23 Lake County restaurants with the most food inspection violations in 2021-2022

PAINESVILLE, Ohio - Here are the Lake County restaurants and retailers cited for the most food inspection violations during the 2021-2022 inspection year ending Feb. 28, according to state records.

A total of 584 of the nearly 752 different restaurants and other food retail businesses in Lake County cited were found to have five or fewer violations. A small number had more than a dozen violations. The 23 listed below had at least 16 violations, with the top spot being cited with 134 violations.

This is the fourth in a 2022 series of stories highlighting food inspection violations on cleveland.com, after pausing the annual reporting during the pandemic, initially because so many restaurants had closed temporarily.

Published earlier, see the 25 Cleveland restaurants, 24 suburban Cuyahoga County restaurants, and 22 Lorain County restaurants with the most violations in 2021-2022. And see the previous inspection years at these links, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, and 2015-16.

Each restaurant in Ohio is inspected twice a year, plus follow-ups as needed to check on identified problems. Other places handling food to a lesser extent may be inspected once a year.

Some violations are minor. Many problems are fixed at the time of the inspection. Our analysis does not count violations that are also labeled corrected. Violations identified as “critical” are those that “may immediately lead to a foodborne illness,” the Ohio Department of Health says.

Health inspectors cannot impose fines, but health departments can suspend or revoke operating licenses.

16 violations - Rider’s Inn - Painesville

Fargo Discount Corp. Dba Rider’s Inn in Painesville, 792 Mentor Road, had 16 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• July 13, 2021 - 5 violations, including 1 critical.
• July 16, 2021 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
• July 21, 2021 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 11, 2022 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.
• Feb. 1, 2022 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.

16 violations - Five Star Subs - Painesville

Five Star Subs in Painesville, 263 Liberty St., had 16 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• June 30, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 11, 2021 - 5 violations, including 1 critical.
• Nov. 29, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Dec. 1, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

17 violations - Mexican Food Specialists - Painesville

Mexican Food Specialists in Painesville, 170 East Washington St., had 17 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (The name of the building differs from what is listed in health records.)

• Aug. 10, 2021 - 7 violations, including 3 critical.
• Aug. 18, 2021 - 5 violations, including 3 critical.
• Sept. 14, 2021 - 2 violations, including 2 critical.
• Jan. 20, 2022 - 2 violations, including 1 critical.
• Feb. 7, 2022 - 1 violation, including 1 critical.

17 violations - Vasko’s Supermarket - Fairport Harbor

Vasko’s Supermarket in Fairport Harbor, 328 Seventh St., had 17 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• Apr. 7, 2021 - 11 violations, including 2 critical.
• Apr. 29, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 15, 2021 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.

17 violations - Kentucky Fried Chicken - Painesville

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Painesville, 200 Richmond St., had 17 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• July 13, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 18, 2021 - 8 violations, including 1 critical.
• Dec. 9, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Feb. 8, 2021 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.

17 violations - American Croatian Lodge, Inc - Eastlake

American Croatian Lodge, Inc in Eastlake, 34900 Lakeshore Blvd., #301, had 17 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (The name of the building differs from what is listed in health records.)

• Aug. 5, 2021 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
• Aug. 12, 2021 - 1 violation, including 1 critical.
• Jan. 6, 2022 - 8 violations, including 2 critical.
• Jan. 21, 2022 - 2 violations, including 1 critical.
• Feb. 10, 2022 - 1 violations, including 0 critical.

A second license at this location had 16 separate violations, four of which were critical A previous version of this story listed the violations together. These citations were on the same dates listed above.

18 violations - River Tavern - Willoughby

River Tavern in Willoughby, 3511 Lost Nation Road, had 18 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• July 20, 2021 - 14 violations, including 5 critical.
• July 23, 2021 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
• Dec. 6, 2021 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.

18 violations - Harry’s Food Mart II - Painesville

Harry’s Food Mart II in Painesville, 161 Richmond St., had 18 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• July 9, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 29, 2021 - 7 violations, including 2 critical.
• Dec. 9, 2021 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
• Jan. 11, 2022 - 2 violations, including 1 critical.
• Jan. 20, 2022 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.

18 violations - Chins Pagoda - Willowick

Chins Pagoda in Willowick, 30708 Lakeshore Blvd., had 18 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

• Sept. 22, 2021 - 9 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov 10, 2021 - 9 violations, including 0 critical.

20 violations - TJ’s on the Avenue - Mentor

Champ’s Sports Bar & Grill / TJ’s on the Avenue in Mentor, 7485 Mentor Ave., had 20 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• Aug. 11, 2021 - 8 violations, including 3 critical.
• Sept. 1, 2021 - 4 violations, including 2 critical.
• Sept. 22, 2021 - 1 violation, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 31, 2022 - 5 violations, including 1 critical.
• Feb. 8, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.

20 violations - Kleifelds - Willoughby

Kleifelds in Willoughby, 4048 Erie St., had 20 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• Aug. 12, 2021 - 15 violations, including 2 critical.
• Jan. 31, 2022 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.

21 violations - Y&Y Cafe Inc - Eastlake

Y&Y Cafe Inc in Eastlake, 33550 Vine St., had 21 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• May 18, 2021 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.
• July 13, 2021 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.
• Nov. 23, 2021 - 12 violations, including 3 critical.
• Dec. 15, 2021 - 3 violations, including 1 critical.

21 violations - Picante Mexican Grill - Painesville

Picante Mexican Grill in Painesville, 50 N. State St., had 21 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• June 3, 2021 - 7 violations, including 4 critical.
• June 14, 2021 - 6 violations, including 2 critical.
• June 30, 2021 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
• Oct. 14, 2021 - 4 violations, including 2 critical.\

22 violations - Harry Buffalo - Painesville

Harry Buffalo in Painesville, 2119 Mentor Ave., had 22 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

• June 28, 2021 - 8 violations, including 2 critical.
• June 30, 2021 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
• July 20, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 23, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 24, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

23 violations - China House - Painesville

China House in Painesville, 160 East Main St., had 23 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• June 25, 2021 - 9 violations, including 3 critical.
• July 21, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 6, 2022 - 6 violations, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 19, 2022 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.

24 violations - Master Pizza - Painesville

Master Pizza #24 in Painesville, 1640 Mentor Ave., had 24 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• June 25, 2021 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.
• July 2, 2021 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.
• July 6, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.
• July 7, 2021 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 17, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 3, 2022 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.

25 violations - Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill - Mentor

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill #7554 in Mentor, 7725 Reynolds Road, had 25 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• Sept. 24, 2021 - 13 violations, including 1 critical.
• Sept. 30, 2021 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 15, 2021 - 7 violations, including 0 critical.

25 violations - Burger IM - Mentor

Burger IM in Mentor, 7597 Mentor Ave., had 25 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

• May 24, 2021 - 5 violations, including 1 critical.
• Sept. 16, 2021 - 5 violations, including 1 critical.
• Sept. 24, 2021 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
• Oct. 1, 2021 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
• Oct. 26, 2021 - 7 violations, including 2 critical.

27 violations - Spirits in Willoughby - Willoughby

Spirits in Willoughby in Willoughby, 3872 Erie St., Front, had 27 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• May 24, 2021 - 19 violations, including 5 critical.
• June 17, 2021 - 5 violations, including 2 critical.
• Nov. 22, 2021 - 3 violations, including 2 critical.

36 violations - Hellriegel’s Inn - Painesville

Trifiletti & Di Iorio, LLC Dba Hellriegel’s Inn in Painesville, 1840 Mentor Ave., had 36 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show.

• July 20, 2021 - 10 violations, including 2 critical.
• Aug. 5, 2021 - 10 violations, including 2 critical.
• Aug. 12, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Oct. 12, 2021 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 13, 2022 - 5 violations, including 0 critical.
• Feb. 2, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.

40 violations - Harmony Cafe - Painesville

Harmony Cafe in Painesville, 1507 Mentor Ave., had 40 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

• July 14, 2021 - 6 violations, including 1 critical.
• July 21, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Sept. 8, 2021 - 10 violations, including 0 critical.
• Sept. 9, 2021 - 6 violations, including 0 critical.
• Sept. 16, 2021 - 6 violations, including 0 critical.
• Oct. 4, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Nov. 1, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.

56 violations - Imperial Dragon, Inc - Mentor

Imperial Dragon, Inc. in Mentor, 8310 Tyler Blvd., had 56 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

• July 29, 2021 - 16 violations, including 6 critical.
• Sept. 9, 2021 - 10 violations, including 3 critical.
• Sept. 20, 2021 - 7 violations, including 1 critical.
• Sept. 29, 2021 - 6 violations, including 1 critical.
• Oct. 13, 2021 - 6 violations, including 1 critical.
• Oct. 25, 2021 - 4 violations, including 1 critical.
• Nov. 12, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Feb. 2, 2022 - 3 violations, including 0 critical.

134 violations - Hibachi Steak House - Painesville

Hibachi Steak House in Painesville, 2145 Mentor Ave., had 134 food inspection violations during the inspection year from March 2021 through February 2022, state records show. (This business is now closed.)

• Apr. 20, 2021 - 11 violations, including 2 critical.
• Apr. 28, 2021 - 11 violations, including 2 critical.
• May 11, 2021 - 10 violations, including 1 critical.
• May 14, 2021 - 14 violations, including 1 critical.
• May 21, 2021 - 10 violations, including 0 critical.
• May 26, 2021 - 14 violations, including 0 critical.
• June 2, 2021 - 11 violations, including 0 critical.
• June 9, 2021 - 9 violations, including 0 critical.
• June 15, 2021 - 10 violations, including 0 critical.
• June 23, 2021 - 10 violations, including 0 critical.
• July 14, 2021 - 8 violations, including 0 critical.
• June 28, 2021 - 6 violations, including 0 critical.
• Oct. 6, 2021 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Jan. 13, 2022 - 4 violations, including 0 critical.
• Feb. 1, 2022 - 2 violations, including 0 critical.