Palmyra Mediterranean Restaurant Reopens After Health Closure

Palmyra, a Mediterranean restaurant located at 700 Haight Street in Haight-Ashbury, successfully reopened on November 18, 2025, after addressing serious health violations that had previously forced the establishment to close. The reinspection revealed that the restaurant had made significant progress in correcting critical food safety issues, allowing health officials to approve its return to operation. During this inspection, conducted from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM, inspectors found that the restaurant had successfully addressed the most serious violations that led to its initial closure. The facility demonstrated proper corrective measures after previous issues with temperature violations and sanitization had created dangerous conditions for diners.

Critical Issues Successfully Resolved

The most concerning violation that had forced the closure involved improper food cooling methods. Inspectors had previously discovered whole roast chicken sitting at a dangerous 115°F, well above safe storage temperatures. Hot lentil soup was found in plastic containers at 170°F without proper cooling protocols. These temperature violations created prime conditions for bacterial growth, particularly Clostridium perfringens, which can cause severe foodborne illness. Additionally, the restaurant had failed to maintain basic sanitization standards, with no sanitizer buckets set up throughout the facility. This fundamental oversight meant that food contact surfaces were not being properly disinfected, creating cross-contamination risks for everything from cutting boards to serving utensils.

Comprehensive Remediation Efforts

The restaurant's management took swift action to address all identified problems. Staff implemented proper cooling procedures, placing the roast chicken on shallow trays and portioning it into smaller pieces for faster cooling. The hot soup was moved to adequate ice baths with frequent stirring to ensure safe temperature reduction. Perhaps most notably, the facility addressed serious pest control issues that had been discovered during the initial inspection. Workers removed dead cockroaches and mouse droppings throughout the facility, stuffed wall gaps to prevent future infestations, and eliminated duct tape that had been harboring pests. The restaurant also sanitized all surfaces and established proper sanitizer bucket stations for ongoing food safety.

Ongoing Compliance Requirements

While the restaurant earned approval to reopen, inspectors established a seven-day follow-up requirement to ensure continued compliance. The facility must complete tile replacement, caulk harborage areas around equipment and electrical outlets, and clean roach-infested light guards. These measures will help prevent future pest problems that could compromise food safety. The restaurant also needs to address staffing certification issues, with the food safety manager unavailable during the inspection. All staff members must obtain valid food handler cards within the next week, and management has 45 days to register for proper certification classes.

Impact on Haight-Ashbury Dining

The successful reopening of Palmyra provides Haight-Ashbury residents and visitors with restored access to Mediterranean cuisine in the neighborhood. Located near the N-Judah line and Cole Valley, the restaurant serves an area popular with both locals and tourists exploring the historic district. The facility's commitment to correcting these serious health violations demonstrates the importance of the city's inspection system in protecting public health. With proper cooling protocols now in place and pest issues addressed, customers can feel confident that their dining experience will be both enjoyable and safe.