La Dona, a Mexican restaurant located inside Sawgrass Mills Mall, was ordered to close after a state health inspection uncovered 19 violations, including the presence of live insects.
The July 19 inspection marks the second closure in less than a year for La Dona, which was also ordered shut down on November 1 following an inspection that detailed a similar insect infestation.
During the most recent inspection, inspectors reported finding small flying insects in the dishwashing area, which were observed landing on clean dishes and utensils. Another group of insects was observed throughout various storage and preparation areas, landing on pots, pans, spices, single-use items, and even walls. The report labeled the issue a “Repeat Violation.”
The report also documented serious concerns over food safety. A “Stop Sale” was issued for numerous items that were improperly stored at a temperature above the safe cold-holding temperature of 41°F.
According to the inspector, staff admitted none of the items were cooked or prepared that day, meaning the foods had been held at unsafe temperatures for more than four hours. The report also notes that operators were educated on proper procedures during the inspection.
The report also noted that employees had not washed their hands, and hand-washing sinks were being misused for storage.
As of now, it is unclear when La Dona will be permitted to reopen. Restaurants that are shut down due to health code violations must pass a follow-up inspection before they can resume operations.
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