Gators Dockside Highland City
Last inspected: Mar 13, 2026
82
Score
Gators Dockside Highland City appears in inspection records nine times, starting in 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Mar 13, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near five violations per visit across recent inspections.
“Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
By comparison, the average Lakeland facility scores 85, putting Gators Dockside Highland City on the weaker side. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 13, 2026
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Light not functioning. Hood system.
36-62-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Salmon and Red snapper. The fish was removed from the packaging thaw. **Corrective Action Taken**
06-09-1
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelf in the dry storage area.
24-08-4
Basic - Non-stick coating peeling/chipping off of pans/utensils. Interior of the ice machine. **Repeat Violation**
14-37-4
82
Nov 5, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Employee arranged mozzarella cheese sticks and boneless chicken on a plate with her bare hands. Manager explained to her to put a glove on her hand.
09-01-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee preparing food on the cook line.
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelf in the dry storage area.
24-08-4
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Kitchen.
36-11-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Knives between reach in cooler and prep table across from the cook line.
10-17-4
Basic - Non-stick coating peeling/chipping off of interior of the ice machine.
14-37-4
67
Jan 2, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade at the end of the prep table entering the dry storage/ walk in cooler area. The can opener was removed to be washed, rinsed and sanitized. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelf in the dry storage area.
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. A case of ribs on the floor inside the walk in freezer the ribs was removed from off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Across from the flat grill in the kitchen.
29-49-6
78
Aug 21, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soiled can opener blade on the can opener at the end of 2 compartment sink next to the hand was sink. Slicer blade on the table next to the ice machine. Both items was removed to the dishwasher area to be washed, rinsed and sanitized. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. Near the ice chute. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Top of the dishwasher
16-21-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Cup of 7/11 coffee on the cutting board on the flip top reach in cooler across from the grill. The beverage was discarded. **Repeat Violation**
12B-12-5
Basic - Light not functioning. 7nder hood system above the grill. **Repeat Violation**
36-62-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gasket on the single door reach in cooler in the bar area.
23-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. On the small white cutting board next to the single door reach in freezer across from the cook line. The towel was removed. **Corrected On-Site**
21-09-4
67
Nov 30, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade is soiled. Removed to the dishwasher area to be washed, rinsed and sanitized. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. A case of Pepsi zero stored on the floor next to the beverage syrup rack by the walk in cooler. Syrup was removed from off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Interior of microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. On shelf above the expo line.
22-08-4
Basic - Light not functioning. Under the hood system above the grill section. Floor warped in the kitchen on the cook line.
36-62-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Pans on the shelf in the dry storage area.
16-46-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. Near the ice chute.
22-20-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Cup used to scoop ice. The manager informed the employee to use the ice scoop. **Corrective Action Taken**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Beverage on the expo line and a bottled water in the kitchen next to sleeves of bread across from the cook line. Both beverages was discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-12-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Black jacket and cell phone and keys on the slicer. The items was removed and the slicer was washed, rinsed and sanitized. **Corrective Action Taken**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on the shelf in the dry storage area next to the wall in freezer.
24-08-4
58
Jul 17, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Observed damaged flooring throughout kitchen **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-17: **Time Extended**
36-11-4
95
Jul 13, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line pepsi cooler: sauerkraut (50F - Cold Holding); hot dog (50F - Cold Holding); Swiss (48F - Cold Holding) Manager moved to freezer, and is having hvac team looking at cooler as they are currently on site **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Observed pans of raw chicken, gator and shrimp stored in reach in cooler on cook line under dripping condensation due to ice buildup. Manager voluntarily discarded product **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
01B-13-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting 1/3 pans in dry storage **Warning**
24-08-4
Basic - Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored under dripping water from ice build up in reach in cooler on cook line. Observed pans of raw chicken, gator, and shrimp. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08B-52-4
Basic - Observed clean pans stored-on dirty rack in storage **Warning**
24-06-4
Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Observed damaged flooring throughout kitchen **Warning**
36-11-4
58
Jan 30, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Server expo line pico de gallo (60F - Cold Holding). Manager discarded **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. 1/3 pan of alligator stored under dripping water
01B-13-4
Intermediate - 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.
11-27-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water.
36-22-4
Basic - Food stored under dripping water in reach in cooler from iced up condenser. 1/3 pan of alligator. Stop sale issued
08B-52-4
Basic - Standing water in floor drain at bar
29-19-4
58
Jul 27, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Gators Dockside Highland City last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Gators Dockside Highland City on file is from Mar 13, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Gators Dockside Highland City?
Across the inspection record, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Gators Dockside Highland City.
How does Gators Dockside Highland City compare to other restaurants in Lakeland?
Gators Dockside Highland City most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is lower than the Lakeland average of 85.
Has Gators Dockside Highland City's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Gators Dockside Highland City have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Gators Dockside Highland City means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Gators Dockside Highland City inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Gators Dockside Highland City is inspected around two times per year on average.
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