Rustica at Saint Johns
Last inspected: Dec 17, 2025
50
Score
Across the available record, Rustica at Saint Johns has seven inspections on file, the first dated 2023. The most recent report on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The high risk label is a heads-up that the most recent visit didn't go well.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near five violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.
Compared to other St. Augustine restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.
7
Inspections
2
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 17, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Paper towels used as a liner in multiple raw fish containers. Chef removed paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
14-86-1
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Garlic butter on kitchen counter at 55F. Chef states butter left out for a few minutes to soften. Butter placed back in reach in cooler. Discussed holding garlic butter on time controls with Chef and operator.
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Six servers and three cooks are missing employee food handler training.
53B-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled spray bottle with purple liquid in storage cabinet. **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Wiping cloth solution stored on the floor in the bar. Employee moved bucket to shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Wiping cloth solution in kitchen tested at 0ppm chlorine. Operator remade solution to 100ppm chlorine. **Corrected On-Site**
21-07-4
Basic - Silverware/utensils/containers dried with a towel/cloth. Observed employee drying containers from dishmachine with a cloth.
24-17-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Carbon dioxide tank in bar area is unsecured.
51-11-4
50
Jun 24, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jun 17, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in coolers on cook line: Raw tuna stored over cooked beef. Raw oysters stored over tomato bisque. Raw fish stored over bok choy. All items rearranged. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
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. In use dish machine ran multiple times and did not read any sanitizer. **Warning**
22-41-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Bottle of purple liquid on table by bathrooms, operator labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Missing from Rustica Style Crudo, operator corrected during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02B-01-5
Basic - Dead insect on premises. 1dead fly on deli paper in container inside reach in cooler, fly cleaned up and discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Operator preparing food on cook line.
13-03-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Soda gun holster at bar area. Underside of dish machine. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
52
Feb 11, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle of all purpose cleaner stored with blocks of cream cheese and butter, set out to soften, in server area, bottle moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-10-4
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Linen towels and paper towels used to line containers of produce in reach in cooler on cook line and in walk in cooler.
14-86-1
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw lamb stored over cauliflower in reach in cooler on make line, lamb moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda gun at bar.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Dates marked on tags are dates shell stock was purchased per operator.
01C-03-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Missing disclaimer from salmon,tuna,hamachi crudo on menu, operator corrected during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked potatoes made Sunday per operator in reach in cooler on cook line, manager corrected during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Soda gun holster at bar.
23-03-4
41
May 22, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 21, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Per operator they can offer their salmon undercooked per customer's request, but they do not have any proof of parasite destruction or letter of aquaculture. Per operator they get their salmon from Restaurant Depot. **Warning**
01D-01-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw beef, removed from original packaging, stored over raw pork, removed from original, in reach in freezer in back prep area, all items rearranged. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-17-6
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food not consumed/sold within 7 days after opening/preparation. See stop sale. 4 containers of bolognese, 3 containers of puttanesca, 1 container of beef stock, 4 containers of sesame butter, 2 containers of garlic butter, 1 container of lobster sauce, 1 container of chutney in reach in cooler at end of cook line and in walk in cooler all with a date of 5/14 or older.
01B-24-5
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Unlabeled chemical spray bottle with clear liquid stored with clean pitchers on table in server area, bottle removed. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. 3 certificates are photocopies.
53B-09-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Unlabeled chemical spray bottle with clear liquid stored with clean pitchers on table in server area, bottle labeled **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
45
Oct 24, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw chicken bones over unwashed carrots and raw egg muffin mix over unwashed leafy greens in the walk in cooler. Operator relocated the raw products. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. On the storage shelf by the walk in cooler, clean plastic containers stacked while wet.
24-08-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs stored on oven door handle of the main cook line.
10-20-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No employee hand wash signage at bar hand wash sink. Operator has extra signs to hang. **Corrective Action Taken**
31B-04-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Rustica at Saint Johns last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Rustica at Saint Johns on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Rustica at Saint Johns?
Across the inspection record, “spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Rustica at Saint Johns.
How does Rustica at Saint Johns compare to other restaurants in St. Augustine?
Rustica at Saint Johns most recently scored 50 out of 100, which is lower than the St. Augustine average of 81.
Has Rustica at Saint Johns' inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Rustica at Saint Johns have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Rustica at Saint Johns means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is Rustica at Saint Johns inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Rustica at Saint Johns is inspected around three times per year on average.
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