2645 E GULF TO LAKE HWY, INVERNESS, FL 34453
State inspectors have documented 9 high-priority violations at EL RANCHITO MEXICAN RESTAURANT over the past year. That's the kind that can make you sick. Consider the alternatives below. The trailing-year record shows 22 violations, including 9 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.
Scores higher than 9% of the 75 inspected restaurants in INVERNESS on the trailing-year record.
9 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Citrus County average of 2.0.
Full available history. The score uses only the most recent 365 days — older visits are shown for context, not counted.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Sewage or wastewater not disposed of properly — backups can contaminate the whole kitchen.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Sewage or wastewater not disposed of properly — backups can contaminate the whole kitchen.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.
Workers handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands without an approved alternative procedure.
Sewage or wastewater not disposed of properly — backups can contaminate the whole kitchen.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
Missing or inaccurate food and equipment thermometers.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Missing or inaccurate food and equipment thermometers.
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.
Every violation on this record falls into one of the state's standardized categories. Here is what each category covers and why inspectors check for it — in plain English, with the trailing-year count for this kitchen.
Hands must be washed and gloves changed at the required moments — after touching the floor, raw food, or anything unclean — and eating, drinking, or smoking is not allowed in food areas. Hands are the most common way pathogens reach food.
On this record, the category appears in 1 of the 2 trailing-year inspections. The written details for each entry are in the state inspection documents linked above.
Dirty Dish List is built from public inspection data published by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The inspection dates, dispositions, and violations on this report card mirror what the state has on file for License No. 1901059 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.