A great many of Floridians consider Perkins to be their go-to place for breakfast at any hour of the day. It is a favorite among individuals who are looking for comfort food because it offers traditional pancakes, hefty omelets, and a breakfast menu that is available throughout the day.
On the other hand, if you have been considering going to the Perkins restaurant located on University Boulevard in Winter Park, you might have been in for a pleasant surprise not too long ago.
The facility was temporarily closed after a health inspection revealed a number of infractions, which led to the closure of the establishment.
After beginning as a straightforward pancake house in the 1950s, Perkins eventually grew into a full-service restaurant and bakery. The company has been in business ever since.
Approximately 28 of the approximately 300 Perkins establishments that can be found in the United States are located in the state of Florida.
The location in Winter Park, which can be found at 6425 University Boulevard, is a well-liked one, as evidenced by the fact that it has had over 2,200 reviews and scored a great 4.4 stars.
The Health Inspection: What Went Wrong?
It was on October 24, 2024, when inspectors from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation paid a visit that the problems began to arise.
There were a total of twelve infractions discovered during the inspection, which ranged from relatively minor issues to more significant health concerns. This is what they determined to be true:
Fundamental violations include dust accumulation in the ceiling vents above the cooking area, accumulation of grease around the fryers, and the presence of food debris in a cooler. There were also dead roaches found in the kitchen, which was a warning sign for the inspectors.
The handwashing sink was inaccessible to employees, which made it difficult for staff members to maintain sufficient levels of hygiene. This constitutes an intermediate violation.
The most significant problems were those that were classified as high-priority violations. The inspectors discovered a can of Raid insecticide stored next to oatmeal, live roaches darting around, and raw meat illegally stored above rice in the cooler.
All of these items were discovered by the inspectors. Due to the seriousness of some of these results, the state was left with no other option but to temporarily close down the restaurant. However, that was not the conclusion of the narrative.
A Bumpy Road to Reopening
There was a follow-up inspection conducted later on October 24, and the Perkins site was successful in passing it, satisfying the minimum requirements to reopen.
However, just one day later, on October 25, inspectors returned, and they discovered four new breaches, which resulted in the eatery being closed down once more. After undergoing two additional follow-up inspections, the eatery was eventually cleared of any contamination.
By the time the procedure was over, there was just one violation left, but it was determined that it did not pose a threat to the public’s health, thus the diner was permitted to reopen.
Community Reaction
There are still a lot of people that are loyal to this Perkins location, despite the fact that it is temporarily closed. It is a well-known establishment in the Winter Park neighborhood, and those who frequent it are holding out hope that the management would take these inspections as a notice to improve.
The food and service have “always been excellent,” as said by Becky, another reviewer; but, the restaurant could obviously use a small amount of TLC, particularly when it comes to maintenance.
However, for the time being, the restaurant is once again up for business, and customers may once more indulge in their preferred breakfast delicacies.
Let us keep our fingers crossed that this is a turning point for the much-loved cafe, and that the subsequent inspection can be carried out without any problems.
It would appear that Perkins is prepared to welcome you back, with the promise of a more sanitary and improved dining experience. If you are intending to get a stack of pancakes or a cup of coffee, you should know that they are ready to welcome you back.