What are the 20 Lake County restaurants with the most food inspection violations in 2022-2023?

PAINESVILLE, Ohio - Here are the Lake County restaurants and retailers cited with the most food inspection violations during the 2022-2023 inspection year ending Feb. 28, according to state records.

The inspections were conducted by the Lake County health department, which is responsible for the entire county.

More than 1,500 places were cited during the most recent inspection year. But only 1-in-4 cited locations received 10 or more citations.

The places listed below are the 20 with the most violations, with the top spot being cited with 61 violations.

This is the fifth in a 2023 series of stories highlighting food inspection violations on cleveland.com.

Earlier, cleveland.com reported the most frequent food inspection violations in Cleveland, Akron and suburban Cuyahoga and Summit counties. To see previous inspection years, visit 2021-2022, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-17, and 2015-16. The annual reporting was paused during the pandemic.

Some violations are minor. Some can be disturbing. Many problems are fixed at the time of the inspection.

Health inspectors cannot impose fines, but health departments can suspend or revoke operating licenses.

The most crucial violations identified as “critical” are those that “may immediately lead to a foodborne illness,” state health officials say.

To learn how this list was put together, please visit this link.

Dunkin Donuts on Richmond Street Painesville has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County. — Dunkin Donuts at 255 Richmond St. in Painesville has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 19 (tie) - 24 violations - OM Painesville Donuts Inc. - Painesville

OM Painesville Donuts Inc. in Painesville, 255 Richmond St., had 24 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show. (The name of this business is different from the name in the state records.)

May 25, 2022 - 8 violations, including 1 critical.
June 13, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
June 21, 2022 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
July 5, 2022 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
Nov. 15, 2022 - 10 violations, including 3 critical.
Dec. 13, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.

Golden Girls Restaurant has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 19 (tie) - 24 violations - Golden Girls Restaurant - Eastlake

Golden Girls Restaurant in Eastlake, 34860 Vine St., had 24 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

Aug. 10, 2022 - 6 violations, including 0 critical.
Oct. 25, 2022 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
Dec. 20, 2022 - 12 violations, including 4 critical.
Feb. 3, 2023 - 2 violations, including 1 critical.

Harry's Food Mart I has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 14 (tie) - 26 violations - Harry’s Food Mart I - Painesville

Harry’s Food Mart I in Painesville, 33 W. Walnut Ave., had 26 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

Aug. 29, 2022 - 11 violations, including 4 critical.
Sept. 13, 2022 - 5 violations, including 3 critical.
Sept. 28, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Jan. 23, 2023 - 8 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 14 (tie) - 26 violations - Harry Buffalo - Painesville

Harry Buffalo in Painesville, 2119 Mentor Ave., had 26 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

July 21, 2022 - 14 violations, including 3 critical.
Aug. 3, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Jan. 5, 2023 - 8 violations, including 4 critical.
Jan. 20, 2023 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 14 (tie) - 26 violations - Picante Mexican Grill - Painesville

Picante Mexican Grill in Painesville, 50 N. State St., had 26 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

July 20, 2022 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
Aug. 8, 2022 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
Aug. 15, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Jan. 5, 2023 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
Jan. 25, 2023 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

Taqueria la Casita has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 14 (tie) - 26 violations - Taqueria el Pipilia - Painesville

Taqueria el Pipilia in Painesville, 452 Storrs St., had 26 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show. (The name of this business is different from the name in the state records.)

May 20, 2022 - 10 violations, including 5 critical.
July 12, 2022 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
Jan. 19, 2022 - 11 violations, including 5 critical.

Ballantine has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 14 (tie) - 26 violations - Ballantine - Willoughby

Ballantine in Willoughby, 4113 Erie St., had 26 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

Sept. 7, 2022 - 11 violations, including 6 critical.
Sept. 15, 2022 - 9 violations, including 5 critical.
Dec. 8, 2022 - 6 violations, including 0 critical.

Subway in Painesville has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County. — Subway at 1464 Mentor Ave. in Painesville has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 13 - 27 violations - Subway - Painesville

Subway in Painesville, 1464 Mentor Ave., had 27 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

May 23, 2022 - 2 violations, including 2 critical.
Nov. 3, 2022 - 13 violations, including 5 critical.
Nov. 21, 2022 - 9 violations, including 3 critical.
Dec. 1, 2022 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

El Paladar de Mexico has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 12 - 30 violations - El Paladar de Mexico - Painesville

El Paladar de Mexico in Painesville, 211 North St. Clair St., had 30 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show

Aug. 16, 2022 - 14 violations, including 7 critical.
Aug. 30, 2022 - 2 violations, including 1 critical.
Jan. 27, 2023 -11 violations, including 4 critical.
Feb. 7, 2023 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

Don Tequila has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 10 (tie) - 33 violations - Don Tequila - Eastlake

Don Tequila in Eastlake, 35757 Lakeshore Blvd., had 33 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show

May 27, 2022 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.
May 31, 2022 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
Sept. 7, 2022 - 16 violations, including 6 critical.
Sept. 20, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Jan. 26, 2023 - 11 violations, including 4 critical.

Fuji Buffet & Grill has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 10 (tie) - 33 violations - Fuji Buffet & Grill - Mentor

Fuji Buffet & Grill in Mentor, 9130 Mentor Ave., had 33 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show

April 25, 2022 - 8 violations, including 1 critical.
July 25, 2022 - 17 violations, including 5 critical.
Aug. 8, 2022 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
Feb. 21, 2023 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

One Hundred Flowers has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 9 - 34 violations - New Hundred Flowers - Willowick

New Hundred Flowers in Willowick, 28898 Lakeshore Blvd., had 34 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show. (The name of this business is different from the name in the state records.)

Aug. 2, 2022 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.
Dec. 7, 2022 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
Dec. 21, 2022 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
Jan. 17, 2023 - 5 violations, including 1 critical.
Jan. 25, 2023 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
Feb. 21, 2023 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.

Richmond Food Mart has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 7 (tie) - 36 violations - Richmond Foodmart - Painesville

Richmond Foodmart in Painesville, 161 Richmond St., had 36 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

June 16, 2022 - 12 violations, including 4 critical.
July 20, 2022 - 11 violations, including 3 critical.
July 28, 2022 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
Dec. 27. 2022 - 9 violations, including 1 critical.

El Palenque has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 7 (tie) - 36 violations - El Palenque - Eastlake

El Palenque in Eastlake, 35520 Vine St., had 36 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

Aug. 15, 2022 - 10 violations, including 4 critical.
Aug. 23, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Aug. 25, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Sept. 1, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Jan. 5, 2023 - 12 violations, including 3 critical.
Jan. 12, 2023 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.
Jan. 19, 2023 - 2 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 6 - 42 violations - Hellriegel’s Inn - Painesville

Trifiletti & Di Iorio, LLC doing business as Hellriegel’s Inn in Painesville, 1840 Mentor Ave., had 42 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

Oct. 5, 2022 - 22 violations, including 8 critical.
Oct. 26, 2022 - 9 violations, including 3 critical.
Nov. 29, 2022 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
Jan. 25, 2023 - 13 violations, including 0 critical.

Azteca has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 5 - 45 violations - Azteca Mexican Restaurant - Mentor

Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Mentor, 9515 Diamond Centre Drive, had 45 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

June 23, 2022 - 19 violations, including 5 critical.
June 30, 2022 - 10 violations, including 3 critical.
July 7, 2022 - 5 violations, including 3 critical.
Aug. 30, 2022 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
Oct. 6, 2022 - 2 violations, including 2 critical.
Jan. 11, 2023 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.

No. 4 - 47 violations - Kentucky Fried Chicken - Painesville

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Painesville, 200 Richmond St., had 47 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

March 28, 2022 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
Aug. 9, 2022 - 23 violations, including 7 critical.
Aug. 30, 2022 - 12 violations, including 2 critical.
Sept. 12, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Oct. 11, 2022 - 1 violation, including 1 critical.
Dec. 16, 2022 - 6 violations, including 1 critical.
Jan. 17, 2023 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.

Jackie's has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 3 - 56 violations - Jackie’s Sports Bar & Grill - Painesville

Jackie’s Sports Bar & Grill in Painesville, 569 S. State St., had 56 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

Aug. 1, 2022 - 15 violations, including 6 critical.
Aug. 23, 2022 - 16 violations, including 6 critical.
Sept. 8, 2022 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
Jan. 10, 2022 - 12 violations, including 4 critical.
Jan. 25, 2022 - 8 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 2 - 58 violations - Rider’s Inn - Painesville

Fargo Discount Corp. doing business as Rider’s Inn in Painesville, 792 Mentor Road, had 58 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

Sept. 7, 2022 - 14 violations, including 6 critical.
Sept. 9, 2022 - 10 violations, including 3 critical.
Sept. 22, 2022 - 6 violations, including 3 critical.
Oct. 25, 2022 - 8 violations, including 5 critical.
Nov. 15, 2022 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.
Dec. 1, 2022 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
Jan. 27, 2023 - 10 violations, including 4 critical.

Mentor Avenue Family Restaurant has one of the highest health inspector violation counts in Lake County.Zachary Smith, Cleveland.com

No. 1 - 61 violations - Mentor Avenue Family Restaurant - Painesville Township

Mentor Avenue Family Restaurant in Painesville Township, 1945 Mentor Ave., had 61 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2022 through February 2023, state records show.

April 13, 2022 - 15 violations, including 6 critical.
April 18, 2022 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.
Nov. 17, 2022 - 15 violations, including 4 critical.
Nov. 21, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
Dec. 14, 2022 - 13 violations, including 1 critical.
Jan. 17, 2023 - 10 violations, including 0 critical.

Zachary Smith is the data reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. See previous stories at this link.

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