Spider on cutting board, tortillas in garbage bags, more mall rodent droppings: 7 restaurants, 1 food truck shut

Among the eight South Florida eateries the state temporarily closed last week were five restaurants inside The Mall at Wellington Green in Palm Beach County. The big problem: rodent droppings.

It was the second time since September that inspectors found rodent issues at the Wellington mall .

Other noteworthy findings included a live spider on a cutting board and roaches crawling around an oven and on single-use bowls and lids.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for "high-priority violations," such as improper food temperatures or dead cockroaches.

Related Articles Restaurants, Food and Drink | Live rodent in glue trap under freezer; rodent droppings infestation at mall: 13 South Florida restaurants shut

Any restaurant that fails a state inspection must stay closed until it passes a follow-up. If you spotted a possible violation and wish to file a complaint, contact Florida DBPR . (But please don't contact us: The Sun Sentinel doesn't inspect restaurants.)

PALM BEACH COUNTYSbarro (inside Mall at Wellington Green)

Ordered shut: Nov. 5

Why: Two violations ( one high-priority ), including:

About 30 rodent droppings in spots such as "under dry storage area where food items and single-service items are stored," "around the perimeter of the water heater," "inside dough container stored on dry storage shelf," "on top of open box containing single-service cups," "on top of open box with steam table pans," "on top of open box with aluminum pans" and in "the back of rolling cart at front counter where pizzas are stored."

Status: Remained closed after its Nov. 6 inspection found one major violation, but it was allowed to reopen later that day with no new issues.

The Madre's Mexican Fresh (inside Mall at Wellington Green)

Ordered shut: Nov. 5

Why: Two violations ( one high-priority ):

About 25 rodent droppings "on floor near single-service items, food and cleaned dishes."

About 12 dead roaches "in two traps by dry storage/dishwashing area, near single-service items and containers of food."

Status: Closed again after a Nov. 6 inspection found one high-priority and one basic violation but reopened later that day when inspectors found no new issues.

Med Plate (inside Mall at Wellington Green)

Ordered shut: Nov. 5

Why: Two violations ( both high-priority ):

About 15 rodent droppings "in corner between sections of the wall at back-end of kitchen" and "on rat trap under prep table where various food items are stored."

Time/temperature issues involved hummus, grape leaf-wrapped rice and yogurt base sauce.

Status: Shut on Nov. 6 after a second visit found one high-priority violation, but it reopened later that day after a third visit revealed no new issues.

Yeung's Lotus Express (inside Mall at Wellington Green)

Ordered shut: Nov. 5

Why: Six violations ( all high-priority ), including:

Nine live cockroaches "in between sections of oven" and "crawling down the leg of oven beside several rice cookers and across from dry storage area."

About 31 rodent droppings in areas such as "behind rice storage container next to rice cookers," "underneath oven," "under dry storage area where various food items are stored in kitchen" and "on lid of container bearing food in dry storage area."

Stop sales ordered "due to temperature abuse" for raw shrimp.

Status: Shut Nov. 6 after a follow-up inspection found four high-priority issues, again on Nov. 7 for one high-priority issue, and again on Nov. 8 for one high-priority issue. It was allowed to reopen later that day when its reinspection found zero violations.

Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen (inside Mall at Wellington Green)

Ordered shut: Nov. 5

Why: Two violations ( both high-priority ):

About 18 rodent droppings "on soda box beside steam table," "under reach-in cooler and conventional oven" and "under prep table."

Status: Reopened Nov. 6 after inspectors discovered no violations.

Antojitos Mexicanos El Calentano food truck

Ordered shut: Nov. 7

Why: Two violations ( one-high-priority ):

Six cockroaches "crawling on flip-top cooler lid" and on "wall next to glass-door cooler."

Three dead roaches "under flat-top grill."

Status: Reopened Nov. 12 after a follow-up visit found zero new issues.

Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine

Ordered shut: Nov. 7

Why:

About 14 live cockroaches "under dishwashing machine in kitchen," "under prep sink" on the kitchen floor, "under triple sink on floor in prep room," "on low-boy cooler" and "in direct contact with single-use bowls and lids in prep area."

About 51 dead roaches "on top of dishwashing machine in kitchen," "in corner on floor behind dishwashing machine" and "along the corners of the floor."

"Employee washed hands with no soap."

Stop sales ordered "due to temperature abuse" for cooked lamb, cooked chicken, cut tomatoes, onion sauce, tomato gravy, sauteed onions and coconut milk.

"Raw portioned chicken" stored over cooked chicken.

Status: Reopened Nov. 8 after a follow-up visit spotted one intermediate issue.

Tacos Al Carbon

Ordered shut: Nov. 6

Why:

1 live spider "on cutting board by three-compartment sink"

Six "roaches crawling on floor by flip-top cooler on cook line."

Sanitation issues: "Garbage bags used to store cooked tortillas," "handwashing sink on cook-line drain backing up" with sewage/wastewater, and one employee touching "clean equipment without washing hands."

Stop sales ordered for "food not consumed/sold with seven days after preparation" for salsa, beef soup and seafood soup.

Stop sales ordered "due to temperature abuse" for cheese, french fries, sour cream, beef stock and cooked beef, pork, shrimp, chorizo, rice and beans.

"At kitchen, several metal pans washed with only soap and water. Not sanitized."