SF Glen Park Cafe Gets Conditional Pass After Minor Issues

Taffis Cafe in Glen Park received a conditional pass during its routine health inspection on November 18, 2025, after inspectors identified three minor violations that require correction but do not pose immediate health risks to customers. The cafe at 1748 Church Street can continue operating while addressing the issues found during this inspection. The primary concerns identified during the 40-minute inspection centered around food cooling procedures and basic facility maintenance. Inspectors found gravy cooling improperly at 106°F in plastic containers without adequate stirring, violating proper cooling protocols that require foods to cool from 135°F to 70°F within two hours. The inspector noted that the gravy had been cooling for approximately one hour without frequent stirring, and no stirring utensil was present nearby.

Inspection Details

The most significant violation involved improper cooling methods, which inspectors classify as a major concern due to the potential for bacterial growth. Clostridium perfringens spores can germinate and multiply rapidly during slow cooling processes, making this the leading cause of restaurant foodborne illness according to health department guidelines. The violation was corrected on-site when staff relocated the gravy into metal containers and received education about proper cooling procedures. Additional violations included a mop sink obstructed with stored items, preventing its proper use for sanitation purposes, and windows left open in the dining room without screens. The open windows create potential entry points for vermin, which health inspectors note can lead to serious contamination issues if not addressed promptly.

Minor Violations Require Attention

The conditional pass designation allows Taffis Cafe to remain open to customers while management works to correct the identified issues. The restaurant must ensure proper food cooling procedures are followed consistently, including using metal containers during cooling processes and stirring foods frequently to ensure even temperature distribution throughout the product. Management must also clear the obstructed mop sink to restore proper sanitation capabilities and either keep dining room windows closed or install appropriate screens to prevent pest entry. These corrections are considered routine maintenance issues that can be addressed quickly without disrupting normal operations.

First-Time Inspection

This represents the first recorded health inspection for the establishment since opening, making it difficult to establish patterns of compliance or improvement. The cafe, owned by OZR Culinary LLC, operates near the Glen Park BART station, serving the local community with cafe-style dining options. The inspector provided education about proper cooling procedures during the visit, demonstrating the health department's approach of working collaboratively with restaurants to achieve compliance rather than pursuing punitive measures for correctable violations. Food safety experts emphasize that conditional passes are common during initial inspections as new establishments learn to navigate health department requirements. The violations found at Taffis Cafe represent typical operational adjustments that restaurants make during their early months of operation. Customers can continue dining at the establishment while these minor corrections are implemented, as none of the violations posed immediate health risks requiring closure or service suspension.