The Irish Times Gets Conditional Pass on Reinspection

The Irish Times, a popular bar in San Francisco's Financial District, received a conditional pass during a health department reinspection on August 28, 2025. While the establishment can continue serving customers, inspectors identified three violations requiring prompt correction to achieve full compliance. The reinspection at the bar located at 500 Sacramento Street revealed issues primarily related to handwashing facilities and documentation protocols. Inspector John Wells conducted the examination between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM, finding violations that, while requiring attention, do not pose immediate risks warranting closure.

Inspection Details

The most significant findings during this inspection centered on handwash sink temperatures in both restrooms. Inspectors measured water temperatures of 74 degrees Fahrenheit at the men's restroom handwash sink and 73 degrees at the women's facility. Health regulations require warm water to be adjustable between 100 and 108 degrees Fahrenheit at all handwashing stations to ensure proper sanitation. Additionally, food handler cards for employees were not available for review on-site. While kitchen staff confirmed they possess valid food handler certifications, the documentation was not present during the inspection. California health code requires establishments to maintain evidence of food handler cards on premises and available for immediate review by inspectors.

Storage and Safety Concerns

Inspectors also discovered liquor bottles and boxes stored beneath unshielded sewer lines in the storage room. This configuration poses potential contamination risks if the sewer lines were to leak. The establishment must either install proper shielding for the sewer lines or relocate the alcohol storage to prevent potential contamination of food and beverage products. The violations fall under California Retail Food Code sections addressing hot and cold running water availability and proper food storage practices. These regulations ensure that establishments maintain basic sanitation standards and protect products from potential contamination sources.

Conditional Pass Status

Despite these findings, The Irish Times received a conditional pass, meaning the establishment can continue operating while addressing the identified issues. This status reflects that while violations were present, they do not pose immediate public health dangers requiring emergency closure. The bar, owned by Ashbury Taverns LLC and located near the Embarcadero BART station, serves the busy Financial District area. The establishment's ability to remain open during correction efforts demonstrates the minor nature of the violations found.

Next Steps

Management must address all three violations and prepare for a follow-up inspection to achieve full compliance. The corrective actions include adjusting water heater settings to ensure proper handwash sink temperatures, maintaining food handler cards on-site at all times, and either shielding the sewer lines or relocating liquor storage. The reinspection represents the health department's continued oversight of food service establishments throughout San Francisco. Regular inspections and follow-ups ensure that businesses maintain proper sanitation standards while allowing operations to continue when violations are minor and correctable. Customers can continue dining and drinking at The Irish Times while the establishment works to address these operational improvements. The conditional pass status indicates the bar maintains basic food safety standards while working toward full compliance with all health regulations.