Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill
Last inspected: Apr 21, 2026
55
Score
Across the available record, Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2023. The latest inspection on file is from Apr 21, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near three violations each time.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “food-contact surface soiled with food debris”, showing up two times.
Restaurants in Lutz average 80, so Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill trails the local norm. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
8
Inspections
1
Critical latest
3
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 21, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw shell eggs above unwashed produce in walk in cooler, operator removed the eggs to bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked beef and cooked chicken no date mark over 24 Hours in walk in cooler , operator marked them correctly
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board stained in kitchen
22-02-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. No test kit for both of dish machine and triple sink
16-37-1
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler gasket soled and black mold like substance buildup in kitchen Soda gun holder soiled in bar
23-03-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table in kitchen, operator removed it
12B-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bottle water on floor in bar, operator removed it to on shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
55
Dec 23, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Dec 22, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler by steam table ambient air temperature 50F cook line cold holding: cheese 52F cut tomatoes 48F mozzarella cheese 46F sour cream 45F cut tomatoes 47F cook pepper 52F held less than 4 hours employees moved food to walk in cooler raw **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-12-22: Cold holding reach in cooler: sour cream 43F cur tomato's 43F cut ham 48F queso blocks cut 47F cook peppers 48F held overnight ambient air temperature 52F manager stated the repair company was working on the refrigerator but they have to come back. See stop sale. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
86
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Queso 72F cook pork 75F cook vegetables 72F held less than 4 hours. **Warning**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Reach in cooler by steam table ambient air temperature 50F cook line cold holding: cheese 52F cut tomatoes 48F mozzarella cheese 46F sour cream 45F cut tomatoes 47F cook pepper 52F held less than 4 hours employees moved food to walk in cooler raw **Warning**
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. Both dish washing machines bar and kitchen tested at 0 ppm discussed to use three compartment sink. Filled up chlorine for bar dish machine retested to 100ppm retested dishwasher machine in kitchen retested to 100ppm **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bar sink had a knife inside manager removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
58
Mar 27, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Dec 22, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
37
Jun 6, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken 122F in hot hold unit by register. Manager put in oven to reheat. Recheck 164F. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. Shredded cheese with mold like growth in cooler. Manager discarded. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
01B-07-4
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. **Warning**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Microwave soiled. **Warning**
22-02-4
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 http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Establishment has taken additional space next door in same building and added a cooler, hot hood unit, and single service storage. **Warning**
51-16-7
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. **Warning**
53B-01-5
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. **Warning**
11-26-1
Basic - Food stored on floor. Multiple food items on floor in walk in freezer. **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. **Warning**
14-17-4
41
Jan 6, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill on file is from Apr 21, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill.
How does Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill compare to other restaurants in Lutz?
Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Lutz average of 80.
Has Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill 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 Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Plaza Tapatia Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill is inspected around two times per year on average.
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