Golden Corral in Tampa, Florida, was cited for 4 violations in Hillsborough County

Golden Corral Buffet & GrillPhoto byGolden Corral Buffet & Grill / Facebook

Golden Corral in Tampa received four high-priority violations during a Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation inspection on September 12, 2024. The buffet restaurant at 6942 W Hillsborough Ave was issued a warning and required to undergo a follow-up inspection but wasn't ordered to close.

The initial visit at this Hillsborough County restaurant revealed issues with food safety and handling practices. Golden Corral, known for its all-you-can-eat American fare, holds a 3.9-star rating from 4,533 Google reviews.

A recent customer and local guide named Jerome Lidinsky, shared their experience on Google reviews:

Everything was good except for the baked potato. I eat here several times a week and the baked potatoes are always over cooked. They are brown inside and don't smell good. Obviously they are cooking too many too early. I have been there different times from 1pm to 6pm. Have mentioned this to Mgr. No change.

Despite this, the establishment managed to comply with health standards in a subsequent check conducted the following day, highlighting its responsiveness to the identified problems.

High-priority violations focused on food temperature management and employee hygiene. The walk-in cooler was not maintaining proper temperatures for items like cut melon, shredded cheese, raw steak, and chicken.

Hot-held foods, including cooked broccoli and fried chicken, were found at temperatures below the required degrees.

An employee was observed engaging in food preparation without proper handwashing after cleaning a counter. Additionally, dented or rusted cans were present, resulting in a stop sale.

The inspector's note revealed that this Golden Corral in Tampa took immediate corrective actions during the inspection. The operator contacted a refrigerator repair company for the malfunctioning walk-in cooler.

Foods at incorrect temperatures were reheated to safe levels. The employee was coached on proper handwashing procedures.

A day later, on September 13, Golden Corral complied with all standards, recording zero violations in the follow-up inspection.

High Priority Violations:

• Dented/rusted cans present
• Employee touched dirty surface then engaged in food preparation without handwashing
• Cold-held foods at temperatures above 41 degrees Fahrenheit
• Hot-held foods at temperatures below 135 degrees Fahrenheit