Truly Mediterranean Gets Conditional Pass, Minor Violations

Truly Mediterranean at 3109 16th Street in SOMA received a conditional pass on its November 18 health inspection, allowing the Mediterranean restaurant to remain open while addressing several minor violations requiring correction. The routine inspection conducted from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM identified eight total violations, with one critical issue and four major violations that were corrected on-site during the inspection. The restaurant can continue serving customers near Civic Center BART while working to resolve the remaining compliance issues.

Inspection Details

The primary concern identified during this inspection involved fruit fly activity observed in the rear food preparation and warewashing area. Inspector noted several fruit flies present and required the restaurant to eliminate this pest activity completely. The establishment must provide a pest control service report to the health department following their next professional service. Temperature control violations were discovered when inspectors found cut tomatoes measuring 65 degrees Fahrenheit beneath the grill and raw proteins stored at unsafe temperatures of 46-47 degrees Fahrenheit in a malfunctioning three-door cooler. The ambient temperature of the cooler was also measuring above safe levels at 46-47 degrees Fahrenheit. Food handler certification issues were noted, with expired food handler cards observed for food-handling employees. The restaurant must provide valid California food handler cards for all staff members by the time of re-inspection.

On-Site Corrections

Several violations were immediately corrected during the inspection, demonstrating the restaurant's commitment to food safety compliance. The person-in-charge addressed room-temperature thawing of frozen lamb meat, moving it to proper preparation methods. Clean utensils that were touching soiled dish racks were properly rewashed, rinsed, and sanitized. A soiled knife found in the clean utensil receptacle was immediately taken to the three-compartment sink for proper cleaning and sanitization. Soiled wiping cloths stored outside sanitizer solution were replaced with clean cloths in proper sanitizer solution.

Equipment Maintenance Requirements

The inspection revealed multiple equipment maintenance needs requiring attention. The three-door upright cooler requires servicing to maintain potentially hazardous foods at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit and needs a broken door repaired that was temporarily fixed with tape. Deep cleaning requirements include the interior of the three-door upright cooler due to food debris accumulation and cooking equipment requiring degreasing. Rusted shelving in the rear food preparation area must be replaced, and rust must be removed from the food preparation sink basin. A leaking faucet at the food preparation sink requires repair, as water leaks when the faucet is turned on.

Restaurant Operations Continue

The conditional pass designation allows Truly Mediterranean to maintain normal operations while addressing the identified issues. This represents the restaurant's first recorded inspection in the city database, establishing a baseline for future compliance monitoring. The Mediterranean cuisine establishment, operated by The Mediterranean Inc., must schedule a follow-up inspection to demonstrate resolution of the outstanding violations. The restaurant's location in SOMA provides convenient access to downtown workers and residents seeking Mediterranean dining options. Health department officials will conduct a re-inspection to verify that all violations have been properly addressed before the restaurant can achieve full compliance status. The establishment's proactive response to correcting violations on-site during the initial inspection demonstrates commitment to maintaining food safety standards.