Honey Honey Cafe Gets Conditional Pass on Minor Health Violations

Honey Honey Cafe in the Tenderloin district received a conditional pass during a September 26 reinspection, allowing the cafe to remain open while addressing minor violations that inspectors found during their visit to the 599 Post Street establishment. The reinspection showed significant improvements from the previous inspection, including corrected food handler cards, proper refrigeration of dairy items, and replacement of a non-commercial microwave. However, this inspection revealed three violations that require attention but do not pose immediate closure risks for the popular neighborhood cafe near Powell St BART.

Minor Storage and Pest Control Issues

The most significant finding involved mouse droppings discovered in several locations throughout the facility's downstairs storage areas. Inspectors documented droppings on the floor behind wire shelves containing food containers and closed boxes of almond and soy milk, beneath shelving adjacent to the water heater, underneath linen storage near the walk-in cooler, and behind the refrigerator in the dry storage room. While concerning, this type of pest control issue is common in urban restaurant environments and can be addressed through enhanced cleaning protocols and continued professional pest control services. The inspector recommended immediate cleaning and sanitization of affected areas along with ongoing pest management efforts.

Equipment Safety Concerns

Inspectors also noted safety concerns with three unsecured CO2 cylinders positioned next to the establishment's two-door freezer in the basement area. The cylinders posed a potential tipping hazard, requiring the restaurant to chain or otherwise secure them to prevent accidents. This type of equipment storage violation represents a straightforward fix that most restaurants can address quickly. Additionally, employee personal items were found improperly stored in food preparation areas, with coats hanging on food shelves and an employee shirt placed directly on top of food items in the dry storage room. Proper separation of personal belongings from food storage areas helps maintain sanitary conditions and prevents contamination.

Significant Progress from Previous Inspection

The conditional pass represents meaningful progress from the facility's previous inspection on September 9, which also resulted in a conditional rating. That routine inspection identified similar issues including temperature control problems, pest concerns, and storage violations. The improvements documented in the recent reinspection, particularly the correction of food handler certification issues and proper refrigeration practices, demonstrate the restaurant's commitment to addressing inspector feedback. The replacement of non-commercial equipment with appropriate commercial-grade appliances shows investment in meeting health code standards.

Continued Operations and Next Steps

The conditional pass allows Honey Honey Cafe to continue serving customers while working to resolve the remaining minor violations. The restaurant's location in the busy Tenderloin district, accessible via multiple Muni lines and BART, means continued service availability for the area's workers and residents who frequent the establishment. Restaurant management must address the noted violations and maintain documentation of corrective actions. Follow-up inspections will verify that mouse droppings have been eliminated, CO2 cylinders are properly secured, and employee storage practices meet health code requirements. The cafe's ability to show measurable improvements between inspections suggests these remaining issues can be resolved efficiently. Most conditional passes in San Francisco are upgraded to full compliance within weeks when restaurants follow inspector recommendations and maintain consistent cleaning and storage protocols.