TRINITY, Fla. — It’s rough enough having roaches in the kitchen, but you know it’s bad when the health inspector documents roaches up on the counters crawling around food served to customers.
It’s what a food safety and sanitation specialist with Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants reported finding on the agency’s June 12 inspection of Thai Samurai. The restaurant is in the Mitchell Ranch Plaza near the corner of SR 54 and Little Road.
“Me and my co-workers come here quite often,” said Jessica, a customer who works in the same plaza.
She and other customers were shocked to learn of the restaurant’s emergency closure a week earlier.
State records show the restaurant was written up with 22 violations, including problems like no soap or paper towels at the cook line hand-washing sink, and food like cooked chicken, curry, homemade soup, and dumplings, along with raw fish at the sushi bar, all found at unsafe temperatures.
The inspector also documented 18 live roaches in various spots around the kitchen.
“I cannot tell you anything,” said an unidentified employee who indicated the restaurant’s manager had stepped out for several hours.
“The kitchen is completely fine, but they’re not going to allow anyone back into the kitchen,” said a second employee who we later were told was the person in charge.
Without even entering the kitchen, we quickly started spotting potential problems, including an uncovered employee drink cup, a bottle of pills and a cell phone at the sushi bar.
Restaurants are banned from keeping employee medications or vitamins in food prep areas. Employee drinks must have a lid and straw to prevent saliva contamination, and personal items like cell phones are supposed to be kept away from where the food is made, something employees were cited for on the last inspection.
“I cannot comment on anything … so please…,” one of the unidentified employees said pointing towards the exit.
We shared details of the state’s inspection with customers.
“That’s awful,” said Peggy Logue, out to lunch with her granddaughter. “Roaches? I mean, come on!”
The management at Thai Samurai e-mailed 10News a written statement to share with customers:
"Thai Samurai is always thankful for all our customers and our supporting community. We greatly apologize for the recent health report and for any inconvenience it brought upon our loyal customers. We can assure everyone that all issues have been corrected and we are committed to excellence"
The restaurant was cleared to reopen a day following their emergency closure. You can view Thai Samurai’s complete inspection history here.
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