We’ve posted our map of the Tampa Bay eateries that were fined by state restaurant inspectors during the month of September. You can find it over at Fined Dining, along with our search tool, the map of Florida’s 50 most-fined restaurants and previous monthly maps of Tampa Bay.
State inspectors clipped 37 Tampa Bay restaurants for a combined total of $36,925 for 130 violations in September. Few, if any, of the violations actually occurred in September. That’s something we haven’t made clear in the past but it’s important to understand. The wheels of restaurant justice turn slowly. Sometimes months pass before a fine is ordered for a given violation or series of violations.
Here’s something else we learned this time around. According to Alexis Antonacci, press secretary for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, restaurants have 30 days to appeal final orders. So, the blockbuster $13,950 fine slapped on Papa Roni in Tampa last month could ultimately be reduced. By the way, if you haven’t read our post about that you should jump over to Sticks of Fire and read up.
Bon appetit.