Cockroaches Found in Food at SF Restaurant

Health inspectors discovered cockroaches contaminating multiple bags of dry ingredients at Zesty SF during a routine inspection this week, forcing the immediate closure of the restaurant and disposal of all contaminated food. The shocking discovery was part of a particularly troubling week for San Francisco restaurants that saw 11 establishments shut down and 27 fail their health inspections between October 20-26.

The cockroach infestation at Zesty SF represented one of the most severe food safety violations discovered this week. Inspectors documented that "multiple bags of dry ingredients" were contaminated with the pests, requiring immediate disposal of all affected food supplies. Making matters worse, the facility had no paper towels available at either handwashing sink and lacked any chlorine sanitizer throughout the premises at the time of inspection.

Restaurant Closures

Eleven San Francisco restaurants received closure orders this week, each presenting serious health code violations that posed immediate risks to public safety. Pacific Cafe was shut down after inspectors discovered rodent droppings in multiple locations including behind the ice machine, underneath the dishwasher, in corners between shelving units, behind boxes of potatoes, and along ledges in the back storage area. The extensive rodent activity required immediate closure for thorough cleaning and pest elimination.

Mezze & Mooore faced closure after inspectors found a live cockroach nymph on the door bracket of an undercounter refrigerator. The facility also had multiple refrigeration units with broken, detached, and food-encrusted gaskets, along with rodent droppings on the ground and holes in wire mesh that allowed rodent entry.

Jakes Steaks was ordered closed after inspectors documented drain flies in the back prep area near onions, food residue on refrigerator and freezer door exteriors, grease accumulation inside the deep fryer cabinet, and food debris on flooring underneath equipment throughout prep and cook line areas.

SANGUCHON received a closure order following the discovery of moving cockroach antennae visible in a crack between tile and wall. Inspectors also found five dead cockroaches on the flooring near the doorway and documented a leak from piping underneath the three-compartment sink.

Other closures included SISTERITA for grease accumulation around cooking equipment and a two-door upright cooler measuring 61°F, El Mil Amores, Bambinos Ristorante, Blondies Pizza Stonestown for incorrect sanitizer concentration and improper food storage temperatures, CLOONEYS, and Playfield Cafe for having no measurable sanitizing solution and residue on soda nozzles.

Most Serious Violations

Beyond the cockroach and rodent infestations that led to multiple closures, inspectors documented numerous critical violations that endangered public health. Temperature control failures emerged as a widespread problem, with multiple establishments unable to maintain safe food temperatures. Lava Java had cream cheese at 46°F, turkey at 47°F, ham at 47°F, tuna salad at 46°F, almond milk at 64°F, and half & half at 49°F in their food preparation cooler, all exceeding the 41°F maximum for cold storage.

Hand hygiene violations presented another serious concern. Say Cheese had an employee who received a delivery and returned directly to food preparation without washing hands. The same facility also had mouse droppings in the back storage area and a reach-in refrigerator measuring 44°F. Oasis Grill operated with no paper towels at the handwashing sink and no sanitizer solution available in the active food preparation area.

Equipment maintenance failures created additional health hazards. TRATTO had warm water at only 96°F at the handwash sink when regulations require 100-108°F, and both faucets at the three-compartment sink lacked adequate hot water flow. WOODEN lacked proper air gaps between food contact equipment discharge and floor sinks, creating potential for contamination.

Cross-contamination risks were identified at multiple locations. SALTED had a sanitation bucket and knives stored inside the handwashing sink near the cook line, while also displaying organic growth on low-boy cooler gaskets and grease accumulation on equipment. These violations demonstrate fundamental breakdowns in basic food safety protocols.

Conditional Passes

Forty-three restaurants received conditional passes, indicating significant violations that required immediate correction but didn't warrant closure. Hotel Drisco and Hotel Nikko San Francisco both passed conditionally, though specific violations weren't detailed in inspection reports. Arizmendi Bakery received conditional status requiring corrections to maintain operations.

Bon Delire and Momo Noodle both received conditional passes with requirements for immediate remediation. PLENTEA needed to address violations to continue serving customers. Starbucks Coffee #9219 passed conditionally despite being part of a major chain with standardized procedures.

Courtney Produce, BAGELETTO, and Jasmine Tea House rounded out the conditional passes, each requiring specific corrections to avoid potential closure at reinspection. These establishments demonstrated that while violations existed, they could be corrected quickly enough to allow continued operation.

Results by District

The inspection results revealed concerning patterns across San Francisco neighborhoods. SOMA led with 11 inspections yielding 7 conditional passes and 4 passes, indicating widespread compliance issues in this busy commercial district. The high concentration of restaurants and foot traffic in SOMA may contribute to the elevated violation rate.

The Tenderloin district showed particularly troubling results with 7 inspections producing 6 conditional passes and only 1 clean pass. This 86% conditional pass rate suggests systemic challenges in maintaining food safety standards in this neighborhood. The Inner Sunset had 5 inspections with 3 conditional passes and 2 passes, while Castro also saw 5 inspections resulting in 4 conditional passes and 1 pass.

Haight-Ashbury rounded out the neighborhood breakdown with 5 inspections leading to 3 conditional passes and 2 passes. The geographic spread of violations across diverse neighborhoods indicates that food safety challenges aren't confined to any particular area but represent a citywide concern requiring ongoing vigilance.

Weekly Overview

The week of October 20-26 presented alarming statistics for San Francisco's restaurant industry. Of 91 total inspections conducted, only 21 establishments (23%) received clean passes. The 27 failures represent a 30% failure rate, significantly higher than typical weekly averages. Combined with 43 conditional passes, 77% of inspected restaurants had violations requiring correction.

The 11 closures in a single week represent an unusually high number, suggesting either deteriorating conditions or increased enforcement activity. Only one establishment, Station Cafe, successfully reopened after addressing violations from a previous closure, demonstrating the challenges restaurants face in correcting serious health code violations.

The prevalence of pest infestations, from cockroaches to rodents to drain flies, points to potential issues with San Francisco's aging restaurant infrastructure and the need for more proactive pest control measures. Temperature control violations across multiple establishments suggest widespread equipment maintenance issues or staff training gaps.

These inspection results underscore the critical importance of regular health inspections in protecting public safety. While the high violation rate raises concerns, the enforcement actions taken by health inspectors help ensure that San Francisco residents and visitors can dine with greater confidence that food safety standards are being maintained. Restaurant operators must recognize that compliance with health codes isn't optional but essential for protecting customers and maintaining their business licenses.

The coming weeks will reveal whether this spike in violations represents an anomaly or the beginning of a concerning trend requiring additional intervention from health authorities. Restaurant patrons should remain vigilant and report any suspected food safety issues to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Author: Staff Reporter at SF Restaurant Inspections