Fort Myers, FL, Two Meatballs In The Kitchen was cited for 13 violations in Lee County

Two Meatballs In The KitchenPhoto byAlbert Kraus

Two Meatballs In The Kitchen, a popular Italian eatery in Fort Myers, Lee County, received 13 violations during a Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation inspection on August 29, 2024. The restaurant, known for its pizza and Italian favorites, was not ordered to close but required follow-up inspections.

The initial inspection revealed 3 high-priority, 4 intermediate, and 6 basic violations.

High-priority concerns included the presence of small flying insects in the kitchen and temperature control problems with certain foods.

A follow-up inspection on August 30 showed 10 violations, including two high-priority issues. However, a second follow-up on September 4 saw the restaurant meet inspection standards with only 5 basic violations.

This is What The Inspection Revealed

The August 29 inspection revealed notable conditions, starting with high-priority violations.

Among the high-priority violations were live, small flying insects in the kitchen and food preparation areas. Inspectors found 20 small flying insects on shelving attached to the wall of the expo line. Food items held at unsafe temperatures, such as raw scallops and cooked chicken, registered well above recommended levels.

The inspector also highlighted intermediate violations such as the lack of a properly certified food service manager on duty with multiple employees engaged in food preparation and improperly marked ready-to-eat food.

Basic violations included concerns ranging from mold accumulation in the ice machine to a missing ceiling tile in the cooler, reinforcing the need for immediate action to improve safety protocols.

Despite these recent findings, Two Meatballs In The Kitchen maintains a 4.4-star rating from 2,571 Google reviews.

A local guide and recent customer, Tracy Fairchild praised the restaurant, saying, "This was our first time going, we were pleased with the prices, the food was delicious, and the service was fast!"

Violation Summary

The most serious violations from the initial inspection included:

• 20 small flying insects observed on shelving in the expo line area
• Time/temperature control issues with various foods, including raw chicken, cooked pasta salad, and raw calamari
• Unsuitable date marking of commercially processed ready-to-eat foods

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.