Baker County, FL, restaurant was closed recently with 17 violations; Reopens

Havana Restaurant - Cuban BowlPhoto byYelp / Lili R.

Havana Restaurant in Macclenny, Florida, faced considerable challenges during a recent health inspection. The Cuban eatery, located at 1691 S 6th St in Baker County, was temporarily closed on August 14, 2024, due to multiple violations.

Thankfully, the highly-rated local restaurant promptly addressed these issues, as evidenced by the follow-up inspection on August 15, 2024, which found zero violations. This quick turnaround allowed Havana Restaurant to reopen and resume normal operations.

This is What Happened During The Inspection:

The inspection revealed 17 violations, including 3 high-priority, 4 intermediate, and 10 basic infractions.

High-priority violations included incorrectly stored raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food, and evidence of rodent activity.

Inspectors found 18 rodent droppings in various areas, including the rear hallway, water heater, and bulk ice bin.

Intermediate violations comprised food-contact surfaces with a lack of paper towels and soap at handwash sinks, and unlabeled substance in bottles.

Basic violations ranged from dead roaches on the premises to standing water in coolers and broken window screens.

Despite these setbacks, Havana Restaurant maintains a positive reputation among locals. It boasts a 4.3-star rating from 330 Google reviews and a 4.2-star rating from 60 Yelp reviews.

One customer, Dianne P., expressed enthusiasm about returning to try more menu items, praising the restaurant's excellent service and wonderful food.

"I am looking forward to coming back here and working my way through the menu. Thank you, Grand Havana for excellent service and wonderful food!"

Questions:

1. How important are health inspection results in your decision to dine at a restaurant?

2. What steps do you think restaurants should take to maintain high standards of cleanliness and food safety?

3. Have you ever experienced exceptional service or food at Havana Restaurant?