[Editor’s note: The report mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on November 4 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.]
A routine inspection by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, which also involved a foodborne illness investigation, led to the temporary closure of Local Roots. The restaurant soon underwent a reinspection and reopened for business.
Local Roots
- Where: 70 Leidesdorff St, San Francisco, CA 94104
- When: November 4, 2025
Local Roots at Leidesdorff Street underwent a routine inspection. The inspection revealed many violations that led to the temporary closure of the restaurant. According to the report, these are the violations documented in the inspection report:
- The management voluntarily discarded multiple foods due to either temperature abuse or running out of cooler space to relocate foods from non-functioning coolers.
- Several potentially hazardous foods were held above the standard 41°F or below the standard 135°F. It includes the cauliflower, which measured at 120°F, cooked sweet potato, cooked Brussel sprouts, and cooked roots that measured at 108°F.
- The inspector also found cream cheese measuring at 53°F, blue cheese measuring at 60°F, and sliced tomatoes measuring at 59°F. Pinto beans and black beans measured at 52°F. Chicken salad, hard-boiled eggs, cut tomatoes, and feta cheese measuring at 55°F.
- Many other temperature-controlled foods were measured at improper temperatures. It includes fruits like watermelon, honeydew melon, and cantaloupe. Other foods include cotija cheese, veggie meatloaf, yoghurt, and more.
- The chlorine sanitizer measured at zero ppm during the dishwash machine’s sanitize cycle. The quaternary ammonium in the towel bucket in the front counter area was measured at zero ppm.
- There were several unlabeled containers with bulk ingredients and food ingredients stored in the back kitchen.
- There were multiple coolers in the restaurant that failed to hold food at 41°F or below.
- There was an inoperable toilet in the customer restroom that did not flush.
A screenshot from the official inspection report mentioning violations (Source: inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/san-francisco)
A detailed health report of Local Roots’ recent health inspection is available online. This report only covers the routine inspection, and another report detailing the foodborne illness investigation will be released soon. Once released, this article will be updated accordingly.
Follow-Up Inspection
The restaurant was ordered to temporarily close due to its inability to hold food at proper temperatures. A reinspection was conducted on the same day, and it was confirmed that the facility had corrected its food handling methods. During the reinspection, inspectors observed that the facility is now capable of cold holding foods at or below 41°F.
Foods were no longer kept in the Flav-R-Savor warming unit, and all cold storage units maintained the correct temperatures. With this, the department reinstated the Permit to Operate. The red closure placard was removed, and the green pass placard was posted.
Some violations remain uncorrected, but will be corrected in due time.
