Marina Pizza & Pasta Fails with Rodents and Food Contamination

Marina Pizza & Pasta on Lombard Street failed its health inspection on October 27, 2025, after inspectors discovered extensive rodent activity and dangerous food storage practices that put customers at serious risk of foodborne illness. The Marina district restaurant, located at 2139 Lombard Street near the 30 Stockton bus line, received five total violations including two major infractions that highlight severe food safety failures.

Health Violations Found

The most alarming discovery during this inspection was widespread evidence of rodent activity throughout the facility. Inspector Michael Mooney found old rodent droppings in the corner behind the oven and in the stairway off the rear storage room. Even more concerning, inspectors discovered evidence of rodent chewing on expanding foam near a vent screen and damage to walls in the east corner of the rear storage room near the single-door freezer. The restaurant's food storage practices created additional serious health hazards. In the walk-in refrigerator, which contained a prep table, inspectors found raw chicken stored on the same shelf as whole onions, while ground beef was improperly stored alongside sauce. This dangerous cross-contamination setup violates basic food safety protocols that prevent the spread of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other harmful bacteria from raw meats to ready-to-eat foods.

Inspection Details

During the routine inspection conducted from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, inspectors also found that the restaurant lacked proper sanitization procedures. No sanitizer bucket was set up at the time of inspection, a critical violation that leaves food contact surfaces vulnerable to bacterial contamination. The person in charge was provided with a food safety guide and instructed to ensure sanitizer buckets are prepared daily and changed every four hours. Additional violations included poor facility cleanliness, with inspectors noting the need for deep cleaning of floors in the walk-in cooler, rear storage room hallway, and areas under and around the dishwashing sink. Personal items including beverages and a phone were found stored inappropriately on shelves with food service equipment, creating another potential source of contamination.

Restaurant Response and Next Steps

The restaurant's person in charge, identified as Alex Ba, refused to sign the inspection report. Inspector Mooney provided detailed corrective action requirements, including working with licensed pest control to eliminate the rodent problem and implementing proper food separation according to minimum internal cooking temperatures. The inspector specifically recommended increasing pest control frequency until no evidence of vermin is noted and using approved materials like quarter-inch galvanized steel wire mesh instead of expanding foam to seal entry points. The restaurant must also maintain proper door closure to the garage area and seal all cracks and crevices that provide rodent harborage. This marks the first recorded inspection for Marina Pizza & Pasta in available public records, making it impossible to determine if these issues represent ongoing problems or new developments. The restaurant remains open but must address all violations to pass reinspection and ensure customer safety. The combination of active rodent infestation and improper food storage creates a perfect storm for foodborne illness transmission. Customers who recently dined at the restaurant should monitor for symptoms of food poisoning, which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever developing within hours to days after exposure to contaminated food.