Hollywood Cafe Closed for Cockroaches and Dangerous Food Temps

Hollywood Cafe in North Beach was forced to close its doors on September 10, 2025, after San Francisco health inspectors discovered a shocking array of violations that posed serious health risks to customers. The cafe at 530 N Point Street failed its routine inspection with nine total violations, including critical issues with rodents, cockroaches, and dangerous temperature violations. The most disturbing discovery came when Inspector Michael Mooney found dead cockroaches on adhesive boards in the garage area, along with cockroach feces scattered around where wooden boards attach to walls in a room housing deli equipment and refrigerators. The pest infestation was so severe that inspectors observed the deceased insects directly next to areas where basil sprouts were being stored on top of non-working prep equipment.

Critical Food Safety Violations

The inspection revealed multiple temperature violations that could have exposed customers to serious foodborne illness. A glass two-door refrigerator in the kitchen was holding food at a dangerous 49 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the safe threshold. Cut fruit including strawberries and oranges, along with orange juice, had to be immediately relocated to working refrigeration. Another two-door refrigerator storing eggs in the garage area was found operating at 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Perhaps most concerning for customers was the contamination of the handwashing sink at the cook line. Inspectors discovered a cup of coffee and pan of water resting directly in the basin where food handlers were supposed to wash their hands. This critical violation meant that staff could not properly sanitize their hands while preparing food for customers.

Widespread Sanitation Problems

The violations extended beyond pest control and temperature issues. Maximum water temperature at the three-basin sink reached only 113 degrees Fahrenheit, while the food prep sink measured just 117 degrees - both falling short of the required 120 degrees needed for proper sanitization. The facility also lacked proper consumer advisories and had pipes discharging wastewater below the rim of a floor sink, creating potential backflow contamination. Inspector Mooney noted additional maintenance issues including broken digital displays on refrigeration units, grime accumulation on fan guards, and an improvised sewer clean-out cap made from a stuffed can near a rodent bait station by the garage door.

Health Implications for Customers

The combination of violations found during this inspection created multiple pathways for foodborne illness transmission. The presence of cockroaches and their droppings near food storage areas could expose customers to 33 different types of bacteria and six parasitic worms that these pests commonly carry. The unsafe refrigeration temperatures allowed dangerous bacteria like Salmonella to multiply in fresh produce and dairy products. The contaminated handwashing facilities meant kitchen staff could not properly remove harmful bacteria from their hands before handling food, while inadequate water temperatures prevented proper dish sanitization.

Restaurant Background

This marks the first recorded inspection for Hollywood Cafe, making the severity of violations particularly concerning for health officials. The establishment, located near the Powell-Mason Cable Car line in the heart of North Beach, had been serving the popular tourist district until the immediate closure order. The person in charge, identified as Toby VB, refused to sign the inspection report. The restaurant remains closed with no reopening date announced. Inspector Mooney can be reached at (415) 252-3802 for additional information about the violations and required corrective measures before any potential reopening.