West Palm Beach, Delray eateries cited for violations

Jereve, a restaurant in the EmKo art space at 2119 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, and Taverna Opa, 270 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, were temporarily shut down last week by state inspectors who cited them for numerous violations. Both were cleared to reopen.

A Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspector noted eight violations at Jereve, including live roaches, during an April 12 inspection.

Leo Koel, Jereve’s owner, said Wednesday that just before the inspection an underground pipe broke due to construction next door, and the restaurant’s kitchen floor had to be torn up to repair the pipe.

“At the moment we were fixing it, that is when the health inspector walked into the place. Everything is fixed. The concrete work is completed,” Koel said.

Taverna Opa was cited for 18 violations April 12, including live small flying insects in the kitchen, food prep and food storage areas.

A Taverna Opa manager said the restaurant reopened later the same day and is due for a follow-up inspection this week.

High-priority violations at Jereve included six live roaches on a counter near a kitchen sink, two live roaches under a prep sink and two live roaches under a counter at the cook’s line and 16 fresh roach droppings.

High-priority violations are those which could contribute directly to a food-borne illness or injury.

Jereve was also found in violation of sanitation and safety laws during inspections April 12 and 13. It was cleared to reopen April 14.

The inspection report on Jereve cites the presence of eight dead roaches, an exterior door with a gap at the threshold, uncovered floor and wall junctures, grease on the kitchen floor and other areas, and the use of a soiled dry wiping cloth.

The restaurant also had no paper towels or hand-drying device at a sink.

Taverna Opa’s five high-priority violations as listed in the report were:

■ More than 50 small flying insects in the kitchen and other areas. The report noted the restaurant has curtains or any other means in place to prevent vermin or flies from entering on the north side facing the sidewalk. The kitchen is open and not separated from the dining area, dish area or prep area.

■ Lamb, beef, hummus, grape leaves, feta cheese, chicken, watermelon and lettuce stored at potentially hazardous temperatures of greater than 41 degrees.

■ Lamb cooked the day before and not cooled to 41 degrees within six hours.

■ Raw beef stored over cut melon and chicken stored over vegetables.

■ A stop sale issued for cold foods held at greater than 41 degrees.

Taverna Opa’s other violations included a lack of paper towels and soap at a sink and a reach-in cooler and refrigerated drawers in poor repair.

The inspector also cited Taverna Opa for the lack of a handle in a bowl of chickpeas, fish stored on the floor of a freezer, a folding wall system in poor repair, a hole in the wall, an ice machine outside and not locked, a spoon not stored with the handle above the top of food.

Taverna Opa was also cited for not having a hand-washing sign at an employee sink, for storing calamari and feta cheese uncovered in a walk-in cooler, and for an unsealed wood food-contact surface.