LARGO, FL -- Jerry and Fran Piszczynski have been eating at Stacey's Buffet Restaurant on North Missouri Avenue in Largo since 1976 and they're huge fans!
"It's like family. We can come here and spend three hours and we know everybody," the couple said.
But the Piszczynski's were a bit surprised when I told them that state inspection records show the restaurant had 118 critical violations in 2008. And the place was shut down for a roach and rodent infestation just two months ago!
"Oh my god! Really?!" said Dr. Jerry Heaberlin, also a loyal customer.
Dr. Heaberlin admits he has seen some unwanted guests in the restaurant.
"Well, I have seen roaches in there to tell you the truth and I reported them," Heaberlin said.
So we went into Sacey's Buffet to find out if they've cleaned things up.
"Since I've been here, I've straightened it up," Matt Matthews said.
Matthews has been the General Manager of Stacey's Buffet in Largo for the last 5 months and he's been with the company for 27-years!
He says the roach and rat infestations were immediately handled.
Matthews said, "We got a good exterminator now and he's taking care of the problem."
Matthews was so confident all was cleaned up, he lead us back into the kitchen.
But as we looked around, we saw some things inspectors might write up as violations like holes in the ceilings, which is how roaches and rodents can get into the kitchen.
We also saw uncovered food in the kitchen, packages of crab defrosting in the sink at room temperature, and the floors had missing tiles and water pooling.
One kitchen area was even flooded because water had been left running.
Matthews said, "Everyone does their part, if they don't, they won't be here."
In April and July, state inspectors wrote up Stacey's Buffet for employees not wearing gloves, but that has changed.
Matthews said, "We've had a complete training session since all this."
And in October, inspectors discovered this walk-in cooler was incapable of holding the proper temperature so a brand new cooling system has been put in place.
And the buffet at Stacey's Buffet has had some problems too.
In November and December inspectors documented numerous salad-bar items at hazardously warm temperatures, including ham, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and other items. All of those should be kept at 41-degrees or colder!
"A lot of the food on the buffet line was too warm. How are you handling that?" ABC Action News Anchor Wendy Ryan asked.
Matthews answered, "We had a repair man come in and checked it all out and got them all back to temperatures."
Despite all the violations the inspectors found and the conditions we saw, Stacey's Buffet has some very loyal customers!
Ryan asked, "So you'll be back?"
The Piszczynski's said, "Oh absolutely! Without a doubt. We've been coming here since 1976- how can we stop now?"
