SF Nick the Greek Closed for Food Safety Violations Downtown

Health inspectors forced the closure of Nick the Greek - Metreon in downtown San Francisco after discovering serious food safety violations during a routine inspection on November 3, 2025. The popular Greek restaurant, located at 145 4th Street in the heart of SOMA near Civic Center BART, failed inspection and remains closed to protect public health. During this inspection, health officials identified three violations that posed immediate risks to customer safety. Inspector Danny Lee documented critical issues with food contact surfaces that were neither clean nor properly sanitized, creating dangerous conditions where harmful bacteria could contaminate food served to unsuspecting customers.

Critical Food Safety Violations

The most serious violation involved food contact surfaces that failed to meet basic sanitation standards. Dirty cutting boards and utensils create perfect breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which can cause severe foodborne illness in customers. When food preparation surfaces aren't properly cleaned and sanitized, cross-contamination spreads rapidly throughout the kitchen, potentially affecting every dish served. Health experts warn that biofilms protecting bacteria make inadequate cleaning particularly dangerous. These microscopic bacterial communities can survive on surfaces for extended periods, continuously contaminating fresh ingredients. The contamination from a single dirty surface can spread to dozens of food items throughout service. Inspectors also cited the restaurant for equipment violations involving unapproved commercial kitchen equipment. The facility was using equipment that cannot withstand the demands of commercial food service, creating additional safety risks. Such equipment often harbors bacteria in cracks and crevices that are impossible to clean properly.

Downtown Dining Impact

The closure significantly impacts the busy SOMA dining scene, particularly affecting office workers and tourists who frequent the Metreon complex. Located steps from major transit hubs including Civic Center BART and multiple Muni lines, Nick the Greek served hundreds of customers daily in one of San Francisco's busiest commercial districts. The restaurant's failure represents a concerning lapse in food safety standards at a high-traffic location where many visitors expect reliable, safe dining options. The Greek cuisine restaurant, operated by Harvester Group Metreon LLC, had built a reputation serving Mediterranean favorites to downtown workers and Metreon visitors.

Health Department Response

Inspector Danny Lee conducted the inspection between 9:45 AM and 10:45 AM, documenting violations that warranted immediate closure. The San Francisco Department of Public Health has ordered corrective actions before the restaurant can reopen to ensure customer safety. The facility must address all sanitation issues, replace or properly maintain equipment, and demonstrate compliance with California Retail Food Code requirements. Until these corrections are verified through reinspection, Nick the Greek - Metreon remains closed to protect public health.

Restaurant History and Next Steps

This marks the first recorded inspection for this location, as no previous inspection history was found in health department records. The restaurant must now work with health officials to resolve all violations before being permitted to serve customers again. The closure serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining proper food safety standards, particularly in high-volume commercial kitchens serving hundreds of customers daily in busy downtown locations.