BROOK PARK, Ohio -- The health department said it's the most critical violation a restaurant can make.

One northeast Ohio restaurant isn't keeping its food at a safe temperature -- a violation that could cause food to house bacteria and leave consumers sick, NewsChannel5's Joe Pagonakis reported in the "Restaurant Report."

Pagonakis went to "The Place To Be" restaurant and deli on Smith Road in Brook Park to find answers on why their food was being kept at an unsafe temperature.

The Cuyahoga Health Department gave the clean dining area a thumbs up, but inspectors were not as happy with the temperature of their hot and cold foods, he said.

"There was sausage being held at 88 degrees, hash browns at 52, rice pudding at 48, and cheesecake at 52," said one inspector.

To insure food safety, hot foods must be held at 140 degrees or higher, and cold foods at 40 degrees or below, reported Pagonakis.

Blue Ribbon Award: Violation-Free Restaurants

The restaurant said they're taking care of that problem, and that the only complaint they've received was about getting a new pie case.

But health inspectors also found food being improperly stored and chicken left out on a counter to thaw, which is another safety violation.

The cook denies leaving it out.

"I was cooking the chicken when he came in. What am I supposed to do? My cutting board was clean, and I had gloves," the cook said.

The owner of "The Place To Be" said he is working to take care of the violations and the health department has scheduled a reinspection for next week.

In the meantime, Pagonakis said you can find violation-free dining at Marco's Pizza on Smith Road in Middleburg Heights, Instant Replay Sports Bar, also on Smith Road, and the Geppetto's Pizza and Ribs on Pearl Road. All three are clean and violation free.