These Greater Cleveland restaurants, retailers had the most critical food inspection violations in 2023-2024

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A restaurant in Summit County was cited for 41 critical health violations during the 2023-2024 inspection year, leading the way among at least 15 restaurants and retailers in Greater Cleveland with 20 or more critical violations.

Critical violations are the type of violations that raise concern with health inspectors over something that may spread foodborne illnesses.

This is the 10th part in a 2024 series of stories highlighting food inspection violations on cleveland.com, based on electronic records available from the state. Not included are records from the Geauga and Portage county health departments because they do not participate in the voluntary state data collection program.

To see previous inspection years, visit 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-17, and 2015-16. The annual reporting was paused for two years during the pandemic, initially because so many restaurants had closed temporarily.

The 15 restaurants listed at the end of this story are those with the most critical violations among restaurants, catering halls, schools and gas stations, according to reports filed electronically with the state.

So what constitutes a critical violation? Food inspector notes next to critical violations at some places included the following, edited for grammar and clarity:

• “Observed a dead cock roach on top of far back hand sink.”
• “Observed debris build up inside of the pop gun nozzles throughout the facility.”
• “The person in charge stated that yogurt is mixed with water and dried milk and left out at room temperature (70 F) for approximately 8-10 hours and then moved to a walk-in cooler.”
• “Observed facility using wood 4x4 blocks and a car jack to crush cabbage.”
• “Observed slimy black build-up located inside ice machine”

Nine of the 15 restaurants with 20 or more critical violations are in suburban Cuyahoga County. The others are in Cleveland and Lake, Medina and Summit counties.

Each of these restaurants also have some of the highest amounts of total health violations in their area.

Lemongrass Grill in Summit County has the highest share of critical violations compared to their total violations out of all restaurants on this list. Out of their total of 47 violations, 44% were critical, or almost half.

Each restaurant in Ohio is inspected twice a year, plus follow-ups as needed to check on identified problems. Other places handling food to a lesser extent may be inspected yearly. Health inspectors cannot impose fines, but health departments can suspend or revoke operating licenses.

To learn how this list was put together, please visit this link. And to see more details about the inspections for each place below visit these links for Ashtabula, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Kent, Lake County, Lorain County and Summit County.

No. 12 (tie) - 20 critical violations - Fuji Grill & Buffet - Parma

Fuji Grill & Buffet in Parma, 1930 Snow Road, had 20 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 24% of their total of 85 violations, which was the sixth-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County.

Mar. 28, 2023 - 22 violations, including 5 critical.

April 11, 2023 - 20 violations, including 5 critical.

April 25, 2023 - 6 violations, including 1 critical.

Nov. 7, 2023 - 23 violations, including 7 critical.

Nov. 30, 2023 - 14 violations, including 2 critical.

No. 12 (tie) - 20 critical violations - Boston Market - Brooklyn

Boston Market in Brooklyn, 4742 Ridge Road, had 20 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 30% of their total of 67 violations, which was the 12th-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County. (Note: This location is now closed.)

Aug. 31, 2023 - 18 violations, including 5 critical.

Sept. 8, 2023 - 15 violations, including 4 critical.

Oct. 20, 2023 - 34 violations, including 11 critical.

No. 11 (tie) - 21 critical violations - China House - Brooklyn

China House in Brooklyn, 7419 Memphis Ave., had 21 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 21% of their total of 98 violations, which was the third-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County.

Sept. 20, 2023 - 34 violations, including 6 critical.

Oct. 5, 2023 - 19 violations, including 3 critical.

Nov. 2, 2023 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.

Jan. 17, 2024 - 23 violations, including 6 critical.

Feb. 6, 2024 - 16 violations, including 4 critical.

No. 11 - 21 critical violations - Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar - Brooklyn

PULP Juice & Smoothie Bar in Brooklyn, 4746 Ridge Road, had 21 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 30% of their total of 71 violations, which was the 11th-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County.

Aug. 16, 2023 - 23 violations, including 6 critical.

Aug. 29, 2023 - 16 violations, including 5 critical.

Sept. 5, 2023 - 12 violations, including 2 critical.

Sept. 12, 2023 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.

Nov. 16, 2023 - 16 violations, including 7 critical.

No. 11 (tie) - 21 critical violations - Lemongrass Grill - Munroe Falls

El Rincon in Wadsworth, 1154 Hinkle Drive., had 21 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 45% of their total of 47 violations, which was the 11th-highest inspection violation count in suburban Summit County.

• Aug. 29, 2023 - 11 violations, including 6 critical.
• Aug. 31, 2023 - 7 violations, including 3 critical.
• Sept. 6, 2023 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.
• Feb. 26, 2024 - 16 violations, including 8 critical.
• Feb. 28, 2024 - 10 violations, including 3 critical.

No. 10 - 22 critical violations - El Rincon - Wadsworth

El Rincon in Wadsworth, 1154 Hinkle Drive., had 22 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 42% of their total of 52 violations, which was the highest inspection violation count in Medina County.

• July 10, 2023 - 18 violations, including 9 critical.
• July 17, 2023 - 12 violations, including 5 critical.
• Aug. 3, 2023 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.
• Nov. 28, 2023 - 13 violations, including 6 critical.
• Dec. 13, 2023 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 8 (tie) - 23 critical violations - Otani Japanese Restaurant - Mayfield Heights

Otani Japanese Restaurant in Mayfield Heights, 1625 Golden Gate Plaza, had 23 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 27% of their total of 85 violations, which was tied for the sixth-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County.

Oct. 11, 2023 - 28 violations, including 8 critical.

Oct. 25, 2023 - 21 violations, including 6 critical.

Nov. 15, 2023 - 11 violations, including 2 critical.

Jan. 3, 2024 - 25 violations, including 7 critical.

No. 8 (tie) - 23 critical violations - Indie East 4th - Cleveland

Indie East 4th, 2038 E. Fourth St., had 23 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 31% of their total of 73 violations, which was the ninth-highest inspection violation count in Cleveland. (Note: This location and its successor under the same owner have closed.)

- March 2, 2023 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.

- Oct. 4, 2023 - 28 violations, including 11 critical.

- Oct. 5, 2023 - 30 violations, including 10 critical.

- Oct. 27, 2023 - 10 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 6 (tie) - 24 critical violations - Blue Iguana - New Franklin

Blue Iguana, 401 Turkeyfoot Lake Road West, had 26 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 31% of their total of 76 violations, which was the third-highest inspection violation count in suburban Summit County.

• July 17, 2023 - 25 violations, including 9 critical.
• Aug. 3, 2023 - 20 violations, including 8 critical.
• Aug. 17, 2023 - 9 violations, including 3 critical.
• Sept. 11, 2023 - 7 violations, including 1 critical.
• Jan. 3, 2024 - 15 violations, including 3 critical.

No. 6 (tie) - 24 critical violations - Picante Mexican Grill - Painesville

Picante Mexican Grill in Painesville, 50 N. State St., had 24 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 41% of their total of 58 violations, which was tied for the highest inspection violation count in Lake County.

• July 10, 2023 - 12 violations, including 5 critical.
• July 20, 2023 - 16 violations, including 9 critical.
• Sept. 7, 2023 - 16 violations, including 5 critical.
• Sept. 27, 2023 - 10 violations, including 4 critical.
• Jan. 17, 2024 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 4 (tie) - 25 violations - Nagoya Sushi & HotPot Restaurant - Brooklyn

Nagoya Sushi & HotPot Restaurant in Brooklyn, 7325 North Cliff Ave., had 25 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 25% of their total of 98 violations, which was tied for the third-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County. (The name of the building differs from what is listed in health records.)

Oct. 30, 2023 - 32 violations, including 7 critical.

Nov. 13, 2023 - 20 violations, including 5 critical.

Jan. 9, 2024 - 21 violations, including 6 critical.

Jan. 30, 2024 - 25 violations, including 7 critical.

No. 4 (tie) - 25 critical violations - Jaiper Junction - North Royalton

Jaiper Junction in North Royalton, 9249 Sprague Road, had 25 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 31% of their total of 79 violations, which was the ninth-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County.

• April 4, 2023 - 18 violations, including 6 critical.
• April 25, 2023 - 15 violations, including 5 critical.
• June 7, 2023 - 10 violations, including 3 critical.
• Nov. 22, 2023 - 16 violations, including 5 critical.
• Dec. 6, 2023 - 12 violations, including 4 critical.
• Dec. 14, 2023 - 8 violations, including 2 critical.

No. 3 - 37 critical violations - Golden Dragon - Mayfield Heights

Golden Dragon in Mayfield Heights, 5871 Mayfield Road, had 37 critical food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 34% of their total of 108 violations, which was the second-highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County.

• Dec. 4, 2023 - 26 violations, including 8 critical.
• Dec. 20, 2023 - 22 violations, including 7 critical.
• Jan. 10, 2024 - 46 violations, including 16 critical.*
• Feb. 8, 2024 - 12 violations, including 6 critical.
• Feb. 22, 2024 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.

* An inspector performed both a standard inspection and a follow-up inspection on Jan. 10.

No. 2 - 38 critical violations - Famous Gyro Franchise System - Euclid

Famous Gyro Franchise System in Euclid, 19505 Euclid Ave., had 38 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 34% of their total of 111 violations, which was the highest inspection violation count in suburban Cuyahoga County. (Note: The name of the building differs from what is listed in health records.)

• March 31, 2023 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
• Oct. 3, 2023 - 21 violations, including 6 critical.
• Oct. 26m 2023 - 13 violations, including 4 critical.
• Nov. 22, 2023 - 21 violations, including 7 critical.
• Jan. 3, 2024 - 23 violations, including 8 critical.
• Feb. 7, 2024 - 20 violations, including 8 critical.
• Feb. 23, 2024 - 12 violations, including 5 critical.

No. 1 - 41 critical violations - Tong Tong - Stow

Tong Tong, 1646 Norton Road, had 41 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2023 through February 2024, state records show. This is 30% of their total of 134 violations, which was the highest inspection violation count in Summit County.

• Aug. 1, 2023 - 22 violations, including 6 critical.
• Aug. 8, 2023 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
• Aug. 15, 2023 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
• Oct. 31, 2023 - 29 violations, including 11 critical.
• Nov. 2, 2023 - 25 violations, including 8 critical.
• Nov. 13, 2023 - 17 violations, including 5 critical.
• Nov. 20, 2023 - 19 violations, including 4 critical.
• Dec. 7, 2023 - 6 violations, including 1 critical.

Zachary Smith is the data reporter for cleveland.com. You can reach him at zsmith@cleveland.com.

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