Nicely-known waterfront seafood restaurant shut down with rodents, roaches, and flies

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – This week’s restaurant report features a trio of repeat offenders. Two of the restaurants have a history of closings and one has been in breach of Department of Business and Professional Regulation standards as of March 2020.

La Nopalera on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville

The LaNopalera on Beach Boulevard was the first to receive a shutdown order this week. It was closed for four days after inspectors found 19 violations last Monday, August 16.

The restaurant was cited for 122 live flies. The inspectors found the insects in the kitchen, in the food preparation area and in the food storage area.

The report also shows violations for 9 cockroaches, four rodent droppings and for the cooks who do not wash their hands. The Mexican restaurant reopened the following Friday, August 20, but needs follow-up as several high priority violations have not been resolved.

RESTAURANT REPORTS: Failed Inspection | Failed exam | Inspection standards met

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Clark’s Fish Camp seafood restaurant in Jacksonville

At Clark’s Fish Camp in Julington Creek, inspectors said they may have found stale clams, clams and oysters that did not have an expiration date.

The popular creek restaurant recorded a total of 20 violations. Three of them were for 34 live flies, 9 cockroaches and 9 rodent droppings.

The inspector returned four more times and found more flies, cockroaches and feces each time. Clarks Fish Camp was allowed to reopen last Saturday, August 21st, three days after the first inspection.

Clark’s Fish Camp also closed in June after inspectors showed up due to a customer complaint.

RESTAURANT REPORTS: Failed Inspection | Failed exam | Failed exam | Failed exam | Failed exam | Inspection standards met | Complete inspection history

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Chopper’s Bar & Grill in Jacksonville

Finally, Choppers Bar & Grill on Main Street closed last Wednesday after inspectors said they found 102 rodent droppings in its grocery store and 30 live flies in the kitchen.

It was also quoted because no one was certified in food service management. Looking back on previous inspections, I have found that no one in the restaurant has had this certification since March 2020.

A note in the report states that the operator told the inspector that he had tried to get certification but was unable to do so due to COVID-19 closures.

RESTAURANT REPORTS: Failed Inspection | Failed exam | Failed exam | Inspection standards met | Complete inspection history

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I contacted the management of all of the restaurants but none returned requests for comments.

News4Jax oversees restaurant inspections in District 5 each week with the Department of Hotels and Restaurants under the Department of Business and Professional Regulations.

District 5 includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union Counties.

You can find your favorite restaurants anywhere in the state and their most recent inspections on DBPR’s licensing portal.

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