CLEARWATER, FL -- Annie Sy has been the owner and manager of Panda Restaurant on Cleveland Street in Clearwater for the last 31-years.
But state inspectors discovered 126 violations over the last two years. That includes 35 critical violations inside her chinese eatery in just 2008 and Sy doesn't think she's been treated fairly."I try- I been here for 30 some years! I know how to do it! I know how to try and clean up everything but sometime you gotta give me the break," Sy said,
State inspectors also shut down Panda Restaurant twice over the last year. The eatery was closed in March for a rodent infestation and in October for a roach infestation.
Action News anchor Wendy Ryan asked Sy, "You had about 400 rodent droppings- did you not notice?"
Sy said, "No, I don't know. The inspector comes in and they write anything they want to write!"
Sy says part of the problem is the tight economy. She doesn't have the money to pay for a better exterminator.
"I know I gotta change, but every time I change, it costs me $600 to change to another bug man. I don't have the money to do it," Sy said.As Sy showed us around, we noticed issues inspectors might write up as violations, like several pounds of meat sitting in the sink at room temperature and frozen meat thawing on the counter.
The state food code says proper thawing can only be done if the meat is completely submerged under running water or refrigerated at 41 degrees or less. But Sy says the inspector told her this way is allowed.
"They say it can stay out for 45 minutes- outside for frozen stuff," Sy said.
We also noticed in the walk-in cooler raw shrimp, raw eggs, and various vegetables were uncovered and not protected from contamination.
Ryan asked, "Shouldn't all this stuff be covered?"
Sy replied, "No - vegetables you don't have to cover. They don't need a cover."
We saw potential fire hazards around the kitchen, including grease caked on pans, equipment and the hood filters.
We also discovered dead roaches in a bucket filled with water right by the cooler and more dead roaches in a roach trap.
Ryan asked, "Do you feel like with all the violations, your restaurant is still safe to eat at?"
"Oh yeah! Why not? 31 years- I don't have nobody complain to me," Sy said.
