Cockroaches Found on Food at SF Italian Restaurant

San Francisco health inspectors discovered live cockroaches crawling directly on food containers at New Mangia Tutti Ristorante during a routine inspection this week, finding two adult German cockroaches on garlic cloves and open pasta containers in the restaurant's food preparation cooler. The shocking discovery led to the restaurant's immediate closure as inspectors documented an additional 20 live cockroaches hiding in wall cracks directly behind the preparation area, creating what officials called "an imminent health hazard."

The disturbing find at the Italian restaurant was part of a particularly troubling week for San Francisco's dining scene, with six restaurants forced to close their doors and 114 total inspections conducted between August 25-31, 2025. The cockroach infestation at New Mangia Tutti represents one of the most severe contamination incidents recorded this inspection period, with inspectors also finding glue traps containing more than 30 dead roaches throughout the facility.

Restaurant Closures

The city's health department ordered six establishments to cease operations immediately due to critical health violations. New Mangia Tutti Ristorante faced the most severe pest problem, with cockroaches found directly contaminating food supplies. SCHROEDERS was shut down after inspectors discovered multiple temperature violations, including chicken cutlets stored at 50°F and cooked potatoes measuring 115°F in the walk-in cooler, well above safe temperatures.

Starbelly Restaurant received a closure order, though specific violation details were not recorded in the inspection report. Zero&, 0&, Hanabi, Hanabi Cakes faced multiple critical violations including an employee washing hands at the food preparation sink, rodent droppings on salt bags showing gnaw marks, and a completely non-functional handwash sink marked with a "Do not use this sink!" sign.

Boudin Operating Properties was closed after inspectors found milk containers stored in a handwash sink and improper cooling procedures, with stock measuring 94°F despite being placed in an ice bath. Ds Corner rounded out the closures with a non-functional beverage merchandiser that hadn't worked for over two years, creating potential pest harborage areas, along with damaged ceilings and chipped paint throughout the facility.

Most Serious Violations

Beyond the cockroach infestation at New Mangia Tutti, inspectors documented alarming violations across multiple establishments. Miyako Ice Cream had mice droppings discovered under refrigeration equipment next to food preparation areas, requiring immediate pest control intervention and complete sanitization of contaminated surfaces.

Mission Chinese Food SF struggled with temperature control issues, with fried chicken stored at 49-50°F in a malfunctioning prep cooler. The violation was particularly concerning as only one section of the cooler failed to maintain proper temperatures, with airflow blocked by improperly placed sheet pans.

Sunset Super displayed multiple sanitation failures, including visible residue accumulation inside the ice machine and spoiled items stored alongside fresh food without proper labeling or segregation. Meat storage racks in the walk-in cooler showed significant contamination requiring immediate cleaning.

Alamo School lacked proper food safety certification and had hot water measuring only 112°F, well below the required 120°F minimum. Inspectors also found dust-covered refrigerator fans and exposed holes with insulation in the mop sink area, creating potential contamination risks.

One Bite dealt with a dying cockroach problem, with three slow-moving roaches found near food preparation areas along with old rodent droppings requiring immediate removal and sanitization.

Conditional Passes

Fifty establishments received conditional passes, allowing them to remain open while addressing significant violations. Chang Hong Meat Market had boxes blocking the handwash sink and sanitizer solutions measuring below required concentrations. The facility also used prohibited cardboard flooring in kitchen and restroom areas.

The San Francisco School failed to maintain proper hot holding temperatures, with beef patties measuring only 120°F in warmers. Staff were observed not changing gloves between tasks, and the facility lacked proper food safety manager certification.

SOHUNAN had only one food handler card available for approximately four employees, falling well short of certification requirements. Cha Cha Cha faced extensive problems including a walk-in cooler operating at 46°F, missing splash guards at handwash sinks, and grease buildup on dish machines requiring deep cleaning.

CORZETTI, Flywheel Coffee Roasters, Godzila Sushi, and NAPIZZA all received conditional passes requiring immediate corrective actions. Flywheel Coffee Roasters specifically had dry rodent droppings in back corners and lacked valid food safety certifications.

Reopened Restaurants

Nine restaurants successfully addressed previous violations and were cleared to reopen. Osha Thai Restaurant & Bar completed required corrections and passed reinspection. Imperial Tea Court@ferry Bldg resolved its issues and resumed normal operations at the Ferry Building location.

Bota Tapas & Paella Bar successfully remediated violations and received approval to reopen. Line Hotel SF F&b corrected all deficiencies noted in previous inspections. Sam Wo Restaurant and Bakery, a Chinatown institution, addressed health department concerns and returned to service.

Additional reopenings included establishments that demonstrated compliance with all health codes after implementing required corrections. These businesses underwent thorough reinspections to ensure all violations were properly addressed before receiving clearance to resume food service operations.

Results by District

The Tenderloin district led inspection activity with 20 establishments examined, resulting in 6 conditional passes and 14 full passes. This 70% pass rate represents a relatively strong performance despite the neighborhood's ongoing challenges with aging infrastructure and high-density food service operations.

SOMA recorded 16 inspections with concerning results - 10 conditional passes against only 6 full passes, indicating widespread compliance issues in the district. The 62.5% conditional pass rate suggests systemic problems requiring increased attention from both operators and health officials.

The Financial District saw 12 inspections yielding 7 conditional passes and 5 full passes. The high percentage of conditional passes in this business-heavy area raises questions about maintenance and operational standards in high-volume establishments serving the downtown workforce.

North Beach performed better with 8 inspections resulting in 3 conditional passes and 5 full passes, achieving a 62.5% full pass rate. The Outer Richmond district recorded 7 inspections with 3 conditional passes and 4 full passes, showing slightly better compliance than city averages.

Common Violation Patterns

Temperature control emerged as the week's most frequent violation category, with numerous establishments failing to maintain proper hot and cold holding temperatures. Inspectors repeatedly documented potentially hazardous foods stored outside the safe temperature range of below 41°F for cold items or above 135°F for hot foods.

Pest control issues appeared throughout inspection reports, from the severe cockroach infestation at New Mangia Tutti to rodent droppings at multiple locations. These violations indicate ongoing challenges with San Francisco's urban pest population and the need for more aggressive preventive measures.

Handwashing facilities presented recurring problems, with blocked sinks, missing soap or towels, and improper water temperatures documented at numerous establishments. These basic sanitation failures pose significant risks for foodborne illness transmission.

Certification deficiencies plagued many operations, with missing food safety manager certificates and inadequate food handler cards for staff. This documentation gap suggests widespread non-compliance with basic training requirements designed to ensure safe food handling practices.

Equipment maintenance issues, from non-functional refrigeration units to dirty ice machines, demonstrated a pattern of deferred maintenance that creates food safety risks. Several establishments operated with household-grade equipment not approved for commercial use.

Weekly Overview

The week's 114 total inspections revealed systemic challenges facing San Francisco's food service industry. With 10 outright failures and 50 conditional passes, more than half of inspected establishments showed significant compliance issues. Only 54 restaurants achieved clean passes, representing less than 50% of all inspections.

The six closures this week mark a concerning spike in severe violations requiring immediate intervention. The presence of live cockroaches on food at New Mangia Tutti and similar contamination incidents at other establishments highlight the urgent need for improved pest control and sanitation practices across the city's restaurant sector.

Nine successful reopenings provide some positive news, demonstrating that establishments can effectively address violations when properly motivated. These restaurants invested time and resources to correct deficiencies, undergo reinspection, and meet health standards.

The geographic distribution of violations across multiple neighborhoods suggests citywide challenges rather than isolated problem areas. From the Tenderloin to the Outer Richmond, restaurants struggled with similar issues around temperature control, pest management, and basic sanitation.

Looking ahead, the high rate of conditional passes indicates many establishments operating on the edge of compliance. Without sustained improvement efforts, these restaurants risk future closures if violations escalate or remain unaddressed. The health department continues monitoring these establishments closely to ensure public safety.

By Staff Reporter at SF Restaurant Inspections