The Hot Tomato
Last inspected: Dec 15, 2025
67
Score
Going back to 2022, The Hot Tomato has eight inspections in the public record. The most recent report on file is from Dec 15, 2025. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near 10 violations per visit.
Looking across the full record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” is the recurring theme, flagged six times.
By comparison, the average Ruskin facility scores 75, putting The Hot Tomato on the weaker side. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 15, 2025
Complaint Full
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards in kitchen.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Bleach container in Handwash sink. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards in dry storage/ sandwich making room.
14-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cocktail sauce and multiple items on floor in walk in cooler. Operator relocated at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach in freezer in dry storage room.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets of reach in coolers.
23-03-4
67
Apr 24, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Employee medicine on dry storage shelf. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
41-07-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. coleslaw 55 F, steak 51 F in reach in cooler next to pizza oven. Employee placed in walk in cooler at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Potato ball 121 F.
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board.
22-02-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Scoop with no handle in cracker meal. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep table. Manager removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee bag on pasta, employee removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler door handle broke. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Mayonnaise and soda boxes on floor. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup up in reach in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop handle in breading. **Repeat Violation**
10-01-5
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. To go boxes on floor. Manager removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
25-05-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Breading not labeled, manager labeled at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
35
Nov 25, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
52
Feb 15, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken wings 50 F,sandwiches 49 F in reach in cooler. Employee placed to the bottom of reach in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards throughout kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwash sink in sandwich prep area. Operator replaced at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Fans in walk in cooler soiled.
36-34-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards throughout kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks above pizza trays, operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Boxes of meat on floor in walk in freezer.
08B-38-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave on cook line. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Boxes of to go boxes and cups on floor in dry storage shed.
25-05-4
Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink. Standing water in handwash sink near register. **Repeat Violation**
29-20-5
50
Jul 13, 2023
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on prep table. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on prep table. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
33-16-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink. Standing water in handwash sink across from register. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
29-20-5
78
Jul 6, 2023
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food required to be date marked is not date marked and time of opening/preparation cannot be determined. See stop sale. Milk in reach in cooler near register not date marked, operator doesn't know when it was opened. **Warning**
01B-17-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. No running water at handwash sink next to 3 Compartment Sink. **Warning**
31A-04-4
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.
11-26-1
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 reach in cooler near register not date marked, operator doesn't know when it was opened. **Warning**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on prep table. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-02-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Soda boxes on floor near prep room. Flour on floor in dry storage room. Operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave near pizza oven. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-08-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning**
33-16-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Portion cup lids not inverted, employee inverted at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
25-06-4
Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink. Standing water in handwash sink across from register. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
29-20-5
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Sanitizer bucket tested 0 ppm, operator remade tested 50 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-07-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of flour not labeled near pizza station. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
02D-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on prep table. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks next to mixer. Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink in reach in cooler near bacon. Employees removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
37
Apr 3, 2023
Complaint Full
3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on prep table. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-03: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At handwash sink next to 3 Compartment Sink. Manager replaced paper towels at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-03: No paper towels at handwash sink next to pizza area. **Time Extended**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Handwash sink next to 3 Compartment Sink temped 72 F, ran approximately 2 minutes. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-03: Water is not on at handwash sink. **Time Extended**
27-16-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on prep table. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-03: **Time Extended**
14-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-03: **Time Extended**
22-08-4
67
Aug 1, 2022
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-01: **Time Extended**
50-09-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler door handle in disrepair next to cook line. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-01: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of stove and skillet soiled with build up grease and old food debris. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-01: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-01: **Time Extended**
33-16-4
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Hot Tomato last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Hot Tomato on file is from Dec 15, 2025. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Hot Tomato?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at The Hot Tomato.
How does The Hot Tomato compare to other restaurants in Ruskin?
The Hot Tomato most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the Ruskin average of 75.
Has The Hot Tomato's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at The Hot Tomato have averaged around 10 violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at The Hot Tomato 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 Hot Tomato inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Hot Tomato is inspected around two times per year on average.
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