An Italian restaurant in northern Marion County was temporarily closed for less than a day last week after a health inspector found approximately 135 rat droppings around the kitchen, just four months after the establishment’s sister restaurant next door closed for similar reasons.
Antonio’s Made in Italy temporarily closed its location at 22050 Hwy 441 in Micanopy on August 23, after failing a health inspection conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
According to the inspector’s report, the business was cited for 11 violations, including two considered “high priority.” One of those high-priority violations was for rodent activity, which was evidenced by dozens of droppings found around the restaurant.
The report notes that at least 40 droppings were found next to a cooler in the kitchen, while 30 more were found under the dish machine, and 35 more were found in a dry goods storage area. Another 20 were found in a reach-in cooler in the kitchen, and 10 more were found behind the stove in the kitchen.
State records show that the restaurant was reinspected again on Saturday, August 24, and that, despite a “follow-up inspection” being required, the violations were not an “immediate threat to the public.” The restaurant was cited for only two intermediate violations during that inspection and was permitted to reopen.
Antonio’s Made in Italy is situated just south of Marion County’s border with Alachua County. The restaurant is next door to its sister restaurant, Antonio’s The Depot, which temporarily closed in April due to similar health code violations.