Sam's Country Buffet INC
1214 Capital Cir SE Ste D&E, Tallahassee, FL 32301 · Permanent Food Service · License 4702551
What drove the grade
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food.
How the score was calculated
- Starting score100
- Violations at the Nov 3 routine inspection3 high priority (1 no follow-up needed, 2 fixed on the spot), 9 basic-18
- Safety score82
Our own summary of the public record, not an official state rating. How grades work · Report an error
Inspection history
1 inspection · 1 visitRoutine inspection
- First visitNov 3, 2026 No follow-up needed
Met the state's inspection standards; the inspector didn't need to come back. Any violations cited still count toward the grade.
12 violations found:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat the inspector cited
High priority3
Code 08, Food protection and cross-contamination: Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food.
Observed raw shrimp over chicken. Inspector advised employee to move the shrimp, employee moved the shrimp.
Fixed on the spot
Code 09, Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food: Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - ready-to-eat food used for multiple menu items, some of which will not be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact.
Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee handle cooked chicken with bare hands.
Code 12, Handwashing and hygienic practices: Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands.
Observed employees eating lunch then touched cooked chicken to put in the walk-in cooler and handle clean equipment without washing hands. Manager had all employees wash hands during inspection.
Fixed on the spot
Basic9
Code 08, Food protection and cross-contamination: Stored food not covered.
Observed raw chicken, beef, and pork not covered in the walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, and reach-in freezers.
Code 10, In-use utensils properly stored: In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment.
Observed on the walk-in freezer door between the prep table. Knives moved during inspection.
Fixed on the spot
Code 14, Food-contact surfaces designed and maintained: Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food.
Observed scoops in 2 rice containers.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable.
Walk-in cooler and freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
Code 22, Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized: Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Observed the ice machine in the kitchen area.
Code 23, Non-food contact surfaces clean: Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles.
Observed the walk-in cooler door handle with residue on it.
Code 29, Plumbing and backflow prevention: Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink.
Observed slow water drainage when washing hands in the kitchen area near the 3 compartment sink.
Code 36, Floors, walls, ceilings and ventilation: Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
Observed soiled ceiling tiles in the kitchen area.
Reading this report
Priority levels
- High priority The problems most likely to make someone sick directly.
- Intermediate Could lead to a high-priority problem if not fixed.
- Basic Best practices and general upkeep.
Terms in the inspectors’ reports
- Ready-to-eat food
- Food eaten without further cooking, such as salads, sandwiches, deli meats and cooked dishes.