Cocina Cafe
Last inspected: Feb 2, 2026
74
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Cocina Cafe stretching back to 2023. The most recent report on file is from Feb 2, 2026. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near five violations per visit across recent inspections.
“Equipment in poor repair” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
Compared to the broader Palm Bay restaurant scene, this is about average. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 2, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw hamburger balls stored over ready to eat mayo and sauces in walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone charging above prep table in kitchen. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Two 2 door hot holding units in kitchen have torn gaskets on upper and lower doors.
14-11-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Salt container missing label. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
74
Oct 9, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - 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/ no food manager present with more than four employees. **Corrected On-Site** - From follow-up inspection 2025-10-09: Mejas, still has not attended the food manager course. Owner with food manager card showed during inspection. Must be complied by next unannounced inspection **Time Extended**
53A-05-6
90
Sep 29, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Shredded port at 50f in cooler at flat grill, placed in freezer for rapid chill. Had been out for 1 hour.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Hot time/temperature control for safety food received at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese pastry at 71f for 2 hours. Move to hot holding. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-15-5
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Sanitizer at zero. At zero corrected to 150 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-43-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Next to walk-in cooler at prep table. **Warning**
31A-04-4
Intermediate - 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/ no food manager present with more than four employees. **Corrected On-Site**
53A-05-6
Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Operator removed hand wash sink in kitchen. Must install at original location or contact plan review for new location. **Warning**
51-16-7
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Salt being portioned with bowl. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Bug zapper over pastry make table. **Corrected On-Site**
35B-02-4
Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Old gallon milk containers with a hollow handle used to hold monfongo sauce. **Corrected On-Site**
25-32-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Chicken base, salt, and adobe not covered. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. On make table over salt. **Corrected On-Site**
21-09-4
37
Feb 5, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Frozen Raw beef not in original package stored over fruit pulp boxes, moved by manager **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Sink next to kitchen door paper towels placed at sink **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phone on prep table removed by staff Several Personal items stored on shelves with single service items in storage area **Corrective Action Taken**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Metal pans on drying rack **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gasket in reach in ice cream freezer **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Large stir sticks
10-07-4
55
Jul 3, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
47
Feb 6, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-06: **Time Extended**
53B-01-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair- gaskets on sandwich make reach-in cooler torn **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-06: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Standing water in bottom of sandwich reach-in-cooler. - From follow-up inspection 2024-02-06: **Time Extended**
29-49-6
82
Feb 5, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit: cheesecakes in display case 48F, moved from walk-in 2.5 hours prior. Operator rapidly chilled product and turned down temperature for the case, retemped at 36F**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit: cooked potatoes (115F - Hot Holding); cooked sausage (95F - Hot Holding); yucca (124F - Hot Holding); potato balls, 2.5 hours (110F - Hot Holding); ribs (129F - Hot Holding) All moved to buffet line 2.5 hours. Suggested rapid reheat. Operator took items back to kitchen to reheat, added more water to buffet line to reach bottom of pans and turned up buffet line temperature. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Raw shell eggs stored over prepped veggies in standing reach-in cooler **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times: hand wash sink by sandwich table blocked by hose, hand wash sink by prep table blocked by garbage can **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-01-5
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink by prep table, operator stated the wall mount dispenser broke and they are going to get a new one. **Corrective Action Taken**
31B-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair- gaskets on sandwich make reach-in cooler torn **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Food storage container lid cracked on red plastic tub in walk-in cooler
14-38-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of sandwich reach-in-cooler.
29-49-6
Basic - Bowl with no handle used to dispense sugar **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
39
Jul 27, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 2 live flying insects front line adding air curtains to front door and added one to back door two days ago **Corrective Action Taken**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shelled eggs over roast beef **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. -Glass display case in front- cheese cake (54F - Cooling); strawberry cheesecake (47F - Cooling); cheesecake Operator states items were out on counter before placed in display case, suggested rapid chill. Retemped (40F - Cold Holding); strawberry cheesecake Retemped (40F - Cold Holding) Front counter cold bar pasta salad (44F - Cold Holding); chicken salad (55F - Cold Holding); suggested rapid chill placed on line 2 hours ago, missing pan on top fill unit. Retemped at pasta salad 40F and chicken salad 41F **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. beef potato ball (100F - Hot Holding); chicken potatoes ball (107F - Hot Holding); yuca (115F - Hot Holding) Suggested rapid reheat on items: Beef potato ball 200F Chicken potatoes ball 170F Yuca 190F **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - 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. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Intermediate - Food thermometer(s) not calibrated according to manufacturer's specifications. Calibrated thermometer with operator
05-07-4
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Allowing people to order eggs undercooked no advisory **Corrected On-Site**
02B-02-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Torn gasket reach in front counter cooler
14-11-5
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking utensils at 90F **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth on cookline unit
21-12-4
Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer Bucket (Quaternary 00ppm); Sanitizer Bucket (Quaternary 400ppm) **Corrected On-Site**
21-08-4
33
May 26, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cocina Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cocina Cafe on file is from Feb 2, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cocina Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “equipment in poor repair” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Cocina Cafe.
How does Cocina Cafe compare to other restaurants in Palm Bay?
Cocina Cafe most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is about the same as the Palm Bay average of 76.
Has Cocina Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cocina Cafe have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Cocina Cafe means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Cocina Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cocina Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants