Popular Florida Buffet, Duff's, Shut Down After State Inspection - 17 Violations

Photo byHelder Ribeiro from Campinas, Brazil, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

After writing restaurant articles for years, I firmly believe that many Floridians embrace and like buffets. Sure, some people do not like the fact that all diners are pursuing the same foods. But, in my observation, plenty of Floridians enjoy having variety and multiple courses for one set price. Unfortunately, one popular buffet in Florida - a Duff's in Clearwater - was recently temporarily shut down after a state inspection.

About Duff's Buffet: According to the eatery's website, it offers brunch, lunch, and dinner. You'll find items like ham, turkey, roast beef, Mexican and Italian dishes, and vegetable sides. The website indicates that the restaurant offers buffet tables that "are kept consistently filled with fresh food and are immaculately clean."

Patrons for the restaurant at 26111 US Highway 19 North have reviewed the eatery over 3,700 times on Google reviews, where it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The majority of reviewers had positive things to say. One reviewer with the handle "Beached Bum" wrote, in part:

"...Duff's is a traditional, American-style buffet. Usual staples are carved ham, roast beef, and turkey. They also have ribs, fish, good fried chicken, corned beef, goulash, spaghetti, stuffed green peppers, Mexican food on Thursday, and on and on! All of the expected side dishes: mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, and so on. The menu changes throughout the week. Duff's has a nice salad bar and soup station along with several different desserts and ice cream...One of my favorite Pinellas County restaurants!"

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on September 11, 2024. At that time, 17 violations were noted.

Examples of basic violations were the "accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine," cutting boards that are no longer cleanable, the observation of dead roaches, a soiled floor, food being stored on the floor, a hole in the wall, and a soiled fan in the walk-in cooler.

An intermediate violation came because the handwash sink was not available to employees at all times.

High-priority violations came from the observation of live roaches and for cold foods like sour cream, lettuce, and whipped cream being held at too high of temperatures (which also resulted in a stop-sale order.)

As a result of some of the above violations, the restaurant was temporarily shut down.

After two follow-up inspections on September 12, 2024, the restaurant had three violations. However, none were considered an immediate threat to the public so the restaurant "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.