Bower Cafe
Last inspected: Mar 3, 2026
67
Score
Public records show four inspections at Bower Cafe stretching back to 2023. Bower Cafe was last inspected on Mar 3, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near six violations each time.
“Personal cleanliness” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
Bower Cafe's latest score of 67 falls below the Philadelphia average of 72. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
4
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 3, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
Proper cold holding temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Whole milk inside a thermos was held at 65°F rather than 45°F or below the required. *The person in charge discarded and replaced the milk during the inspection.
46.385(a)(2)
Thermometer provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of equipment was not available or readily accessible in one of the reach-in refrigerators. New Violation.
46.562
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food employees observed not wearing hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints.
46.152
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: A non-NSF/ANSI thermos was observed holding milk. New Violation.
46.671
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Observations: -Food debris inside the open display case. -Food splashes inside the microwave. New Violation.
46.714
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: No prep sink observed in the facility during the inspection. There is no dedicated, indirectly drained food prep sink that is equipped with a catch basin for the washing of whole fruits and vegetables.
46.822
67
Jan 31, 2025
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: Moist wiping cloth was observed inside a bowl without sanitizing solution. New Violation.
46.304
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: No prep sink observed in the facility during the inspection. There is no dedicated, indirectly drained food prep sink that is equipped with a catch basin for the washing of whole fruits and vegetables.
46.822
Thermometer provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of equipment were not available in two refrigeration units. New Violation.
46.632
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food employees observed not wearing hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints.
46.152
82
Dec 11, 2024
Routine
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 9 violations
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: The handwashing sink was blocked by kitchen utensils and a utility cart, making it not accessible at all times for employee use. *The person in charge removed the kitchen utensils and moved the utility cart during the inspections.
46.825(a)
Food separated & protected
Inspector notes: No sink with indirect connection observed in the facility. Vegetables were cleaned with a colander in the 3 bay sink. *The person in charge was instructed to install a sink with indirect connection or apply for a variance. New Violation.
46.301
Proper date marking & disposition
Inspector notes: Parfait, prepared in the food facility and ,located in the open display case, was not date marked. *The person in charge date marked all the parfaits during the inspection.
46.385(b)
Certification by accredited program, compliance with Code, or correct responses
Inspector notes: City of Philadelphia Manager food safety certificate was not observed in the facility at time of inspection; Observed class certificate only. *Advised facility's food safety certified person to apply for the City of Philadelphia Manager food safety certificate. *An application for the Philadelphia Food Manager Food Safety Certificate was emailed with this report.
46.103
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food employees observed not wearing hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints. New Violation.
46.152
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, & used; test strips
Inspector notes: Food facility lacks sanitizer test strips to monitor QAC sanitizer concentration.
46.634
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Observations: -Dust and food debris inside open display case. -Food debris inside microwave. New Violation.
46.714
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: No prep sink observed in the facility during the inspection. There is no dedicated, indirectly drained food prep sink that is equipped with a catch basin for the washing of whole fruits and vegetables. New Violation.
46.822
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Brooms and dust pan stored on the floor rather than hanging on a utility rack. New Violation.
46.981(e)(m)
45
Dec 20, 2023
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: The handwash sink in the prep area did not have single use towels, continuous towels, or air drying device. *The person in charge provided paper towels to the area during inspection.
46.941(a)-(e)
Proper date marking & disposition
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Opened cheeses, guacamole, sliced fruits/vegetables, aiolis, cooked bacon, and compotes; potentially hazardous ready to eat food, prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the under counter refrigerators, was not date marked. *The person in charge date marked all items.
46.385(b)
Certification by accredited program, compliance with Code, or correct responses
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: No person shall operate a food establishment that handles, prepares or serves non-prepackaged potentially hazardous food who does not have present and in the employ of the food establishment at all hours of operation at least one (1) person with a valid Food Establishment Personnel Food Safety Certificate issued by the Department. *The PIC has a ServSafe but not a Phila Food Safety Certificate. An application has been emailed.
46.103
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, & used; test strips
Inspector notes: Food facility lacks sanitizer test strips to monitor QAC sanitizer concentration. New Violation.
46.634
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Dust, coffee grinds, and debris observed on the prep floor and beneath/behind equipment. New Violation.
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: Moist wiping cloths observed lying on prep tables and not stored in sanitizing solution. New Violation.
46.304
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Bower Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Bower Cafe on file is from Mar 3, 2026. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Bower Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “personal cleanliness” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Bower Cafe.
Has Bower Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Bower Cafe have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Bower Cafe means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Bower Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Bower Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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