KAY'S REAL PIT BAR-BQ

Name: KAY'S REAL PIT BAR-BQ
Address: 1552 W KING STREET, COCOA, FL, 329265120, US
Rating: 18.2

1552 W KING STREET, COCOA, FL 329265120

License #1501772

🔥 BBQ ℹ️

18.2 Grade F / 100

Failing Health Score

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Latest inspection

August 6, 2025 · 42 findings · 9 critical

Routine - Food

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Quick take

KAY'S REAL PIT BAR-BQ in COCOA currently holds an InspectFL Health Score of 18.2 out of 100 — an F grade — a serious pattern of repeat or critical violations. This restaurant has been inspected 12 times from Florida DBPR, with the most recent inspection on August 6, 2025. Across those visits, inspectors documented 148 total violations — 22 critical, 27 major, 99 minor.

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Inspections on file

Clean inspections

Callback visits

Latest clean pass

September 12, 2024

The latest inspection on August 6, 2025 shows 42 observation rows: 9 critical, 6 major, and 27 minor.

Official recordInspection data quality

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Official source: DBPR

Inspection coverage

92%

Inspector notes

148

Coverage note

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KAY'S REAL PIT BAR-BQ has a rough inspection history. Would you risk it?

F record

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*Scores are calculated by InspectFL based on public DBPR inspection data and are not official state ratings.

Inspection timeline

Inspection History

Read the newest inspection first, then scan for patterns. Repeated high-priority findings matter more than one isolated bad day.

Critical Major Minor

Inspector notes are being added across all restaurants. Some inspections may only show violation codes until notes are available.

Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
[14-01-5] Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl without handle inside frozen okra container in reach in freezer in kitchen
[23-24-4] Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Smoker and oven handles in kitchen
[36-34-5] Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Throughout kitchen area
[14-09-4] Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Brown cutting boards at slicer station
[35A-03-4] Dead roaches on premises. 1 dead roach found in dry storage room
[40-06-5] Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee beverage bottles and Lotion bottle on prep area COS Cellphone next to bread on shelf above meat grinder in prep area
[13-02-4] Employee with ineffective hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. For employee on cook line with hat and ponytail
[13-03-4] Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. For cook on cook line
[14-11-5] Equipment in poor repair. - Missing ice machine lid in server area - outside Walk in cooler door - fry baskets in kitchen -outside walk in cooler door with torn gaskets
[08B-38-4] Food stored on floor. Box of canned food on floor in dry storage area
[33-20-4] Grease on the ground and/or pad around grease receptacle. Grease behind dumpster area
[10-20-4] In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tong hanging on tea urns in server station
[10-01-5] In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop Handle touching brown and white sugar containers in dry storage room. Operator removed
[22-08-4] Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Vulcan oven and southern pride smoker interior soiled
[36-62-4] Light not functioning. 1 light burned out in the vent in kitchen
[51-13-4] No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Provided a chocking poster for operator
[31B-04-4] No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No sign on 3 hand sinks in kitchen: -At hand sink across cook line in kitchen -by dishmachine -and next to hot holding unit
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -Reach in cooler at server station by tea area with black substance on gaskets -outside walk in cooler with black substance on gaskets -exterior of soda machine behind nozzles on server area -exterior of ice machine on server area -speed racks in walk in cooler -smoker and oven in kitchen area -all cooking equipment on cook line -fryers handles in kitchen -hood filters with grease and dust in kitchen -can rack in dry storage area
[22-16-4] Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. -walk in cooler inside -walk in cooler outside
[29-20-5] Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink. On hand sink by dishmachine
[33-34-4] Storage area not maintained clean and organized. -Stock room in next to dry storage room in disarray -Back area outside
[08B-12-5] Stored food not covered. -Tea urns at server station not covered(COS) -ice machine lid missing in server area
[32-23-5] Toilet/urinal not flushing/functioning properly. Urinal In mens room out of order
[33-31-5] Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Old toilet seat, old sinks and miscellaneous items outside by walk in cooler and walk in freezer
[14-17-4] Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Shelves in walk in cooler
[29-11-4] Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Hand sink by dish machine discharge pipe leaking
[02D-01-5] Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Brown and white sugar containers not labeled. Operator put labels on containers
[01B-01-4] Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 6 Dented green beans cans and 1 dented corn beef can
[12A-07-5] Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. For cook on cook line - coached line cook
[35A-02-7] Live, small flying insects found 1 live small fly in server area
[01B-02-5] Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Cooker in kitchen area sweet potatoes (161F - Reheating for 2.5 hours); mashed potatoes (161F - Reheating for 2.5 hours); Operator discarded the items
[03A-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sliced American cheese at 66 F on prep area. Operator placed in reach in cooler
[03F-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Operator placed correct time mark on shelled eggs
[03E-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. Reheating not reaching 165°F for 15 seconds within 2 hours: sweet potatoes (161F - Reheating for 2.5 hours); mashed potatoes (161F - Reheating for 2.5 hours) in the smoker for reheating in the kitchen. Operator discarded.
[03B-01-6] Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter 114°F on prep area. Operator placed butter on time plan
[41-10-4] Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Bleach stored next to can of cooking oil under 4 burner stove
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -cutting boards throughout kitchen (white and brown) -interior fryer baskets in kitchen
[31A-11-4] Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink used as dump sink in server area
[22-31-4] Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Can opener by walk in cooler in kitchen
[05-06-4] Probe thermometer not accurate within plus or minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermometer was off 8 degrees. Corrected thermometer with operator.
[53B-14-5] Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
[27-16-4] Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hand sink by dishmachine

Disposition: Warning Issued
[22-20-5] Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine has an accumulation of mold like substance behind the deflector plate
[12B-07-4] Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table next to deli slicer. Operator moved
[14-11-5] Equipment in poor repair. Multiple torn gaskets
[22-09-5] Food storage container for time/temperature control for safety food not cleaned after being emptied prior to refilling. Large white tubs in walk in cooler used to store carrots have an accumulation of mold like substance
[31B-04-4] No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At hand wash sink to the right of dish machine
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Surfaces areas surrounding hoods over cook line have an accumulation of grease
[14-33-4] Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.stand up reach in cooler at back of cook line has rusted and chipping shelves
[08B-12-5] Stored food not covered. Prepared coffee grinds in filter at service station. Multiple containers of food items in walk in coolers
[22-16-4] Walk-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Accumulation of mold like substance on shelves in walk in cooler
[36-27-5] Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Multiple walls throughout kitchen areas have an accumulation of old food splatter
[21-08-4] Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. 0ppm. Operator remade to 150ppm
[02D-01-5] Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White granular substance removed from original packaging is not labeled identifying by common name in dry storage room
[12A-27-4] Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Cook cracked a raw shelled egg and then touched the handle of fryer basket without changing gloves and washing hands
[08A-05-6] Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef on a tray stored over containers of bread. Operator moved
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Surface area surrounding dispenser nozzles of soda dispenser in rear service area has an accumulation of mold like substance
[31A-11-4] Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink in service aisle near kitchen being used as a dump sink. Ice in well
[51-16-7] 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/. Operator relocated mop sink, removed smoker unit, and installed service station in banquet hall with soda fountain that has an ice bin.

Disposition: Warning Issued
[22-20-5] Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine has an accumulation of mold like substance behind the deflector plate
[12B-07-4] Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table next to deli slicer. Operator moved
[14-11-5] Equipment in poor repair. Multiple torn gaskets
[22-09-5] Food storage container for time/temperature control for safety food not cleaned after being emptied prior to refilling. Large white tubs in walk in cooler used to store carrots have an accumulation of mold like substance
[31B-04-4] No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At hand wash sink to the right of dish machine
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Surfaces areas surrounding hoods over cook line have an accumulation of grease
[14-33-4] Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.stand up reach in cooler at back of cook line has rusted and chipping shelves
[08B-12-5] Stored food not covered. Prepared coffee grinds in filter at service station. Multiple containers of food items in walk in coolers
[22-16-4] Walk-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Accumulation of mold like substance on shelves in walk in cooler
[36-27-5] Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Multiple walls throughout kitchen areas have an accumulation of old food splatter
[21-08-4] Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. 0ppm. Operator remade to 150ppm
[02D-01-5] Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. White granular substance removed from original packaging is not labeled identifying by common name in dry storage room
[12A-27-4] Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Cook cracked a raw shelled egg and then touched the handle of fryer basket without changing gloves and washing hands
[08A-05-6] Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef on a tray stored over containers of bread. Operator moved
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Surface area surrounding dispenser nozzles of soda dispenser in rear service area has an accumulation of mold like substance
[31A-11-4] Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink in service aisle near kitchen being used as a dump sink. Ice in well
[51-16-7] 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/. Operator relocated mop sink, removed smoker unit, and installed service station in banquet hall with soda fountain that has an ice bin.
[27-16-5] Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hand wash sink in dry storage area has no water

Disposition: Warning Issued
[16-21-4] Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. Exterior of Dish Washing Machine heavily soiled.
[24-06-4] Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty drawer or rack. Mobile clean plate holding unit, heavily soiled,operator removed from kitchen and placed outside to be cleaned.
[36-01-4] Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Walls, floors, ceiling and baseboards, soiled under and behind equipment and floor drains all thru location
[36-17-5] Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Diamond plate flooring in outside walk in cooler broken edges allowing food to store in between in gaps
[33-17-4] Garbage can soiled. Trash cans all thru kitchen and prep areas, exterior heavily soiled
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom shelfs of food prep tables soiled, shelving in walk in cooler soiled, shelving in dry food storage room soiled. Exterior of non working ice machine heavily soiled. Exterior of cooking equipment soiled, door gaskets to reach in cooler units soiled.
[21-44-1] Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Prep area sanitizer bucket stored on floor.
[21-10-4] Soiled dry wiping cloth in use. Multiple dry soiled wiping cloths used for pot holders and wiping cloths, not separated in use and stored on food prep tables.
[42-01-4] Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.wet mop stored in mop bucket outside.
[22-41-4] Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish Washing Machine chlorine sanitizer at 0 ppm, ran multiple times due to no prime switch on unit,
[12A-29-4] Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed wait staff employee take ladle from storage and not pick up at handle but at food ladle area with non washed hands, item placed in dish pit and re-educated employee
[03A-02-5] Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. The intent for these items where to go to oven to be reheated, where observed Holding at ambient air from approx 1030am ; baked beans (67F); pulled pork cooked previous day (66F); frozen corn on cob, hot water added (97F); smoked cooked pork pieces held at ambient air on table from 10am (71F) cooked on site eye round beef (110F) holding on speed rack. Multiple items, beans, corn and pulled pork were staged to go into the oven to reheat but ho,ding at ambient air. Pan of Meat scraps placed In walk in cooler to rapid chill. Recheck temp after 30 mins 43°cold holding.
[01B-19-5] Time/temperature control for safety food controlled by time and required to be marked with the use by time is not marked and the required time of disposal cannot be determined. See stop sale. Observed whole raw shell eggs that are under time plan, being placed back into reach in cooler unit and not discarded as required, see stop sale.
[03F-04-5] Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control not discarded at the end of the 4-hour/6-hour period. See stop sale. Observed grill cook placed whole raw shell eggs back into reach in cooler after end of breakfast service, see stop sale.
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Counter mounter manual can opener soiled. Outside walk in cooler, food storage containers with black mold like substance on exterior stored over ready to eat dressing.

Disposition: Warning Issued
[22-20-5] Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine in wait station interior deflector soiled.
[16-21-4] Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
[36-34-5] Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. All thru the location.
[14-09-4] Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cooks line heavily grooved cutting board in place
[13-07-4] Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Server with excessive jewelry, necklaces, earring and facial piercings.
[24-08-4] Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cleaned food storage pans stocked while still wet
[14-11-5] Equipment in poor repair. Non working ice machine in dry stock room
[36-73-4] Floor drains soiled/has accumulation of debris.
[36-01-4] Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Floors and walls under and behind equipments soiled.
[08B-38-4] Food stored on floor. 5gallon tubs of bbq sauce stored on floor of dry stock room.
[23-03-4] Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of equipment on cooks line and prep areas soiled, shelving in walk in cooler soiled, table legs of equipment and bottom shelves of prep tables soiled, exterior of trash cans soiled, hood filters soiled.
[22-16-4] Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Wait station and cooks line reach in cooler units interior soiled. Also Standing water interior reach in cooler on wait station.
[25-05-4] Single-service articles improperly stored. Case of foam bowls stored on floor of dry stock room.
[08B-12-5] Stored food not covered. Cooked green beans in outside walk in cooler, maintaining at 39° not covered after reaching 41° or below
[08B-17-4] Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed mushrooms stored over ready to eat cooked beef in walk in cooler unit,
[21-12-4] Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Soiled wet cloth stored on prep table between uses.
[35A-02-6] Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One live fly in food prep area, next unannounced routine per supervisor on duty, M. Connelly
[41-10-4] Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Hand soap stored on shelf with bread.
[22-02-4] Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Counter mounted can opener soiled blade.
[31B-02-4] No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels or soap at hand wash sink at ice machine in stock room.
[11-26-1] No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Blank employee reporting form on site but not being used for new.y hired working employees that do not have food safety training as yet, 60 days. Deidra and Sabrina
[02C-04-5] Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Cooked pulled pork was pulled from walk in freezer, date not fully known when pulled from freezer, not marked on product and tracked.
[02B-02-5] Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Breakfast menu consumer advisory not fully printed on menu, copy of consumer advisory emailed to operator to print and posted at hostess station area.
[02C-02-5] Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked bbq beef used for beans stored in walk in cooler without date mark.