Dirty Dining: Gulf Drive Cafe shut down for 24 hours for a sewage problem

BRADENTON, Fla. - Breathtaking views on Bradenton Beach attract tourists from all over including Nick and Myrna Jones from the UK.  And they often grab a bite at Gulf Drive Cafe on North Gulf Drive.

"We've always had good breakfasts there," Myrna said.

So it was a vacation downer to hear the state shut down the place recently due to a sewage leak.

On July 29 inspectors said sewage was coming through the floor drains, overflowing, and being tracked into the dining room, dish room, and wait staff area, closing the place for 24 hours.

So ABC Action News anchor Wendy Ryan went to the restaurant to talk to the new manager, Peter Barreda.

"Mild sewage smell, he even wrote," Ryan said, referring to the inspector's comments on their latest report.

"I disagree with that," Barreda said.

Barreda has been the restaurant's consultant for years and just took over as general manager. He claims it wasn't a sewage problem, just a leak in their washing machine.

"There was no sewage on my end. It was soapy water is what it was. We blew out that line and cleaned it up right away," Barreda admitted.

But Gulf Drive has had a history of other critical violations with 71 documented in the last 13 months. On May 5, a stop sale was issued on 6 gallons of chowder because according to state records it was at a dangerous temperature of 65 degrees.

"This restaurant has a very high volume. They made a lot of chowder. They didn't ice it down and cool it down as quickly as it should have been," Barreda explained.

Another stop sale was issued on March 7 on 10 gallons of red sauce and 11 gallons of chowder soup due to temperature violations along with one gallon of seafood stock because it was stored in a reused detergent container.

"So did they bring you in to turn the place around?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, they have," Barreda responded.

Gulf Drive has had bug issues as well. During their May visit, inspectors discovered 16 live and dead roaches near the prep table, walk in cooler, grill and cookline. The restaurant had roach problems on November 8, 2010 too along with rodent activity, as evidence by approximately 30 dry rodent droppings and a chewed bag of grits.

"We do spray the place, we do maintain rodent control, pest control, I mean that's things that we do," Barreda said.

And Barreda promises future inspections will be up to code.

"I can give you my word. I understand it's my responsibility and our responsibility to make sure we are doing the right things out there for the guests," Barreda said.