Berlin Doner & Kebab House Gets Conditional Pass After Pest Issues

Berlin Doner & Kebab House in San Francisco's Excelsior district received a conditional pass on its November 19 health inspection after inspectors discovered pest control issues and temperature violations that require immediate correction. The Turkish restaurant at 901 Sutter Street can continue serving customers while addressing the identified problems. During this inspection, health officials found dead mice and multiple cockroaches on adhesive boards in the lower storage area where food was being processed. The inspector also cited multiple temperature violations, including sauces stored at 45°F and improper food cooling methods that needed immediate attention.

Inspection Details

The routine inspection revealed 10 total violations, including one critical violation related to pest control. Inspectors observed a dead mouse on the floor of the lower warewashing room where sausage was being ground, along with cockroaches on adhesive boards in food preparation areas. The restaurant was ordered to implement immediate pest control measures and seal entry points with rodent-proof materials. Temperature control issues were identified throughout the facility, with sauces in the two-door refrigerator measuring 45°F instead of the required 41°F or below. Inspectors also found improper cooling methods being used for soup, which was moved to faster cooling equipment during the inspection. Food protection violations included an open cake stored on the customer side of a reach-in cooler, meat skewers at unsafe 72°F stored in the dining room, and meat being ground over dirty dishes in the three-basin sink. The inspector emphasized that food must be protected from contamination at all times and open food should only be stored in designated kitchen areas.

Handwashing and Sanitation Issues

The inspection revealed problems with handwashing procedures and station accessibility. The kitchen handwash sink was obstructed with a soap bucket and steel wool, with no paper towels available. An employee was observed removing items from the sink and returning to food preparation without washing hands or changing gloves. Additional violations included the presence of household-use insect spray that should only be applied by licensed applicators, and a restroom door that failed to self-close properly. The inspector recommended deep cleaning the entire facility, including pulling out cooking and refrigeration equipment for thorough sanitization.

Restaurant Operations Continue

Despite the violations, Berlin Doner & Kebab House remains open to serve customers in the Excelsior neighborhood, convenient to Balboa Park BART riders. The conditional pass allows the restaurant to continue operations while implementing required corrections under health department oversight. This marks the first recorded inspection for the establishment, which operates under Northgate Restaurant Inc. The restaurant specializes in Turkish cuisine, serving doner kebabs and traditional dishes to the local community. The health department will conduct a follow-up inspection to verify that all pest control measures have been implemented and that temperature violations have been corrected. The restaurant must demonstrate compliance with all food safety requirements before receiving a full passing grade. Staff Reporter at SF Restaurant Inspections