Which 24 Cleveland restaurants, stores had the most food inspection violations in 2023-2024?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here are the Cleveland restaurants and retailers cited with the most food inspection violations during the 2022-2023 inspection year ending Feb. 28, according to state records.

More than 2,300 places were cited during the most recent inspection year, but only a third received more than 10 citations.

The places listed below are the 24 with the most violations, with the top spot being cited with 97 violations.

This is the first in a 2024 series of stories highlighting food inspection violations in Cuyahoga and surrounding counties on cleveland.com. To see previous inspection years, visit 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-17, and 2015-16. The annual reporting was paused for two years during the pandemic, initially because so many restaurants had closed temporarily.

Some violations are minor and some can be disturbing. Many problems can be fixed at the time of the inspection, so any corrected violation was not included in the final count if a citation was not issued.

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

The most crucial violations identified as “critical” are those that “may immediately lead to a foodborne illness,” state health officials say. The last time the list of critical inspection codes was updated in 2019.

To learn how this list was put together, visit this page. To review inspection information for yourself, visit Cleveland’s health department database.

No. 23 (tie) – 51 violations – Greek Orthodox Church

Greek Orthodox Church, 2187 W. 14th St., had 51 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Apr. 19, 2023 – 25 violations, including 5 critical.

– Apr. 24, 2023 – 7 violations, including 1 critical.

– Apr. 25, 2023 – 4 violations, including 0 critical.

– June 28, 2023 – 1 violations, including 0 critical.

– Oct. 27, 2023 – 11 violations, including 3 critical.

Nov. 13, 2023 – 3 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 23 (tie) – 51 violations – Teriyaki Express

Teriyaki Express, 7060 Denison Ave. had 51 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Aug. 17, 2023 – 17 violations, including 5 critical.

– Dec. 14, 2023 – 34 violations, including 8 critical.

No. 22 – 52 violations – Family Dollar Store

Family Dollar Store, 1250 E. 105th St, had 54 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Apr. 24, 2023 – 10 violations, including 1 critical.

– May 18, 2023 – 2 violations, including 0 critical.

– Jan. 3, 2024 – 14 violations, including 1 critical.

– Jan. 5, 2024 – 14 violations, including 1 critical.

– Jan. 8, 2024 – 10 violations, including 1 critical.

– Jan. 11, 2024 – 2 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 21 – 54 violations – McCarthy’s Ale House

McCarthy’s Ale House, 1231 Main Ave., had 54 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– July 13, 2023 – 26 violations, including 4 critical.

– July 19, 2023 – 16 violations, including 1 critical.

– Jan. 18, 2024 – 12 violations, including 3 critical.

No. 19 (tie) – 55 violations – Mom’s Family Restaurant

Mom’s Family Restaurant, 6512 Clark Ave., had 55 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Sept. 12, 2023 – 26 violations, including 7 critical.

– Sept. 15, 2023 – 8 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 5, 2024 – 21 violations, including 5 critical.

No. 19 (tie) – 55 violations – Lincoln Park Pub

Lincoln Park Pub, 2609 W. 14th St., had 55 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– July 6, 2023 – 33 violations, including 4 critical.

– July 11, 2023 – 14 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 12, 2024 – 8 violations, including 2 critical.

No. 18 – 56 violations – Music Box Supper Club

Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., had 56 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Oct. 10, 2023 – 10 violations, including 3 critical.

– Jan. 10, 2024 – 37 violations, including 7 critical.

– Jan. 17, 2024 – 9 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 17 – 60 violations – Speedy Gas

Speedy Gas, 14001 Lakewood Heights Blvd., had 60 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Apr. 13, 2023 – 21 violations, including 5 critical.

– Apr. 17, 2023 – 17 violations, including 5 critical.

– Apr. 20, 2023 – 8 violations, including 2 critical.

– Feb. 21, 2024 – 14 violations, including 2 critical.

No. 15 (tie) – 61 violations – Cafe Everest

Cafe Everest, 14304 Puritas Ave., had 61 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Apr. 19, 2023 – 21 violations, including 3 critical.

– Apr. 25, 2023 – 15 violations, including 2 critical.

– June 21, 2023 – 17 violations, including 2 critical.

– Aug. 2, 2023 – 7 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 21, 2024 – 1 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 15 (tie) – 61 violations – B&M Bar-B-Q

B&M Bar-B-Q, 840 E. 105th St., had 61 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– June 7, 2023 – 18 violations, including 1 critical.

– July 13, 2023 – 16 violations, including 0 critical.

– Aug. 4, 2023 – 15 violations, including 0 critical.

– Aug. 7, 2023 – 8 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 6, 2024 – 4 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 14 – 62 violations – S&R Market

S&R Market, 9901 Loretta Ave., had 62 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Mar. 17, 2023 – 13 violations, including 1 critical.

– June 29, 2023 – 13 violations, including 1 critical.

– Aug. 9, 2023 – 13 violations, including 1 critical.

– Oct. 11, 2023 – 13 violations, including 2 critical.

– Oct. 30, 2023 – 10 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 13 – 64 violations – George’s Kitchen

George’s Kitchen, 13101 Triskett Road, had 64 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Mar. 10, 2023 – 9 violations, including 2 critical.

– July 28, 2023 – 9 violations, including 2 critical.

– Aug. 7, 2023 – 6 violations, including 0 critical.

– Aug. 15, 2023 – 6 violations, including 1 critical.

– Aug. 21, 2023 – 7 violations, including 1 critical.

– Aug. 31, 2023 – 4 violations, including 0 critical.

– Oct. 6, 2023 – 7 violations, including 1 critical.

– Nov. 8, 2023 – 6 violations, including 1 critical.

– Nov. 14, 2023 – 5 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 22, 2024 – 4 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 27, 2024 – 1 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 11 (tie) – 65 violations – Denny’s

Denny’s, 4331 W. 150th St., had 65 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Apr. 3, 2023 – 30 violations, including 5 critical.

– Apr. 6, 2023 – 18 violations, including 0 critical.

– Sept. 6, 2023 – 17 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 11 (tie) – 65 violations – Parkwood Drive Thru

Parkwood Drive Thru, 11003 Superior Ave., had 65 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– May 18, 2023 – 28 violations, including 7 critical.

– May 22, 2023 – 13 violations, including 1 critical.

– May 31, 2023 – 9 violations, including 2 critical.

– June 6, 2023 – 5 violations, including 1 critical.

– July 25, 2023 – 1 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 4, 2024 – 9 violations, including 3 critical.

No. 10 – 71 violations – Deesee, Inc.

Deesee, Inc., 7310 Lorain Ave., had 71 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show. A gas station and convenience store operate at this address.

– Sept. 26, 2023 – 42 violations, including 2 critical.

– Sept. 27, 2023 – 8 violations, including 0 critical.

– Oct. 2, 2023 – 8 violations, including 0 critical.

– Oct. 30, 2023 – 7 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 17, 2023 – 6 violation, including 2 critical.

No. 9 – 73 violations – Indie East 4th

Indie East 4th, 2038 E. Fourth St., had 73 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show. Note: This location and its successor under the same owner have closed.

– Mar. 2, 2023 – 5 violations, including 2 critical.

– Oct. 4, 2023 – 28 violations, including 11 critical.

– Oct. 5, 2023 – 30 violations, including 10 critical.

– Oct. 27, 2023 – 10 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 7 (tie) – 74 violations – J.J. Grab and Go

J.J. Grab and Go, 4282 W. 130th St., had 74 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Apr. 21, 2023 – 25 violations, including 3 critical.

– Apr. 27, 2023 – 22 violations, including 3 critical.

– May 4, 2023 – 16 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 18, 2024 – 11 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 7 (tie) – 74 violations – Shooters

Shooters, 1148 Main Ave., had 74 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Aug. 29, 2023 – 53 violations, including 8 critical.

– Sept. 5, 2023 – 5 violations, including 0 critical.

– Jan. 17, 2024 – 16 violations, including 2 critical.

No. 6 – 77 violations – JAMS Kitchen

JAMS Kitchen, 15115 Puritas Ave., had 77 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– June 22, 2023 – 32 violations, including 4 critical.

– July 21, 2023 – 19 violations, including 1 critical.

– July 26, 2023 – 10 violations, including 0 critical.

– Aug. 24, 2023 – 3 violations, including 0 critical.

– Jan. 2, 2024 – 8 violations, including 0 critical.

– Feb. 6, 2024 – 5 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 5 – 78 violations – Fat Cats

Fat Cats, 2061 W. 10th St., had 78 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– June 27, 2023 – 35 violations, including 7 critical.

– June 28, 2023 – 15 violations, including 1 critical.

– July 7, 2023 – 2 violations, including 0 critical.

– Sept. 5, 2023 – 1 violations, including 0 critical.

– Jan. 16, 2024 – 20 violations, including 5 critical.

– Jan. 22, 2024 – 5 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 4 – 84 violations – Wyndham Cleveland Airport

Wyndham Cleveland Airport, 4277 W. 150th St., had 84 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Mar. 17, 2023 – 29 violations, including 6 critical.

– Sept. 5, 2023 – 33 violations, including 6 critical.

– Sept. 8, 2023 – 16 violations, including 1 critical.

– Sept. 11, 2023 – 6 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 3 – 90 violations – Sunoco Family Foods Express, Kinsman

Sunoco Family Foods Express, 3363 E. 93rd St. in Kinsman, had 90 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Mar. 30, 2023 – 27 violations, including 4 critical.

– Apr. 5, 2023 – 12 violations, including 0 critical.

– Sept. 18, 2023 – 31 violations, including 3 critical.

– Sept. 21, 2023 – 20 violations, including 0 critical.

No. 2 – 91 violations – Tick Tock Tavern

Tick Tock Tavern, 11526 Clifton Blvd., had 91 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– May 25, 2023 – 33 violations, including 5 critical.

– May 31, 2023 – 7 violations, including 0 critical.

– June 13, 2023 – 4 violations, including 0 critical.

– Dec. 4, 2023 – 38 violations, including 8 critical.

– Dec. 7, 2023 – 9 violations, including 1 critical.

No. 1 – 97 violations – Indian Delight

Indian Delight, 5507 Detroit Ave., had 97 food inspection violations during the inspection year from Mar. 2023 through Feb. 2024, state records show.

– Sept. 21, 2023 – 44 violations, including 4 critical.

– Sept. 25, 2023 – 13 violations, including 1 critical.

– Oct. 2, 2023 – 10 violations, including 1 critical.

– Oct. 16, 2023 – 9 violations, including 1 critical.

– Feb. 15, 2024 – 21 violations, including 3 critical.

Zachary Smith is the data reporter for cleveland.com. You can reach him at zsmith@cleveland.com.