Tommy's Joynt Gets Conditional Pass with Minor Violations

Tommy's Joynt in Nob Hill received a conditional pass during a health reinspection on November 12, allowing the popular American restaurant to continue serving customers while addressing minor violations that require correction. The inspection, conducted between 1:45 PM and 2:15 PM, found ongoing issues that need attention but pose no immediate threat requiring closure. During this inspection, health officials identified four total violations at the restaurant located at 1101 Geary Boulevard near Van Ness Muni. Two violations were classified as critical, while two were categorized as major, with two of the issues corrected on-site during the inspection visit.

Ice Machine Contamination Continues

The primary concern centered on the restaurant's ice machine, which still showed signs of contamination despite previous corrective efforts. Inspectors observed a yellow mold-like substance inside the ice machine's interior, along with dirt that was contaminating the stored ice. The restaurant operator immediately began cleaning procedures and voluntarily discarded the top layer of affected ice when the violation was identified. This ice machine issue represents a continuation of problems first identified during a previous inspection on November 5, indicating that the restaurant's initial cleaning efforts were insufficient to fully address the contamination. Health officials have ordered the facility to completely clean and sanitize the ice machine interior to prevent future adulteration of ice used in food service.

Pest Control Measures Required

A secondary critical violation involved ongoing pest control challenges in the restaurant's back area. Inspectors discovered two dead mice in monitoring traps positioned near the refrigerator and ice machine, along with unsealed wall holes that provide entry points for rodents. The restaurant operator was directed to remove old traps and install fresh monitoring equipment while working with professional pest control services. Health officials specifically recommended covering wall holes with metal plates or quarter-inch wire mesh to prevent future rodent entry. This violation also represents a continuing issue from the facility's previous inspection, suggesting that initial pest control measures were inadequate.

Temperature Control Improvements

Two major violations were addressed during the inspection visit, with corrective actions taken immediately. Inspectors found roasted beef being held at 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which had been out of proper hot holding for less than two hours. Restaurant staff relocated the food to appropriate hot holding equipment and implemented time logging procedures to track food temperatures more effectively. Additionally, the reach-in refrigerator on the cook line was maintaining a temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit, which meets acceptable standards for cold food storage.

Operational Context

Tommy's Joynt has maintained operations throughout the inspection process, demonstrating that while violations require correction, they do not pose immediate health risks that would warrant closure. The conditional pass status allows the restaurant to continue serving customers while implementing required improvements. The facility's inspection history shows this is the second inspection in November 2025, with the follow-up inspection on November 5 also resulting in a conditional pass. This pattern indicates the restaurant is working to address compliance issues but requires additional time and effort to fully resolve all violations. Restaurant management is expected to implement comprehensive corrective measures for both the ice machine sanitization and pest control issues before the next scheduled inspection visit.