1101 EL JOBEAN RD, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL 33948
ZOES SWEET KITCHEN has a mixed inspection record — 13 violations in the past year, including 3 high-priority. Not alarming, but worth knowing before you order. The trailing-year record shows 13 violations, including 3 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.
Scores higher than 17% of the 223 inspected restaurants in PORT CHARLOTTE on the trailing-year record.
3 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Charlotte County average of 1.5.
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.
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.
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).
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Mops, brooms, and other cleaning and maintenance equipment stored or maintained improperly.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
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.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
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.
Cold food must stay at 41°F or below and hot food at 135°F or above, through receiving, holding, cooking, cooling, and reheating. The range in between is where bacteria multiply fastest, which is why temperature control is checked on nearly every visit.
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. 1801974 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.