Popular 50s Retro FL Eatery, Joe's New York Diner, Shut Down After State Inspection - 14 Violations

Photo byLee CartledgeonUnsplash

Florida patrons who want to enjoy large portions of comfort food in a retro setting might choose a diner. And the Tampa area has some popular ones - including Trip's and Metro Diner. Unfortunately, one diner in this genre and area - Tampa's Joe's New York Diner - was recently temporarily shut down after a state inspection.

About Joe's New York Diner: It may not be surprising that this old-school diner doesn't have a website, but its Facebook page describes itself as an authentic 50s-style diner with a checkered floor and jukebox.

This eatery located at 11701 North Florida Avenue earns 4.2 stars on Google reviews and has been reviewed over 4,000 times. Many applaud the friendly service and generous portion sizes. A reviewer named Joyce wrote, in part:

"Quite a nice little place and for sure a NY style... We got free appetizers since it was after 5 PM and we found them to have great service and excellent food. It is so very much like a NY Diner and that is a pleasant change...Highly recommend Joe’s Diner."

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on August 22, 2024. At that time, 14 violations were noted.

Examples of basic violations were missing ceiling tiles, floor tiles in disrepair, gaskets in a freezer being in disrepair, a light missing the proper shield, and unwashed mushrooms being stored with ready-to-eat ham and tomatoes.

High-priority violations came because the dishwashing machine sanitizer was not at proper strength, the manager or person in charge lacked proof of food manager certification, and the observation of live roaches and an egg sack.

As a result of some of the above violations, the restaurant was temporarily shut down. On a follow-up inspection on August 23rd, the eatery still had some violations but none that were a threat to the public so it "met inspection standards" and was free to reopen.

Please note that an inspection is one moment in time and not necessarily how a restaurant conducts itself every day.