The Twisted Fork
Last inspected: Apr 10, 2026
43
Score
The health department has logged eight inspections at The Twisted Fork, the earliest from 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Apr 10, 2026. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around seven violations to closer to 10 violations.
“Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing five times across the record.
Compared to other Port Charlotte restaurants (averaging 82), there's room to close the gap. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.
8
Inspections
2
Critical latest
4
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 10, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw ground beef stored over raw whole-muscle beef in the walk in cooler. The operator properly stored the raw meats. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed at the pizza station; cut tomatoes (51F - Cold Holding); sliced cheese (45F - Cold Holding) in the top portion of the reach in cooler nearest the entrance to the station. The operator stated the above foods had been held for approximately 1 hour. The operator closed the roll top door for the cooler and will monitor temperatures. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Observed no quaternary or chlorine test kits.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink behind the inside bar. The operator provided paper towels for the hand sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink behind the bar. The operator provided soap for the hand sink.
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. The operator printed and posted a consumer advisory. **Corrected On-Site**
02B-02-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees at the outside bar.
31B-04-4
Basic - Waste line missing at soda gun holsters behind the bar.
29-17-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. The operator removed the wet cloth. **Corrected On-Site**
21-04-4
43
Sep 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed at pizza station area, cutting boards with food stains and black mold like substance on them. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed in walk in freezer, freezer door hard to open due to it being froze up with ice build up.
14-69-4
Basic - Iced tea / Soda dispenser not cleaned at least once every 24 hours. Observed soda guns in bar closest to wait station soiled with black substance.
22-13-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed at entrance to kitchen, on left hand side, microwave with food splatter inside. Observed employee cleaning microwave. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-08-4
Basic - Interior of refrigerator or freezer in disrepair/has exposed insulation. Observed in pizza/dessert area, reach in mini freezer with a chunk missing, exposing insulation.
14-36-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed in pizza station, gaskets soiled with debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed in three compartment sink, pork shanks thawing, with ice on them, but no water running on them.
06-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed in pizza station area, cutting boards with groove marks throughout boards. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed on drying rack above 3 compartment sink, cambros stacked wet nesting. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Observed broken cambro on drying shelf above 3 compartment sink.
14-38-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed in walk in freezer, some cases stored on floor, not 6 inches off floor.
08B-38-4
55
Apr 7, 2025
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw ground beef over whole muscle intact beef at Reach in Drawers. Operator switched the food items.
08A-20-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker at hose bibb across ware washing area.
29-34-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed container with straws at bar handwash sink. Operator removed the container. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No quaternary or chlorine chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
16-37-1
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-6
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cell phone at prep table above reach in cooler unit at Pizza Station. Operator removed the cell phone. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee with no hair restraint at pizza station. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet multiple containers at dish shelf above 3 compartment sink. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Garbage not placed in a receptacle for storage until pick up to make the garbage inaccessible to insects and rodents. Observed multiple trash bags at back exterior of establishment.
33-09-4
Basic - Waste line missing at soda gun holster. Observed no waste line at soda gun holster.
29-17-4
45
Dec 4, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
50
Mar 27, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
58
Oct 17, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed two employees giving the high five and not washing hands before returning back to job duties
12A-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda nozzles in bar and at server station with mold like substance on inside and/or back side of machine.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed no paper towels at hand washing sink in dish washing area and at inside bar. Observed Kitchen Manager replacing paper towels in dispenser **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed an employee tumbler in dry storage on shelf and back packs hanging on shelf poles. Observed kitchen manager removing tumbler out of kitchen.
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting of cambros in dish area on drying racks
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed torn gaskets through out kitchen area
14-11-5
Basic - Equipment or utensils not designed or constructed in a durable manner. Observed in pizza station reach in cooler on far right door across from oven inside liner on door bent and coming Office Work, exposing insulation
14-10-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop for ice machine located outside not stored in a protected manner between uses. Observed two ice scoops and an ice paddle stored on top of ice machine and on side of ice machine with out protection from elements and non employee contact
10-13-5
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Observed two ice scoops and an ice paddle stored on top of ice machine and on side of ice machine with out protection from elements and non employee contact
10-12-5
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Observed employee drinks in reach in cooler. Observed Kitchen manager removing drinks and throwing them away. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
50
Mar 28, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed no vacuum breaker at hose Bibb across the entrance of the ware washing area.
29-34-4
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. Observed milk at Walk in Cooler. Operator date marked the food item. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
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.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed can opener blade at prep table. Operator cleaned and sanitized the blade. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed container at ware washing area handwash sink. Operator removed the container. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-09-4
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
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed multiple cups at soda fountain machine. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed no sign posted at pizza station handwash sink. Operator posted a handwash sign. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Unsealed concrete floor in food preparation, food storage, warewashing area or bathroom. Observed at bar.
36-02-5
Basic - Waste line missing at soda gun holster. Observed no wasteline at bar. **Repeat Violation**
29-17-4
43
Dec 14, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed at Pizza Station. Educated the employee to compliance by washing hands. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-28-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Waste line missing at soda gun holster. Observed at bar next to the exterior windows.
29-17-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Observed at Pizza Station. Operator replaced the sanitizer container with a clean one off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed flour container at prep area. Operator labeled the food item. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Twisted Fork last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Twisted Fork on file is from Apr 10, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Twisted Fork?
Across the inspection record, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at The Twisted Fork.
How does The Twisted Fork compare to other restaurants in Port Charlotte?
The Twisted Fork most recently scored 43 out of 100, which is lower than the Port Charlotte average of 82.
Has The Twisted Fork's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at The Twisted Fork have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at The Twisted Fork 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 The Twisted Fork inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Twisted Fork is inspected around two times per year on average.
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