SF Fish and Farm Fails with Food at 47F, Mold in Soda Guns

Fish and Farm, an American seafood restaurant in San Francisco's Financial District, failed a routine health inspection on August 13 after inspectors discovered multiple foods stored at dangerous temperatures and mold contamination throughout the establishment. The restaurant at 424 Clay Street, near Embarcadero BART, was cited for 12 violations including two critical infractions that posed immediate health risks to customers.

Dangerous Food Storage Conditions

The most serious violations centered around catastrophic temperature violations in both walk-in coolers, which were malfunctioning and maintaining temperatures of 47 degrees Fahrenheit - six degrees above the safe holding temperature of 41F. Inspectors found multiple potentially hazardous foods including ham, chicken, rice, macaroni, pooled eggs, and Caesar dressing all stored between 45-60F, forcing their immediate disposal due to the risk of bacterial contamination. Ground beef, salmon, sausage, and melon were salvaged by moving them to working refrigeration units. This temperature abuse creates ideal conditions for dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli to multiply rapidly, potentially causing severe foodborne illness in customers who consumed items from the compromised coolers.

Mold and Equipment Violations

Inspectors also discovered mold contamination in two soda gun holsters at the bar, creating a direct health hazard for customers ordering fountain drinks. The establishment was using an unapproved wooden cutting board that cannot be properly sanitized, and two CO2 cylinders in the beer cooler were unsecured and posed a falling hazard. Additional equipment issues included inadequate hot water temperatures throughout the facility. Water temperatures measured only 80F at the sprayer faucet, 71-73F at restroom handwashing sinks, and 105F at the two-compartment dishwashing sink - all below required temperatures for proper sanitation.

Sanitation and Infrastructure Problems

The inspection revealed widespread sanitation failures including a wastewater leak at a handwashing sink across from the ice machine downstairs, creating unsanitary conditions in food preparation areas. Sanitizer buckets contained 0 parts per million chlorine instead of the required 100 ppm, rendering them ineffective for sanitizing food contact surfaces. Staff were found storing a bottle of orange juice directly on ice intended for human consumption, and a wiping towel was in direct contact with Brussels sprouts in the food prep cooler. The facility also lacked required towels at handwashing sinks and was missing evidence of food safety manager and food handler certifications.

Previous Inspection History

This inspection marked the beginning of ongoing compliance issues for the American seafood restaurant. Following the failed inspection, Fish and Farm underwent a reinspection on August 22 that resulted in a conditional pass, indicating some violations were corrected but others remained. A subsequent reinspection on September 5 showed the establishment finally achieved a passing grade, though hot water issues persisted. The pattern of violations at this Financial District establishment highlights the importance of proper food safety protocols in restaurants serving the busy downtown business district. Customers dining at establishments near major transit hubs like Embarcadero BART rely on consistent food safety standards to protect their health during quick lunch breaks and business meals.