The Philadelphia Health Department visited the Sutton’s on Tuesday. The inspectors found many issues related to cleanliness and maintenance at the facility. The report concluded that a reinspection of the establishment is required to assess compliance with the city health codes.
Please note that the report mentioned here is from a particular inspection conducted on July 15 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the establishment.
Highlights
- Sutton’s, a local pub, was inspected by the Philadelphia Department of Health on July 15, 2025.
- The inspectors cited the restaurant for unsatisfactory cleanliness and rodent activity, among other violations.
- The food facility should take corrective actions to ensure smooth business operations.
Sutton’s
- Where: 1706 N 5th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
- When: July 15, 2025 (05:10 PM to 07:10 PM)
The facility’s person in charge (PIC) was not present when the inspectors arrived. As is the protocol for food establishments, a person with a valid Food Establishment Personnel Food Safety Certificate is required to be present during all business hours. A food employee was discovered to possess a ServSafe Certificate only.
The inspectors observed that a food employee was not washing hands at the designated handwashing sink. The sink was blocked by various items and equipment. The sanitarian instructed the employees to remove the obstruction. The backside of the sink exhibited dead bugs.
The facility was keeping shelled eggs on top of ready-to-eat food in the walk-in cooler. Personal food items were found stored with food meant for consumers. Grime was observed on a can opener, and residue was accumulating on food contact surfaces.
The ice machine bin was noted for poor cleanliness. The use of the machine was discontinued pending proper cleaning. Refrigerated items were held at 51.8°F, exceeding the safe temperature of 41°F or lower. The PIC discarded food items that were improperly stored in the preparation unit.
The establishment failed to provide functional temperature measuring devices, required to monitor food temperatures. Rodent activity was cited as a major issue. Many key areas of the facility showed contamination as evidenced by mouse droppings.
Flies were seen at the bar area on the upper floor near the sink. The knives and cutting boards at the facility were observed to have inadequate cleanliness. There was a leak from the sink faucet in the kitchen area of the basement. A few pieces of non-NSF/ANSI approved equipment, including a mini fridge and a reach-in fridge, were found operating in the facility.
The shelves and walk-in coolers in the basement kitchen, bar, and storage areas had traces of rust, dust, and stains. The inspectors also found excessive ice buildup in the mini fridge on the upper floor. The complete health inspection report was posted online for the public.
Follow-up Inspection
Inspection at Sutton’s confirmed 7 risk factor/intervention violations, with just 3 corrected on site. Many issues led to the pub’s unsatisfactory compliance status. All the issues mentioned by the inspectors in the report must be addressed as a priority.
The establishment will inform the department once it has resolved all the issues warranting the status. The inspectors will verify during the reinspection whether the facility has successfully addressed the reported violations.
