Publico #2, a popular cafe in Mission Bay, received a conditional pass during its November 12 health inspection, allowing the restaurant to remain open while addressing minor violations that require prompt correction.
The cafe located at 550 A Gene Friend Way near the T-Third Muni line faced five violations during the routine inspection, with two classified as major and three as minor issues. Importantly, two violations were corrected immediately on-site during the inspection process.
Temperature Control Issues
The most significant violation involved shredded cheese stored at unsafe temperatures between 46-49°F in a malfunctioning oven drawer cooler. The person in charge explained that the cooler had been experiencing problems and a work order was already placed for repairs. Inspectors instructed staff to relocate the cheese away from the faulty equipment and establish an ice bath to maintain proper cold holding temperatures at 41°F or below. The restaurant also had malfunctioning cooktop under counter coolers near the hood area that require service to ensure safe cold holding of potentially hazardous foods. These equipment failures highlight the importance of regular maintenance in commercial kitchen operations.Documentation and Food Storage Violations
During this inspection, health officials noted that food safety manager certificates and food handler cards were not properly posted on the premises. The person in charge indicated that the owner has copies of the required documentation that need to be displayed according to health department regulations. Additional violations included improper food storage practices, with bags of fries stored next to trays of raw eggs inside a reach-in cooler, creating potential cross-contamination risks. Staff immediately corrected this issue by relocating the fries away from the raw eggs during the inspection.Pest Control Measures
Inspectors also discovered hanging glue fly traps in the kitchen area, which are not approved for food service establishments due to contamination risks. The person in charge agreed to remove these traps and work with their pest control company to implement approved alternatives that include catchment basins to prevent cross-contamination.Conditional Pass Status
The conditional pass status allows Publico #2 to continue serving customers while addressing the identified violations within the specified timeframe. This designation recognizes that while issues were found, they do not pose immediate serious health risks that would require closure.Restaurant Operations Continue
As a Mission Bay establishment serving the growing neighborhood near the UCSF campus and biotech corridor, Publico #2 remains operational for breakfast and lunch service. The cafe's location makes it convenient for commuters using the T-Third Muni line and local office workers. The inspection process demonstrates San Francisco's commitment to food safety while allowing businesses to correct minor violations without disrupting service. The restaurant's management showed cooperation during the inspection by immediately addressing correctable issues and committing to resolve equipment problems. This represents the first recorded inspection for this location in the city's database. Follow-up inspections will verify that all violations have been properly addressed and that equipment repairs have been completed to maintain safe food handling standards. The conditional pass reflects the restaurant's ability to operate safely while implementing necessary improvements to achieve full compliance with San Francisco health department standards.📍 Related Information
| Restaurant Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | PUBLICO #2 |
| Address | 550 A GENE FRIEND WAY |
| District | Mission Bay |
| Cuisine | Cafe |
| Inspection Date | November 12, 2025 |
| Inspection Type | Routine Inspection |