Zitouna Restaurant Gets Conditional Pass for Minor Violations

Zitouna, a Mediterranean restaurant located at 2435 Clement Street in San Francisco's Outer Richmond district, received a conditional pass during a routine health inspection on December 3, 2025. The establishment can continue serving customers while addressing seven minor violations that were identified and largely corrected on-site during the inspection. The inspection, conducted between 2:00 PM and 3:15 PM, revealed several correctable issues that prompted the conditional rating rather than a full pass. Inspector findings focused primarily on food safety protocols and storage practices that required immediate attention but did not pose an imminent health risk to diners.

Inspection Details

During this inspection, the health inspector identified seven major violations, with four being corrected immediately on-site through operator education. The most significant finding involved missing sanitizer availability at both the manual ware-washing station and food preparation areas. An employee was observed washing dishes without proper sanitizer available for the required three-step cleaning method. The inspector provided immediate education to both the operator and staff, demonstrating proper sanitizer preparation techniques for manual dishwashing. This hands-on approach allowed the restaurant to correct the violation immediately while ensuring staff understood proper procedures going forward. Cross-contamination concerns were also addressed when raw chicken and chicken kabobs were found stored above cooked cauliflower and fries in the cook-line refrigeration unit. The operator promptly relocated the chicken products to the bottom shelf, eliminating the risk of dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter dripping onto ready-to-eat foods.

Storage and Facility Issues

Additional violations centered on improper food storage practices. Several buckets of food items were discovered on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator, along with dry goods stored on the floor in the dry storage area. These items were moved to appropriate shelving to prevent contamination and pest access. The inspection also revealed maintenance needs including an obstructed handwashing sink in the ware-washing area and an open back door in the dry storage area. Facility cleanliness issues were noted with grime and black buildup on the FRP wall behind the three-compartment sink and deteriorating door frames in the kitchen. An employee was observed improperly cooling roasted peppers by covering them with plastic wrap, which can trap heat and create dangerous temperature conditions. The operator received education on proper cooling methods, and Spanish-language cooling guides were provided to ensure all staff understand correct procedures.

Restaurant Operations Continue

Zitouna remains open for business while addressing these correctable violations. The conditional pass status indicates that while improvements are needed, the restaurant can safely continue serving customers. The establishment serves Mediterranean cuisine to residents and visitors in the Outer Richmond neighborhood, conveniently located near the 38 Geary bus line. This marks the restaurant's first recorded inspection in the San Francisco Department of Public Health database, suggesting it may be a relatively new establishment working to establish proper food safety protocols. The inspector's focus on education rather than punitive measures demonstrates the collaborative approach often taken with businesses committed to correcting violations promptly. The conditional pass requires follow-up to ensure all violations have been properly addressed. Restaurant operators typically have a limited time frame to implement corrections before a reinspection is conducted to verify compliance with health code requirements.