Florida Bonefish Grill closed after a state inspection found 11 problems with safety and cleanliness

Photo byGoogle reviews

Seafood lovers in Boynton Beach might be disappointed to hear that their local Bonefish Grill was recently hit with a temporary shutdown after a state inspection uncovered several health violations. This popular seafood spot, located at 1880 N Congress Avenue, is known for its fresh, seasonal seafood and has been a go-to for many special occasions. But the August inspection revealed some serious cleanliness issues that led to the temporary closure.

For those who aren’t familiar, Bonefish Grill is a Florida-based chain, much like Red Lobster. It started in 2000 in St. Petersburg and has since expanded, offering seafood with a focus on detail and personalized service. The Boynton Beach location, in particular, has earned 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google from over 1,600 reviews. Some customers rave about their experiences, like Allie, who celebrated Mother’s Day there and said the food was great, and the server, Mac, handled her “crazy family” with ease.

However, not all reviews have been positive. One guest, Deepa, had an unfortunate experience, mentioning that after receiving bread for the table, she spotted a large roach crawling on the wall of their booth. When she reported it, employees casually explained that it was “bug night” because they had just sprayed the restaurant the night before. Deepa found their nonchalant attitude “disgusting.”

So, what exactly happened during the inspection? According to a report in The Tallahassee Democrat, a state inspection on August 19, 2024, found 11 violations at this Bonefish Grill. These included basic cleanliness issues, such as a cutting board that couldn’t be properly cleaned, dirt on the outside of a microwave, a soiled wall, and raw vegetables like red peppers and onions that hadn’t been washed before preparation.

The more serious violations? Live roaches were observed at the restaurant, and several cold foods, including ravioli, lobster, scallops, and crab meat, were being stored at temperatures higher than the safe limit of 41 degrees. There was also an issue with no paper towels available at the handwashing sink, a clear no-go for proper sanitation practices.

As a result of these violations, the restaurant was temporarily shut down. Thankfully, after complying with a callback order on August 20th and meeting inspection standards by August 27, 2024, the restaurant was able to reopen.

While this might put a damper on some diners’ plans, it seems Bonefish Grill has taken the necessary steps to fix these issues and is back in business. Whether this news will impact how customers view the restaurant long-term remains to be seen, but for now, they’re ready to serve up seafood once again—hopefully with a bit more attention to cleanliness!