Leesburg's popular diner was cited for 23 violations in Lake County, FL

Old Time Diner egg and toast breakfastPhoto byYelp/Kelly J

Old Time Diner, a popular Leesburg eatery, was cited for 23 violations, including four high-priority infractions, during a recent inspection by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. While the restaurant was not forced to close, a follow-up inspection was required to address these concerns.

The initial routine inspection on August 27, 2024, revealed four high-priority, four intermediate, and 15 basic violations at the Lake County establishment.

Among the highlighted issues revealed were cleanliness concerns, equipment maintenance problems, employee hygiene practices, and food safety violations.

According to state records, high-priority violations included an employee handling ready-to-eat food without gloves and raw animal food stored wrongly.

Intermediate violations ranged from food-contact surfaces soiled with residue to lack of proper date marking on prepared foods. The restaurant also lacked proof of required state-approved employee training.

A follow-up inspection on September 5, 2024, showed improvement. The restaurant met inspection standards, though nine violations remained, including one high-priority infraction. This progress allowed Old Time Diner to continue operations.

Old Time Diner offers monthly specials and happy hour food, attracting locals with its diverse menu. However, the recent inspections highlight areas needing improvement to ensure food safety standards are consistently met.

Time Diner maintains a 4.1-star rating from 1,371 Google reviews and a 3.1 rating from 74 Yelp reviews.

A local Leesburg, Florida, customer named Lizzie F., shared on Yelp:

"I've gotten food delivered from Old Time Diner before and was pleased, but this is the first time I've eaten inside...The restaurant was very clean and comfortable. They have an absolutely huge menu, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, and we both got patty melts."

High Priority Violations:

• Employee handling ready-to-eat food without gloves on hands
• Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food
• Time/temperature control issues for cold-held foods
• Employee cracked raw eggs then handled ready-to-eat food without washing hands