Yaad Spice in West Palm Beach, Florida, cited for 8 violations in Palm Beach County

Yaad Spice Jamaican and Caribbean restaurantPhoto byYelp/Canva

Yaad Spice Restaurant, a frequently visited Jamaican eatery in West Palm Beach, encountered some hurdles during a recent Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation inspection. The Palm Beach County restaurant, known for its jerk chicken and oxtail, received 8 violations on October 11, 2024, including 4 high-priority issues.

Located at 2100 45th St in the 45th Street Plaza, Yaad Spice struggled with temperature management for several dishes, according to state records. The inspectors found four high-priority violations, three intermediate violations and one basic violation during the routine inspection.

Curry chicken and goat were found at 47°F in the walk-in cooler, above the safe 41°F degrees for food safety. On the cook line, beef oxtails and curry goat were held at temperatures below the required 135°F for hot foods.

The inspection also revealed labeling issues for juice prepared on-site, leading to a stop sale order. Additionally, the restaurant lacked proper documentation for new employee food safety training.

On the brighter side, Yaad Spice Jamaican and Caribbean restaurant promptly addressed some issues on-site.

Despite these setbacks, Yaad Spice maintains a solid 4.1-star rating from 438 Google reviews, indicating its ongoing appeal to local diners. The restaurant was not ordered to close but will need a follow-up inspection to address the identified issues, state records acknowledged.

While Yaad Spice wasn't ordered to close, a follow-up inspection is necessary to ensure all violations are corrected. Despite these setbacks, the restaurant maintains a solid 4.1-star rating from 438 Google reviews, suggesting its jerk chicken, oxtail, brown stew and curry chicken, ackee and saltfish and Jamaican patties, as well as other Caribbean specialties still hit the spot for many locals.

As food lovers know, even beloved establishments can face challenges. Yaad Spice now has the opportunity to strengthen its practices and continue serving the West Palm Beach community its popular Jamaican fare.

High Priority Violations:

• • Stop Sale issued due to food from an unapproved source
• • Stop Sale issued on time/temperature management for safety food due to temperature abuse
• • Time/temperature management for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit
• • Time/temperature management for safety food hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit

Intermediate Violations:

• Handwash sink not accessible for employee use
• No proof of employee health and activities reporting
• No written procedures for time as a general health management

Basic Violation:

• Unsuitable labeling on food item prepared and packaged on-site