Lemon Leaf Cafe
Last inspected: Mar 19, 2026
78
Score
Lemon Leaf Cafe has been inspected 10 times since 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Mar 19, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around one violation to closer to five violations per visit.
“Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.
Lemon Leaf Cafe's latest score is in line with the Largo average of 75. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 19, 2026
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. **Warning**
53B-05-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl with no handle used in grits and flour in dry storage. Operator replaced bowls with handled scoops.**Repeat Violation** **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee personal food in reach in cooler not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. **Warning**
08B-49-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at front counter hand sink used by food employees. **Warning**
31B-04-4
78
Jan 6, 2026
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Old mattress and furniture located near shared dumpster. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2026-01-06: **Time Extended**
33-31-5
95
Nov 5, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Server clearing plates not washing hands when returning to tables for service. **Warning**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Operator cracked eggs into pan and did not wash hands before continuing to prepare food. **Warning**
12A-27-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Benedict poached eggs not identified on menu. **Warning**
02B-01-5
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/. Observed employee scooping ice for drinks at front counter and serving drinks to the customer without a handwash sink in the vicinity. **Warning**
51-16-7
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Liza presented with copy of certificate and Florencia has food handler card in place of certificate. **Warning**
53B-09-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Single service used as scoop in grits. **Warning**
14-01-5
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. Operator cut slit in ROP fish and placed in cooler to thaw. Educated operator about removing fish from plastic entirely. Operator removed from plastic. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
06-09-1
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employees cooking without hair restraints. Operator put on hat. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid on shared dumpster. **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Sour cream container and whipped butter container reused in dry storage for spices. **Warning**
25-32-4
Basic - Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Old mattress and furniture located near shared dumpster. **Warning**
33-31-5
41
Jan 17, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 12, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Holinqdoz sauce hot holdingat 112. Manager put on stove. Redemption 172 degrees **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Handle of silver door broken.
14-11-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Employee moved. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
78
Mar 22, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 24, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Pot soup date marked 1-15-2024 in reach in cooler Manager discarded **Corrective Action Taken**
02C-01-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Near three compartment sink
31B-02-4
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. Establishment has been open more then 60 days with two employees with no proof of employee training. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed vegetable over ready to eat soup. manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
67
Sep 27, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Broken cooler door handle near entrance to kitchen **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-09-27: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
95
Sep 5, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
61
Dec 21, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -can opener blade above prep table has accumulation of food residue -stove top at cooks line has accumulation of food residue -pots at cooks line have accumulation of grease -fryer baskets have accumulation of grease -ice chute at front counter has mold like residue
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. -blocked by trash can at hand sink in kitchen area Operator moved can during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas.
36-37-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Operator was able show license during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
50-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. -water bottle above ice machine in kitchen area
12B-07-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. -throughout kitchen area
36-17-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer chest in kitchen area
14-69-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. -utensil at cooks line in water at 70 degrees Fahrenheit Operator discarded during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. -at prep table in kitchen area
21-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -sides of fryer have accumulation of grease -standing fan next to reach in freezer chest has accumulation of dust
23-03-4
Basic - Ten (10) foot-candles of light at least 30 inches from floor not provided in dry food storage area.
38-05-4
50
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Lemon Leaf Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Lemon Leaf Cafe on file is from Mar 19, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Lemon Leaf Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Lemon Leaf Cafe.
How does Lemon Leaf Cafe compare to other restaurants in Largo?
Lemon Leaf Cafe most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is about the same as the Largo average of 75.
Has Lemon Leaf Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Lemon Leaf Cafe have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Lemon Leaf Cafe 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 Lemon Leaf Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Lemon Leaf Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants