Station Cafe Parkside Reopens After Sanitizer Violation Fix

Station Cafe in San Francisco's Parkside neighborhood has successfully reopened after addressing critical sanitization issues discovered during a health department reinspection. The restaurant, located at 1 Zoo Road near Stonestown Muni, received conditional approval to resume operations following swift corrective action by management.

Inspection Details

During this inspection conducted on October 21, 2025, Inspector Cristina Fung-Autry discovered significant problems with the restaurant's sanitization procedures. The most concerning violation involved improperly maintained sanitizing buckets in the front service area, which contained only 50 parts per million (ppm) of quaternary ammonia when California health code requires 200 ppm for effective disinfection. The timing of this discovery was particularly troubling, as the facility had been operating for three hours with inadequate sanitization levels. This violation poses serious risks to public health, as properly sanitized food contact surfaces are essential for preventing cross-contamination and foodborne illness outbreaks that can affect dozens of customers.

Health Violations Addressed

The inspection revealed that Station Cafe's sanitizing solution was operating at just 25% of the required strength, creating an environment where harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli could survive on cutting boards, utensils, and other food preparation surfaces. Research shows that dirty food contact surfaces cause 76% of cross-contamination incidents in commercial kitchens, making proper sanitization absolutely critical for customer safety. Inspector Fung-Autry required immediate corrective action, and restaurant staff promptly prepared fresh sanitizing solution meeting the 200 ppm standard. The violation was marked as corrected on-site, allowing the establishment to continue operations under conditional approval.

Restaurant Reopening Process

Station Cafe's management demonstrated their commitment to food safety by quickly addressing the sanitization concerns. The restaurant, operated by Service Systems Associates Inc., worked directly with health officials to ensure all cleaning issues were properly resolved before resuming full service to the public. The facility's permit to operate has been officially reinstated, and a new "PASS" placard has been issued by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. This reinspection followed a routine inspection conducted on October 18, 2025, indicating the restaurant has been working diligently to maintain compliance with city health standards.

Previous Inspection History

This appears to be the first recorded health inspection for Station Cafe in the city's database, suggesting the establishment may be newly opened or recently transferred ownership. The restaurant's quick response to addressing violations demonstrates a proactive approach to food safety that should reassure Parkside area diners. Located in a busy area near the Stonestown Muni transit hub, Station Cafe serves the local community and visitors to nearby attractions. The restaurant's successful resolution of health code violations shows their commitment to providing safe dining experiences for customers in this popular San Francisco neighborhood. Customers can now dine with confidence knowing that Station Cafe has addressed all sanitization concerns and received official approval to resume operations from city health officials.