Popular Winter Park restaurant forced to shut down over health concerns

WINTER PARK, Fla. – A popular Italian restaurant in Winter Park was forced to close its doors this week following a visit from a health inspector, according to state records.

That restaurant — Prato — is well known within the community, having received a recommendation nod from the Michelin guide in 2023.

But on Tuesday, state records show that Prato was visited by a health inspector, who found the following minor violations on site:

• Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine

• Three dead rodents on sticky traps under a server station and behind equipment in the cook line

• Gap in the exit door next to the bathrooms

• Cook line floors covered in standing water

• Floors soiled behind equipment in the cook line

• Cracked container in the walk-in cooler

While these violations alone weren’t enough to force the restaurant to close, the inspection report notes that 18 small, flying insects were found in a drain beneath the sink at the bar station.

Worse yet, the report states that there were eight rodent droppings found underneath a compartment sink at the bar.

As a result, Prato was required to close down to correct these errors, though the restaurant was ultimately allowed to reopen on Wednesday after fixing nearly all of these problems.

Earlier this year, Prato was voted the best Italian eatery in Florida, with particular emphasis on its various specialty pastas and pizzas.

“Each dish is a masterpiece, crafted with a perfect balance of fresh ingredients and centuries-old culinary techniques,” 5 Reasons to Visit wrote.

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