Over the past three months, five Gainesville restaurants have shut down after food inspections revealed high-priority violations, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. They have all since reopened.
“High priority” violations are those which could contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury — including cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing, according to the department’s website.
The department releases weekly state shutdown reports, which are compiled each Sunday. The most recent information comes from the week ending Aug. 17.
Bageland
Bageland, a mom-and-pop bagel shop located at 2441 NW 43rd St., Suite 6C in the Thornebrook shopping complex, shut down on Aug. 11. Inspectors found 23 violations, four of which were high priorities.
Top violations included employees handling dirty equipment and then preparing food without washing hands or wearing gloves, storing cooked bacon on a raw shelled egg tray and keeping walk-in cooler temperatures too high.
Bageland did not correct subsequent violations on a follow-up visit the next day, with two dead roaches remaining under the prep table in the back kitchen. On Aug. 13, two days after the initial visit, the eatery still failed to address concerns, with multiple dead roaches found throughout the kitchen and storage areas. The restaurant finally met standards to reopen on a follow-up visit the same day, although one basic violation remained.
Esperanza Latin Restaurant
Esperanza Latin Restaurant at 2441 NW 43rd St., Suite 13 closed Aug. 12 after inspectors found 38 violations, 12 of which were high priority. The family-owned eatery, located in the Thornebrook Shopping Plaza, was flagged for roach activity, including one live roach on the cookline and rodent activity evidenced by droppings in the kitchen.
Other violations included storing hand sanitizer with dry food, employees not wearing gloves while handling cell phones and raw animal food not being separated from ready-to-eat food.
The restaurant resolved the majority of its issues during subsequent visits. It still had one high-priority violation for holding food at temperatures greater than the required 41 degrees as of its latest documented visit Aug. 14. The restaurant requires a follow-up inspection but poses no threat to the general public.
Latin Food Blessing
Latin Food Blessing, a family-owned eatery located in west Gainesville at 7249 NW Fourth Blvd., closed July 31 after inspectors found nine violations, three of which were high priorities for live roaches and for employees not washing hands or changing gloves. A second inspection occurred Aug. 1. The restaurant had zero violations on its follow-up inspection and was cleared to reopen.
La Pasadita
La Pasadita, a Mexican restaurant located north of the UF main campus at 4126 NW Sixth St., closed July 21 after inspectors found 21 violations, nine of which were high priority — including live flies found in the kitchen, rodent droppings found behind the grill and beans stored on top of a degreasing cleanser.
A second inspection occurred July 22, and the restaurant was cleared to reopen after investigators found no violations.
Afternoon Restaurant
Afternoon Restaurant, a Gainesville brunch favorite found at 231 NW 10th Ave., closed May 30 after inspectors found 16 violations, six of which were high priority.
The eatery was flagged for live, small flying insects; about 10 live roaches on the floor under clean dish storage; and other violations, including multiple involving employees not properly washing hands.
A follow-up inspection occurred May 31. The restaurant met standards with no violations and was cleared to reopen.
Contact Zoey at zthomas@alligator.org. Follow her on X @zoeythomas39.
Zoey Thomas is a media production junior and The Alligator's Spring 2025 data editor. She previously reported for the metro, university and enterprise desks. In her free time, you can find her reading, crocheting or arguing for the superiority of sweet potatoes over regular potatoes.
