SF Tenderloin Tea House Fails with Mouse Droppings, Broken Soap

A routine health inspection at Village Tea House in San Francisco's Tenderloin district revealed serious health violations including mouse droppings scattered across the basement floor and broken handwashing facilities that left employees unable to properly sanitize their hands while preparing food and beverages. The September 16th inspection, conducted between 11:00 AM and 12:45 PM by Inspector Patrick Wood, resulted in a failing grade for the cafe located near the busy Powell St BART station. Customers visiting the establishment during operating hours would have been unknowingly exposed to contaminated food preparation areas and inadequate sanitation protocols.

Rodent Infestation Discovered

The most alarming violation discovered during this inspection involved fresh mouse feces found on the basement floor where food preparation and storage activities occur. What makes this discovery particularly troubling is that pest control services had visited the facility just three weeks earlier on August 26th, with service records indicating "no rodent activity was noted during the inspection and/or service." The presence of rodent droppings poses significant health risks to customers, as mice produce up to 50 droppings daily that can contain dangerous pathogens including Salmonella and hantavirus. Each dropping represents a potential source of foodborne illness that could have contaminated ingredients, surfaces, and equipment used in beverage and food preparation. Inspector Wood noted that the facility must complete all action items listed on their pest control service report and contact their provider for clarification if instructions are unclear, suggesting ongoing communication issues between the restaurant and their pest management company.

Critical Handwashing Violations

Equally concerning was the discovery that soap dispensers at the downstairs handwashing sink in the prep area were completely non-functional, dispensing no soap during the inspection. This critical violation directly impacts food safety, as studies show only 31% of workers wash their hands properly when adequate supplies are unavailable, leading to rapid spread of norovirus and other foodborne illnesses. Without functioning soap dispensers, employees preparing beverages and handling food items at the Tenderloin cafe were unable to meet basic sanitation requirements, potentially contaminating everything they touched after using restroom facilities or handling raw ingredients.

Additional Safety Concerns

The inspection also revealed ground-level clutter throughout the basement area where rodent activity was observed. Inspectors noted that items must be moved at least six inches off the ground to eliminate harborage areas for mice and other pests. The accumulation of clutter provides ideal breeding and hiding spots for rodents, creating an environment where infestations can quickly multiply. Additional violations included grease accumulation on service hoods above the cook's line without proper maintenance stickers, and sanitizing violations where wiping cloths were left outside sanitizer buckets, potentially spreading bacteria across food contact surfaces.

Restaurant Response

Following the failed inspection, Village Tea House was required to schedule a reinspection to demonstrate compliance with all health code requirements before continuing normal operations. The facility underwent reinspection on October 9th, receiving a conditional pass, indicating some improvements were made but ongoing monitoring remains necessary. For customers who frequent cafes in the Tenderloin area near Powell St Muni stations, this inspection highlights the importance of visible cleanliness standards and proper food safety protocols in establishments serving beverages and light fare.