Cotufa Kitchen

915 Middle River Dr #110, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Nov 6, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

Public records show seven inspections at Cotufa Kitchen stretching back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Nov 6, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around six violations to closer to three violations per visit over the last few inspections.

“Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.

Compared to other Fort Lauderdale restaurants (averaging 80), there's room to close the gap. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Nov 6, 2025

Routine - Food

2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 6 violations

High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Triple door reach in - raw chicken (43-47F). Per operator items held in unit overnight. Item not prepped or portioned today. Observed torn gaskets. Operator stated she would immediately fully cook. **Corrective Action Taken**

03A-02-5

High Priority - Employee put on gloves and prepared a customer order - touched clean utensils and single service items - without first washing hands. Reviewed proper hand washing and employee washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**

12A-16-4

Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Quaternary and chlorine.

16-37-1

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. 1 employee without food handler/CFM training. Reviewed Food Employee Reporting Agreement to operator.

11-26-1

Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Torn gaskets on triple door reach in.

14-74-7

Basic - Insect control device installed over food preparation area. Back prep area - bug light over shelving with dry good food items.

35B-02-4

Mar 21, 2025

Routine - Food

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwashing sink at cook line. Operator supplied paper towels **Corrected On-Site**

31B-02-4

Basic - Food stored on floor. On kitchen, bottles of water and cans of soda stored on floor. Operator moved items to shelf. **Corrected On-Site**

08B-38-4

Nov 6, 2024

Food-Licensing Inspection

No violations found.

100

Oct 24, 2024

Food-Licensing Inspection

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishwasher (Chlorine 0ppm). Advised operator that unit needs to be repaired or removed. **Warning**

22-49-4

Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Prep area - triple door True unit - no TCS items - ambient temperature of unit (52F) **Warning**

14-74-7

Apr 3, 2024

Routine - Food

3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.

View 13 violations

Certified Food Manager Identification

FL-02

Employee Health Policies Present

FL-03

Supervisor/Person in Charge Present

FL-01

Hands Clean and Properly Washed

FL-08

Food Received at Proper Temperature

FL-12

Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events

FL-05

Approved Thawing Methods Used

FL-31

Washing Fruits and Vegetables

FL-42

Toilet Rooms Maintained

FL-53

Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels

FL-14

Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated

FL-13

Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures

FL-21

Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature

FL-29

Jun 26, 2023

Routine - Food

2 major violations.

View 2 violations

Sewage and Wastewater Properly Disposed

FL-27

Toilet Rooms Maintained

FL-53

Dec 28, 2022

Routine - Food

1 critical violation. 3 major violations.

View 4 violations

High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw pork stored over fruit in chest freezer. Operator stored all items properly. **Corrected On-Site**

08A-02-6

Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk - front counter. Per operator opened 3 days ago. Operator voluntarily discarded. **Corrected On-Site**

02C-03-5

Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.

53B-14-5

Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Cookline hand sink. Operator turned on valve below sink. Hot water - 100F. **Corrected On-Site**

27-16-4

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Cotufa Kitchen last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Cotufa Kitchen on file is from Nov 6, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Cotufa Kitchen?

Across the inspection record, “cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Cotufa Kitchen.

How does Cotufa Kitchen compare to other restaurants in Fort Lauderdale?

Cotufa Kitchen most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Fort Lauderdale average of 80.

Has Cotufa Kitchen's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Cotufa Kitchen have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Cotufa Kitchen 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 Cotufa Kitchen inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Cotufa Kitchen is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 45 — High Risk

Jalisco

700 N Federal Hwy

Score: 74 — Medium Risk

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→ All locations in Fort Lauderdale → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Florida → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Fort Lauderdale