Largo, FL's Popeyes was cited for 11 violations in Pinellas County

PopeyesPhoto byStorefront / Google

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is one of my favorite places to eat fried chicken, but the restaurant in Largo, Florida, was in the spotlight recently after the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation cited this location for several violations during an inspection.

The fast-food establishment at 8700 Ulmerton Rd in Pinellas County received a warning and required a follow-up inspection, which was eventually rectified.

What Happened During The Inspection?

The initial inspection of this Popeyes location on August 20, 2024, revealed 11 violations, including 2 high-priority, 1 intermediate, and 8 basic infractions.

State records showed that high-priority violations included the presence of live, small flying insects in food preparation areas and temperature control issues with hot-held foods.

Inspectors observed 6 flying insects throughout the kitchen, particularly near the chicken cleaning sink and storage areas. Additionally, several hot-held items, such as gravy, mashed potatoes, and beans, were found at temperatures below the required degrees.

Intermediate violations noted the presence of mold-like substances on food-contact surfaces, while basic infractions pertained to the unsuitable use of containers for dispensing food, unrestrained employees during food preparation, and several instances of cleanliness issues, including a dead roach found under a table in the dry storage area.

A follow-up inspection on August 21, 2024, indicated that the restaurant had addressed these issues and met inspection standards.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, known for its Louisiana-inspired menu featuring spicy fried chicken and biscuits, has a 3.1-star rating from 2,512 Google reviews but a very low 1.6-star rating from 122 Yelp reviewers.

A local resident and customer, named Erica H., called this location the "Slowest fast food ever! I went to the drive through window- no answer>"

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1. How often do you check restaurant inspection reports before dining out?