Third Floor Financial District Gets Conditional Pass Inspection

The Third Floor on Battery Street in San Francisco's Financial District received a conditional pass during its October 10th reinspection, allowing the restaurant to continue operations while addressing several correctable violations identified by health inspectors. The restaurant at 333 Battery Street, located near Embarcadero BART, was cited for three violations during the follow-up inspection, including one major temperature control issue that was corrected on-site. Inspector John Wells conducted the reinspection from 1:15 PM to 1:30 PM, finding that while some previously identified problems had been resolved, several issues still required attention.

Temperature Control Violations Found

The most significant violation involved improper hot and cold holding temperatures at multiple food preparation stations. Inspectors measured several items storing above the required 41-degree threshold, including blue cheese at 49°F, salami at 48°F, and duck dumplings at 45°F in various prep coolers throughout the kitchen. Foods that had been held at unsafe temperatures for over four hours were immediately discarded, while items stored for shorter periods were moved to functioning coolers. Cut tomatoes measuring 60°F at the Grill Station prep table cooler had been there for approximately one hour and were relocated to comply with food safety standards. The temperature violations highlight the critical importance of proper food storage in preventing foodborne illness, as bacteria can multiply rapidly when foods are stored in the danger zone between 41°F and 135°F.

Equipment and Maintenance Issues

Inspectors also discovered two cracked wooden charcuterie boards at the cook's line, which were immediately removed from the premises. Cracked cutting surfaces cannot be properly sanitized and pose contamination risks. The restaurant's management cooperated fully with the inspector's recommendations and promptly addressed this equipment violation. Additionally, ambient temperatures in several prep coolers were found to be inadequate, with the Garden GM Station food preparation cooler measuring 50°F and the Sautee Station cooler at 45°F. The restaurant must adjust or repair these units to maintain proper food storage temperatures.

Ongoing Compliance Efforts

A minor violation involved linens being in direct contact with food in multiple prep coolers, which the restaurant was instructed to correct immediately. This practice can lead to cross-contamination and violates food safety protocols requiring appropriate food contact surfaces. The conditional pass allows The Third Floor to remain open while addressing these correctable issues. This represents the restaurant's second conditional result in recent weeks, following a previous inspection on October 1st that also resulted in conditional status. The pattern suggests the establishment is working to improve its food safety protocols while maintaining operations.

Follow-up Requirements

Inspector Wells scheduled a follow-up inspection for October 17th or later to verify that all violations have been properly corrected. The restaurant must demonstrate that cooling equipment has been repaired, proper food storage procedures are being followed, and all equipment meets commercial food service standards. During this inspection, some previously identified violations had been successfully corrected, indicating the restaurant's commitment to compliance. The establishment's location in the busy Financial District means it serves numerous office workers and visitors who can continue dining there while improvements are implemented. The Third Floor's management, led by certified food manager Michael Magalianes, has until the follow-up inspection to demonstrate full compliance with San Francisco health department regulations.