Garden Of Eden, the popular cafe located at 529 Broadway in North Beach, received a conditional pass during its routine health inspection on November 13, 2025. The establishment can continue serving customers while addressing minor violations that inspectors identified during their evening visit.
Health inspectors discovered mold on the baffle inside the ice machine, a food contact surface that requires immediate cleaning and sanitization. Additionally, the restroom handwashing sink provided water at only 75°F, significantly below the required temperature range of 100-108°F necessary for proper handwashing protocols.
Inspection Details
The routine inspection, conducted between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM by Inspector John Wells, resulted in two major violations under Section 114099 of the California Retail Food Code regarding food contact surfaces. The mold discovery on the ice machine baffle represents a critical food safety concern, as contaminated ice can directly affect beverages and food items served to customers. The inadequate handwashing water temperature poses additional health risks, as proper handwashing requires water heated to between 100-108°F to effectively remove bacteria and viruses. The 75°F temperature measured at the restroom sink falls well short of these sanitation standards, potentially compromising employee hygiene practices.Minor Violations Requiring Correction
Despite these findings, the violations are considered correctable without requiring immediate closure. The mold issue can be resolved through thorough cleaning and sanitization of the ice machine components, while the handwashing sink temperature can be adjusted through plumbing modifications or water heater adjustments. The cafe industry has seen similar minor violations across North Beach establishments, particularly regarding ice machine maintenance and water temperature compliance. These issues typically stem from routine wear and equipment aging rather than systematic food safety failures.Restaurant Operations Continue
Garden Of Eden remains open for business while addressing the inspector's recommendations. The conditional pass allows the establishment to continue serving its regular menu to neighborhood residents and tourists visiting the Powell-Mason Cable Car area. The cafe, owned by San Francisco Garden Of Eden and reachable at (206) 328-7249, received the inspection report from manager Paulina Armenta. The establishment specializes in cafe cuisine and serves the busy Broadway corridor frequented by both locals and visitors.Follow-Up Requirements
The San Francisco Department of Public Health will conduct a follow-up inspection to verify corrections have been completed. Restaurant management must demonstrate that the ice machine has been properly cleaned and sanitized, with all mold removed from the baffle and surrounding components. Additionally, the handwashing sink temperature must be adjusted to meet the 100-108°F requirement before final approval. These corrections typically take several days to complete, during which the restaurant can continue normal operations with increased attention to the identified areas. This inspection marks Garden Of Eden's first documented health department visit in available records, providing baseline standards for future compliance monitoring in the competitive North Beach dining scene.📍 Related Information
| Restaurant Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Garden of eden |
| Address | 529 BROADWAY |
| District | North Beach |
| Cuisine | Cafe |
| Inspection Date | November 13, 2025 |
| Inspection Type | Routine Inspection |