8441 SW HWY 200 STE 147/149, OCALA, FL 34481
State inspectors have documented 12 high-priority violations at EL MEZCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT over the past year. That's the kind that can make you sick. Consider the alternatives below. The trailing-year record shows 32 violations, including 12 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.
Scores higher than 11% of the 506 inspected restaurants in OCALA on the trailing-year record.
12 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Marion County average of 3.7.
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.
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.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
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.
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.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
Electrical wiring or outlets not in good repair.
This visit closed with no further action required.
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.
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.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
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.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
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.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
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.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
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).
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
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.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Restrooms not clean, stocked, or maintained as 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.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
This visit closed with no further action required.
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.
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.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
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.
A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
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.
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.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Restrooms not clean, stocked, or maintained as required.
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.
Fire suppression or extinguishing equipment issue (referred to the fire authority).
Other conditions related to sanitary and safe operation.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
This visit closed with no further action required.
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.
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.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
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.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
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.
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.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
This visit closed with no further action required.
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.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
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.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
High-risk food (like meat) thawed improperly, promoting bacterial growth.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
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.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
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 2 of the 3 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. 5203101 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.