265 ARAGON AVE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33134
THE CAFE AT BOOKS & BOOKS has a mixed inspection record — 11 violations in the past year, including 2 high-priority. Not alarming, but worth knowing before you order. The trailing-year record shows 11 violations, including 2 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.
Scores higher than 51% of the 263 inspected restaurants in CORAL GABLES on the trailing-year record.
2 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — below the Miami-Dade County average of 2.6.
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.
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.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing or inaccurate food and equipment thermometers.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Restrooms not clean, stocked, or maintained as required.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
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.
A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
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. 2328355 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.