Philadelphia Department of Health conducted routine health inspections at various food establishments. Penny Gardens Tavern was cited for multiple health code violations, including poor sanitation, and debris buildup.
Please note that the report mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on September 17 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.
Penny Gardens Tavern
- Where: 3089 Holme Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19136, United States
- When: September 17, 2025
Located at 3089 Holme Ave, Penny Gardens Tavern has long been a neighborhood spot. With its live music and acoustic arts, the bar is known for penny-covered counters.
The inspection conducted on September 17 found the establishment out of compliance. The inspection noted that the bar was serving unpackaged foods without a certified food safety manager present on-site during operating hours. The ServSafe certificate had expired 30 days earlier, and the person in charge arrived about 10 minutes after the inspection started.
The officials also observed that soda guns and soda gun holders had old residue, raw wood shelves were being used in the walk-in cooler, and the galvanized exhaust hood in the prep area was not being used.
The inspection report also noted other violations, including missing cove base, water stains, and loose ceiling tile in the kitchen area, and gaps around pipes. Debris was also found under unused equipment and damaged wall surfaces in the back storage area during the inspection.
A mop was stored in a mop bucket and not hung to allow for proper air drying, causing a major sanitation violation. For more detailed information, the official inspection report is available here.
Follow-Up Inspection
The tavern must correct all violations within 30 days. Compliance will be verified at reinspection. A valid Philadelphia Department of Public Health Food Safety Certificate is required to operate.
Penny Gardens Tavern must clean and sanitize the establishment. Residue accumulation on equipment in the kitchen and service area should be removed. Additionally, the restaurant needs to fix any gaps, cracks, loose tiles, or leaks to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
If the tavern fails to correct the violations, then the department might revoke its health license; the license can only be reinstated upon payment of a new license fee.
