The Tailor's Son Closed for Severe Rodent Infestation

THE TAILOR'S SON restaurant in Pacific Heights was forced to close immediately on December 1st after health inspectors discovered a severe rodent infestation with fresh droppings scattered throughout the facility's bar area, dry storage, and kitchen. The shocking inspection at 2049 Fillmore Street revealed numerous fresh rodent droppings on the front bar shelves where drink shakers and bar utensils were stored, creating a direct contamination risk for beverages served to customers. Inspectors also found extensive rodent droppings in the dry storage area on racks, floors along walls, and shelves where wine bottles were stored, indicating the infestation had spread throughout food service areas.

Critical Health Violations Found

The rodent problem extended into the kitchen, where inspectors discovered droppings under the three-compartment sink in the back kitchen area. Mice produce up to 50 droppings daily containing dangerous pathogens including Salmonella and hantavirus, posing serious health risks to anyone consuming food or beverages from the contaminated areas. Beyond the rodent infestation, inspectors found multiple critical temperature violations that could have caused severe foodborne illness. Cooked potatoes had been sitting at a dangerous 54°F at room temperature since 8 AM, well above safe holding temperatures. Ground meat was found at 45°F and marinated chicken at 46°F in a drawer cooler, both temperatures that allow rapid bacterial growth. The facility's ice machine was contaminated with black and orange mold-like substances on the interior deflector panel, with contaminated water dripping directly onto ice that would have been served to customers. This violation alone could have exposed dozens of patrons to harmful microorganisms.

Additional Safety Concerns

Inspectors also discovered improper food cooling methods, with vegetable stock soup measuring a dangerous 140°F after being cooled with ice wands for over an hour. Cooked beef was found at 82°F in the walk-in cooler after cooling for more than two hours, creating ideal conditions for bacterial multiplication. The restaurant's mechanical dishwashing machine in the front bar area was malfunctioning and not in use during the inspection, potentially compromising the sanitization of dishes and utensils. Accumulated dirt and debris on fan guards in the walk-in cooler indicated poor maintenance practices throughout the facility.

Immediate Closure and Health Implications

The severity of violations forced health officials to order an immediate closure of the restaurant, which serves the busy Fillmore corridor near Fillmore bus lines. The combination of rodent infestation and temperature abuse violations created multiple pathways for serious foodborne illness including salmonella, E. coli, and listeria infections. The inspection revealed six total violations, including two critical and two major infractions. Four violations were corrected on-site, but the rodent infestation and contaminated ice machine required immediate closure for comprehensive remediation. This marks a concerning development for Pacific Heights dining, where residents and visitors expect high standards from local establishments. The restaurant underwent a reinspection later the same day and was allowed to reopen after addressing the rodent issues, though some temperature and ice machine problems persisted.