Takara Steakhouse Sushi was ordered to close in Vero Beach, Florida; Reopens - Indian River County

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Takara Steakhouse Sushi, a Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant in Vero Beach, Florida, was temporarily closed after being cited for 28 violations, including eight high-priority infractions, during a recent inspection by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

This is What Happened During The Inspection

While the Indian River County restaurant was allowed to reopen after addressing the violations, it faced additional challenges during the follow-up inspections.

The initial visit to the 1335 US Highway 1 location found eight high-priority, seven intermediate, and 13 basic violations, according to state records.

A follow-up inspection on August 27 revealed 18 violations, keeping the restaurant closed. However, a second check later that day allowed Takara to reopen despite 15 remaining violations.

This Indian River County eatery, known for its sushi bar and hibachi grill, holds a 4.2-star rating from 639 Google reviews.

What The Inspection Discovered?

High-priority violations included roach activity, with live roaches found in various areas of the kitchen. Food temperature management was also an issue, with items like imitation crab, tuna, and snow crab meat held at unsuitable temperatures.

Meanwhile, intermediate violations ranged from inaccessible handwash sinks to a lack of proper health-cleaning equipment.

Basic violations included unsecured gas tanks, unsuitable food storage, and dirty surfaces throughout the kitchen.

Thankfully, though, Takara Steakhouse Sushi took corrective actions during the inspections, such as contacting suppliers for documentation and adjusting food storage practices. These efforts led to the reopening of the Vero Beach eatery on August 27.

High Priority Violations:

• Unsuitable food storage practices.
• Presence of live roaches.
• Time/temperature management for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Time/temperature management for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Raw fish stored over cut cucumber in cooler.
• Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food.
• Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other suitable protection from contamination.
• Health cleaning equipment not at suitable minimum strength for manual warewashing.