The Cafe at Books & Books
Last inspected: Feb 13, 2026
70
Score
Going back to 2022, The Cafe at Books & Books has eight inspections in the public record. The most recent report on file is from Feb 13, 2026. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around five violations, down from roughly nine violations earlier in the record.
“Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
Among Coral Gables restaurants, this is a fairly standard result. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
8
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 13, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 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. Observed employee at dishwashing area changing tasks from soiled equipment to clean utensils without previously washing hands.
12A-13-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
22-16-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
21-12-4
Basic - Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty drawer or rack.
24-06-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
70
Sep 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food.
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Probe thermometer not used to ensure proper food temperatures.
05-10-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed a liners box stored on floor.
25-05-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed at dishwasher area.
36-27-5
58
Jan 28, 2025
Complaint Full
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ Observed expired manager certificate. Person in charge, Jonas Kaplan*Warning* **Warning**
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Observed no hot water at handwashing sink next to kitchen. **Warning**
27-16-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed no covered trash can in women's restroom. Operator had extra lids in storage and placed them on trash cans. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
32-12-5
78
Oct 21, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Cook Fixed the faucet.
27-16-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
10-07-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles.
23-24-4
82
May 10, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observed white bean soup (58F - Cooling) inside reach in cooler at preparation area. As per employee it was cooked the night before and then placed inside unit for cooling. Didn't reach temperature within 6 hours.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Observed white bean soup (58F - Cooling) inside reach in cooler at preparation area. As per employee it was cooked the night before and then placed inside unit for cooling. Didn't reach temperature within 6 hours.
03D-02-5
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. Provided to person in charge via email. **Repeat Violation**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed plastic containers stored inside hand sink next to ware washing area.
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed at hand sink next to ware washing area. Employee provided the paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed at hand sink next to ware washing area. Employee provided the soap. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed reach in freezer door gaskets soiled at ware washing area.
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Observed standing reach in cooler bottom interior soiled.
22-16-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Observed stored on storage floor. **Repeat Violation**
25-05-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Observed behind dish machine.
36-27-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Observed 2 on coffee machine area.
21-12-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed ice machine soiled with white mold like substance at ware washing area.
22-20-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed reach in cooler door gaskets torn in all units at preparation area.
14-11-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed inside two chest freezers at ware washing area.
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed oven interior soiled at press station.
22-08-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed at front counter and ware washing area.
31B-04-4
30
Nov 2, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
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. Form provided to operator while conducting the inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
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. Provided to operator while conducting the inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
11-26-1
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
16-03-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Operator paid license. Confirmation number 238506126. **Corrected On-Site**
50-09-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored.
25-05-4
Basic - Storage area not maintained clean and organized.
33-34-4
58
Feb 16, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Items stored at kitchen from previous days with more than 24 hours need to be labeled.
02C-02-5
Basic - Storage area not maintained clean and organized.
33-34-4
Basic - Reach-in freezer interior soiled. Storage area.
22-16-4
82
Jul 7, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. By a garbage can.
31A-09-4
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Cafe at Books & Books last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Cafe at Books & Books on file is from Feb 13, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Cafe at Books & Books?
Across the inspection record, “reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at The Cafe at Books & Books.
How does The Cafe at Books & Books compare to other restaurants in Coral Gables?
The Cafe at Books & Books most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is about the same as the Coral Gables average of 68.
Has The Cafe at Books & Books' inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at The Cafe at Books & Books have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at The Cafe at Books & Books 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 The Cafe at Books & Books inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Cafe at Books & Books is inspected around two times per year on average.
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