Golden Lion Cafe (The)
Last inspected: Apr 14, 2026
74
Score
The health department has logged 13 inspections at Golden Lion Cafe (The), the earliest from 2022. Golden Lion Cafe (The) was last inspected on Apr 14, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around five violations compared to roughly eight violations earlier on.
Looking across the full record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
The city-wide average is 76, putting Golden Lion Cafe (The) squarely in typical territory. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
13
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 14, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Observed time control used for butter and fry batter. No written procedures available. Provided blank copy to person in charge. **Corrective Action Taken**
03F-10-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed food debris standing water on floor under AC handler in kitchen. Person in charge instructed employee to clean once repair was done. **Corrective Action Taken**
36-22-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in cooler drawer gaskets soiled with food debris. Observed reach in freezer gaskets soiled with black/green mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed interior shelves with rust inside reach in cooler at oyster bar Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice buildup up on equipment in walk-in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-33-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Observed AC handler in kitchen leaking water onto floor. Person in charge had onsite maintenance to investigate during inspection and was able to fix. **Corrected On-Site**
29-11-4
74
Sep 16, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. At bar dish machine at 0ppm. After priming it tested at 75Ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At bar. Person in charge labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Server ice machine has rust on inside top/sides.
22-20-5
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Oven door handles are greasy. Person in charge wiped clean.
23-24-4
Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall juncture broken/missing. In back room right before oysters and soda boxes; cove molding missing or broken.
36-03-4
Basic - Food-contact surface/non food contact surface not smooth and easily cleanable. Slaw cooler at end of cook line has manufacturers tape inside door.
14-13-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. White freezer on end of cook line has ice buildup.
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Left hand side over is soiled.
22-08-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in expo cooler. Person in charge wiped cooler dry. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop not hanging up to dry. Person in charge hung up to dry. **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
52
May 5, 2025
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Feb 24, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
50
Sep 25, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer in spray bottle/bucket not at proper minimum strength. Bucket tests at 10ppm. Person in charge added tablet and it tested @ 200ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-40-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Ceiling throughout kitchen has black substance and is peeling.
36-32-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drink on clean dish rack. Person in charge removed drink. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles through out kitchen area are cracked/missing allowing water to get trapped.
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on beer cooler are slimy.
23-03-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. In reach in freezer shrimp not covered. Person in charge covered. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
67
Dec 19, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
39
Jul 20, 2023
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Jul 19, 2023
Complaint Full
9 critical violations. 1 major violation. 13 minor violations.
View 23 violations
High Priority - Food placed in soiled container/equipment. Grocery bags filled with ice on top of Fish, shrimp in drawers.
08B-27-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 5 flies on cookline; 3 flies in dish area and 3 flies in storage area. **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in freezer raw salmon over cooked chicken. Person in charge moved salmon to bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Garlic aioli dated 7.9. Today is 7.19.
02C-01-5
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed; 1 live roach under dishmachine. Person in charge disposed of. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-05-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Garlic aioli dated 7.9. Today is 7.19. Person in charge discarded. **Corrective Action Taken**
01B-13-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Shrimp on bottom shelf of oyster cooler 45F.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Shrimp in oyster area bottom shelf 45F. Person in charge discarded. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Kitchen Dish machine sanitizer is at 0ppm. Person in charge set up sanitizer sink. **Warning**
22-41-4
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 in walk in cooler not dated. Person in charge dated milk yesterday. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Soufflé cup used to scoop garlic butter. Person in charge removed soufflé cup. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed 1 dead roach along wall where mop sink is ..pic disposed of. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. All mini cooler have torn gaskets. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. In front of silver reach in cooler.
36-22-4
Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Grease on floor behind cookline.
36-01-4
Basic - Food contaminated by unsanitized equipment or utensil. See stop sale.
08B-19-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. White reach in freezer on cookline has ice buildup. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of ice machine/bin with rust that has pitted the surface Ice machine in server area is rusted.
14-34-4
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer bucket on prep table. Person in charge moved sanitizer bucket to store properly. **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom of reach in cooler #3. Person in charge wiped dry. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Calimari thawing in standing water. Person in charge placed calimari back into reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
06-01-5
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Hand washing sink in inside bar area is leaking.
29-11-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. In server area; sugar not labeled. Person in charge labeled.
02D-01-5
12
May 8, 2023
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 11 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 2 flies in storage area. Person in charge disposed of flies. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Calimari, pollack 51F; ( - Cold Holding) person in charge placed on on them. Only out 2 hrs. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Missing at hand washing sink on left in front of kitchen. Nozzle broken. Person in charge called repair company. **Corrective Action Taken**
27-16-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Rust in large ice machine.
22-20-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Soufflé cup used to scoop blue cheese. Person in charge removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on 2nd reach in cooler on cookline is grooved.
14-09-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Flour lid and container are cracked.
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach in freezer on cookline has ice buildup. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Pair of tongs hanging from oven doors. Person in charge moved tongs. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Water in bottom of 1st reach in cooler on cookline. **Repeat Violation**
29-49-6
Basic - Stored food not covered. In reach in freezer; chicken tenders not covered. Person in charge covered. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Shrimp thawing is standing water. Person in charge turned cold water on. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Several rags on prep tables. Person in charge placed in sanitizer buckets. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour not labeled. Person in charge labeled. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
39
Mar 9, 2023
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Jan 19, 2023
Complaint Partial
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
86
Jan 3, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
43
Jul 13, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Golden Lion Cafe (The) last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Golden Lion Cafe (The) on file is from Apr 14, 2026. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Golden Lion Cafe (The)?
Across the inspection record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Golden Lion Cafe (The).
How does Golden Lion Cafe (The) compare to other restaurants in Flagler Beach?
Golden Lion Cafe (The) most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is about the same as the Flagler Beach average of 76.
Has Golden Lion Cafe (The)'s inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Golden Lion Cafe (The) have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Golden Lion Cafe (The) 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 Golden Lion Cafe (The) inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Golden Lion Cafe (The) is inspected around three times per year on average.
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