Nick the Greek SF Gets Conditional Pass on Reinspection

Nick the Greek SF, a Mediterranean restaurant in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, received a conditional pass during a September 30 reinspection, allowing the establishment to continue serving customers while addressing minor operational violations that don't threaten public safety. The Mediterranean eatery, located near Powell St BART, demonstrated progress in correcting issues identified during an initial inspection on September 16, though some minor violations still require attention. Health inspectors found the restaurant safe for continued operation while working to resolve remaining compliance matters.

Inspection Details

During this inspection, conducted between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM, inspectors documented five total violations: one critical, one major, and three minor infractions. Significantly, three violations were corrected on-site during the inspection, demonstrating the restaurant's commitment to immediate compliance. The inspection revealed blocked handwashing sinks that required immediate attention. Inspectors found a bowl of chickpeas obstructing the handwash sink near the French fry hot-holding area, while a backpack blocked another handwashing station in the back area by the water heater. These accessibility issues were addressed during the inspection visit. Storage violations included cardboard boxes stored directly on the floor in the back kitchen area, which violates food safety protocols designed to prevent contamination. The restaurant also had wiping cloths left out of sanitizer solution, a minor but important sanitation requirement.

Progress from Previous Inspection

The reinspection showed measurable improvement from the facility's previous inspection on September 16, when similar issues were initially identified. Restaurant management produced a pest control receipt dated August 13, 2025, demonstrating proactive efforts to address rodent concerns that were noted during the original inspection. The initial inspection had identified mouse feces on cardboard boxes at the soda station and the absence of pest control documentation. By the reinspection date, management had contracted with licensed pest management professionals and maintained proper documentation on-site for health department review. Food handling improvements were also noted. During the original inspection, raw meat was observed thawing in stagnant water, violating approved thawing protocols. The restaurant has since implemented proper thawing methods that comply with California Retail Food Code requirements.

Conditional Pass Status

A conditional pass allows restaurants to continue operating while addressing minor violations that don't pose immediate health risks to customers. This designation recognizes that the establishment maintains basic food safety standards while working to perfect operational details. The Tenderloin location continues serving its Mediterranean menu to customers, with management working to resolve the remaining minor compliance issues. The conditional status typically requires follow-up inspections to verify that all violations have been properly addressed. Inspector Patrick Wood, who conducted the original September 16 inspection, noted the restaurant's efforts to improve compliance between visits. The facility's inspection history shows only two inspections on record, both occurring in September 2025, indicating this is either a new establishment or one with limited recent inspection activity. Restaurant management has demonstrated responsiveness to health department recommendations, particularly in pest control measures and food handling procedures. The minor violations identified during the reinspection primarily involve operational adjustments rather than fundamental food safety concerns, suggesting the establishment maintains adequate basic sanitation and food handling practices while fine-tuning compliance details.