Two San Francisco restaurants were shut down on May 7, 2025, after routine inspections indicated cockroach infestations, incorrect temperatures of stored food, and other serious violations. The officials issued immediate shutdowns until all the infractions were corrected to ensure public safety.
Please note that the results mentioned here are from inspections conducted on May 7 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishments.
Highlights
- Mo’z Cafe Inc. and Betty Lou’s Seafood & Grill had their health permits suspended on May 7.
- Inspectors at both restaurants reported improper food temperature maintenance.
- The restaurants will need to be thoroughly sanitized, and pest-controlled before they can reopen.
Critical Violations Lead to Two Restaurant Closures
Routine health inspections revealed several critical violations, leading to the closure of two San Francisco restaurants. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) inspectors reported serious health code violations, including infestation with vermin and improper food handling practices.
Mo’z Cafe Inc.
Where: 36 5TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103-1811
When: May 7, 2025 (9:30 AM to 12:15 PM)
Inspector Jessica Jang found live cockroach nymphs in food containers, dead cockroaches in trap monitors, and rodent droppings behind equipment and in service areas. The facility did not have valid food safety certification and adequate handwashing facilities.
Other infractions encompass improper temperature of food items, such as hash browns, at 91°F (should be at 135°F) and cooled to 50-57°F (should be at 41°F). Self-applied pesticide paste was also found at the facility, but it has not been approved for use in food businesses.
Betty Lou’s Seafood & Grill
- Where: 318 COLUMBUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133
- When: May 7, 2025 (1:45 PM – 4:15 PM)
Inspector Michael Mooney found around 17 cockroaches throughout the facility. Some infestations were also found in the storage area, under Formica, above a drink refrigerator, behind the water heater, and under kitchen counters. One refrigerator kept food at 45°F rather than the required 41°F. This required the team to voluntarily dispose of fish, salmon, soup, and other products.
Other infractions observed included improper storage of shellfish in standing water, no hot water at the upstairs prep room sink, standing water in basement floor drains, and improper thawing practices with crabs left in standing water. Exposed wood surfaces and missing floor tiles were also present at the facility.
Follow-up Inspections Schedule
Both establishments must suspend all food handling activities until the violations are corrected and the permits are reinstated. Mo’z Cafe must clean and sanitize infested sites, hire licensed pest control providers for vermin removal, seal all cracks, and file updated reports on the same.
Betty Lou’s will have to eradicate cockroach infestations through professional elimination and temperature control remediation. The two establishments may apply for hearings within 15 days, with noncompliance potentially leading to misdemeanor charges.
These closures indicate the need to follow food safety protocols in San Francisco’s restaurant sector. Both premises need to prove total elimination of all violations, most importantly, removal of rodent infestations, before they can reopen to the public. Routine health inspections continue to be essential for ensuring public health and upholding food safety protocols in the city.
