’s Real Cuban Food, 8799 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, closed and reopened April 14 for dinner.