Ocean Buffet in Ocala, Florida, needed to take a step back recently to rectify a number of violations discovered during an inspection on August 19, 2024. The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation found 17 violations at the popular local all-you-can-eat eatery, located at 3425 SW College Rd in Marion County.
The inspection revealed 3 high-priority, 5 intermediate, and 9 basic violations, which require a follow-up inspection according to state records. The restaurant's issues ranged from food safety concerns to cleanliness problems.
What The Inspection Revealed?
Among the high-priority violations included unsuitable storage procedures, which were highlighted, with raw animal foods inadequately separated in the walk-in freezer.
Specifically, raw chicken was found above raw salmon, which was promptly corrected on-site by the manager. Additionally, time/temperature control for safety foods, like shrimp and calamari, were recorded above the safe threshold of 41 degrees Fahrenheit during thawing, raising concerns about potential health risks.
Warnings also arose from the presence of a toxic substance—a bottle of cleaning solution stored beside food items.
Meanwhile, five intermediate violations showcased issues with handwashing practices, such as employees using the mop sink for handwashing and a blocked handwash station that created accessibility challenges.
Basic violations ranged from unclean surfaces to unsuitable storage of nonfood-contact items, including employee belongings above food prep areas.
Despite these issues, Ocean Buffet maintains a solid reputation, boasting a 4.2-star rating on Google from over 5,000 reviews and a 3.4-star score on Yelp with 213 reviews.
The restaurant, known for its sushi, hibachi, and Chinese offerings, remains a popular choice among locals.
A local diner named Evan N., from Ocala, shared on Yelp:
The restaurant is good and the food there is like very good and the sushi one is the one i like and I get cookies when I about to leave and I been to this place a lot so I like the food there
As local diners navigate their choices, ongoing improvements at Ocean Buffet will ultimately determine its standing.
Share Your Thoughts:
What steps should Ocean Buffet take to address these issues?
Have you had experiences at Ocean Buffet that align with or contradict these inspection findings?
NOTE: Please note that an inspection report, per the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, provides a snapshot of the conditions observed during the inspection
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