Baja's Southern Style Cooking and Catering
1838 49 St South, St Petersburg, FL 33707 · Permanent Food Service · License 6217682
What drove the grade
Sewage/wastewater backing up through floor drains.
How the score was calculated
- Starting score100
- Violations at the Oct 28 routine inspection4 high priority (3 fixed on the spot), 2 intermediate (1 fixed on the spot), 9 basic (3 repeats)-32
- Extension granted on Oct 29Counts in full until a follow-up finds the problems fixed-3
- Safety score65
Our own summary of the public record, not an official state rating. How grades work · Report an error
Inspection history
1 inspection · 2 visitsRoutine inspection
- Follow-up visitOct 29, 2026 Extension granted
Some problems still weren't fixed, but the owner was working on them, so the inspector allowed more time and will come back again.
10 violations still not corrected:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat was still cited
Intermediate1
Code 51, Other sanitary and safe operation: No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress.
More time given
Basic9
Code 14, Food-contact surfaces designed and maintained: Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair.
More time given
Code 22, Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized: Interior of oven has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.
More time given
Reach-in cooler and freezer interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
More time given
Code 23, Non-food contact surfaces clean: Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust.
More time given
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles.
More time given
Code 35, Insects, rodents, pests and animals: Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside.
More time given
Code 36, Floors, walls, ceilings and ventilation: Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
More time given
Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas.
More time given
Code 50, Current license displayed: Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
More time given
- First visitOct 28, 2026 Warning issued
Problems were found that had to be fixed. The inspector will come back to check.
15 violations found:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat the inspector cited
High priority4
Code 03, Food out of temperature: Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41°F.
In reach in cooler behind bar tuna Mac salad (46°F - Cold Holding); potato salad (46°F - Cold Holding); seafood pasta salad (46°F - Cold Holding) All prepped on 10/25 and have not been removed from this cooler. Operator says this cooler has been opened frequently throughout the day. Ambient temperature 45°F. Operator moved foods to different cooler.
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135°F.
In steam table- cooked rice (120°F - Hot Holding, operator voluntarily discarded); Mac n cheese (126°F - Hot Holding, retemped at 138°F); turkey wings (125°F - Hot Holding, retimed at 172°F) Discussed proper hot holding and reheating with operator and that foods must be reheated to 165°F for continued hot holding at 135°F.
Fixed on the spot
Code 08, Food protection and cross-contamination: Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food.
Raw beef in freezer removed from commercial packaging stored over fruit purée and ham. Operator removed beef
Fixed on the spot
Code 28, Sewage and wastewater disposal: Sewage/wastewater backing up through floor drains.
Floor drain in kitchen near hand wash sink backs up with gray sewage water when hand wash sink is used. Operator wet vacuumed drain which cleared the clog. Hand sink is now able to be used without drain backing up, and operator cleaned and sanitized floor.
Fixed on the spot
Intermediate2
Code 31, Handwash sinks and supplies: Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times.
-hand wash sink in kitchen turned off due to it causing floor drain to back up when used. Operator turned on sink and wet vacuumed drain which cleared the clog. Hand sink is now able to be used without drain backing up.
Fixed on the spot
Code 51, Other sanitary and safe operation: No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress.
Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Dining area of restaurant is now used for cold food storage, it has 3 reach in coolers, 2 reach in freezers, and a walk in cooler has been added. No food preparation is done in this area. Discussed Plan Review requirements with operator.
Basic9
Code 14, Food-contact surfaces designed and maintained: Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair.
Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Reach in salad cooler stocked this morning, no open containers inside. Ambient temp 49°F. Unit has frozen over and not cooling properly. Operator moved all foods to different cooler.
Code 22, Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized: Interior of oven has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.
Reach-in cooler and freezer interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.
Repeat violation
Code 23, Non-food contact surfaces clean: Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust.
-hotbox gaskets soiled
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles.
-oven handles soiled
Code 35, Insects, rodents, pests and animals: Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside.
-front door has gap and large hole
Code 36, Floors, walls, ceilings and ventilation: Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
-acoustic ceiling tiles throughout kitchen, bar area, and food storage area near walk in cooler are soiled with dust, debris, and stains
Repeat violation
Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas.
-acoustic ceiling tiles throughout kitchen, bar area, and food storage area near walk in cooler
Repeat violation
Code 50, Current license displayed: Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
-license printed on file expired 2/1/26
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
- Time/temperature control for safety food
- Food that has to be kept hot, at 135°F or above, or cold, at 41°F or below, to stay safe: meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, cooked rice and beans, cut melons and the like.
- Ready-to-eat food
- Food eaten without further cooking, such as salads, sandwiches, deli meats and cooked dishes.
- Nonfood-contact surface
- Surfaces food doesn’t touch, such as the outsides of equipment, handles and door gaskets.
- Ambient temperature
- The air temperature inside a cooler or holding unit, rather than the food’s own.