Sunrise Diner in Cocoa Beach, FL, was cited for 18 violations in Brevard County & 15 at follow-up

Burger & fries mealPhoto bySunrise Diner/Facebook

Sunrise Diner, a family-owned establishment at 365 W Cocoa Beach Causeway in Cocoa Beach, Florida, received an administrative complaint on July 29, 2024, following a routine inspection by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

What Happened During The Inspection: The popular Brevard County eatery, known for its Greek, Italian, and American fare, was cited for 18 violations, including six high-priority infractions.

Inspectors observed food safety concerns, such as improper cold holding temperatures for items like cut tomatoes, gyro meat, and cooked sausage. Issues of improper food storage were noted, with raw beef being stored above cooked Shepherd's pie in the walk-in cooler.

Employee hygiene issues were also identified, including improper glove use and inadequate handwashing practices.

Additional violations ranged from mold-like substances in the ice machine and on cooler shelves to unsealed concrete floors in food preparation areas.

The restaurant was also found to be operating with an expired license, which had lapsed on April 1, 2024.

What Happened During The Follow-Up Review: A follow-up inspection on July 31, 2024, showed improvement, with the Sunrise Diner meeting inspection standards.

However, 15 violations were still noted, including 2 high-priority infractions, among other issues detailed in the report.

Despite these recent challenges, Sunrise Diner maintains a 4.4-star rating based on 2,297 Google reviews.

Local patrons continue to praise the restaurant, with Waveina Bird, a local guide, commenting on the "piping hot and fresh" food, while another regular, DaLena Harrell, recommends the Mediterranean omelet.

We love Sunrise Diner. My favorite is the Mediterranean omelet. It's so good - said DaLena Harrell.

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.