Cafe Lift
Last inspected: Dec 10, 2025
64
Score
Cafe Lift has been inspected four times since 2023. Cafe Lift was last inspected on Dec 10, 2025. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around nine violations to closer to seven violations per visit over the last few inspections.
When inspectors have written things up, “non-food contact surfaces clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.
Cafe Lift's latest score of 64 falls below the Philadelphia average of 72. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
4
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 10, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: An open employee's beverage container was observed in a food preparation area. Beverage was removed from bar area during the inspection.
46.151(a)
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Brooms observed idle on the floor on top of the basement steps and upstairs steps. Maintenance tools should be elevated in a designated space when not in use. New Violation.
46.981(e)(m)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: Bags of potatoes are not stored at least 6 inches above the floor. New Violation.
46.321
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: Moist wiping cloths observed lying on grill surface and not stored in sanitizing solution. New Violation.
46.304
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Serving plates observed not inverted to prevent contamination. New Violation.
46.302
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: - Crates observed being used to elevate multiple items in walk-in cooler. - 2 defective reach-in undercounter coolers observed being used for storage. New Violation.
46.671
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: - Cabinet in bar area observed with debris and cob webs. Cleaning is needed. - Heavy ice accumulation observed in chest freezer located in basement. - Food debris observed on shelving in basement. New Violation.
46.714
64
Nov 7, 2024
Reinspection
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations. 5 corrected on site.
View 10 violations
Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Chemicals were stored above or on the same shelf with food, equipment, and/or single service articles in the upstairs bar area. *PIC relocated chemicals*
46.1021
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the basement prep area. *PIC provided soap at the time of inspection*
46.941(a)-(e)
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Mildew/ slime residue observed on the interior of the soda gun holster at the upstairs bar area and at the downstairs coffee service bar. *PIC removed and cleaned/ sanitized holsters on site*
46.711(a)
Food properly labeled; original container
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Working bulk food ingredient storage containers are not labeled with the common name of the food (at upstairs bar area) *PIC added labels on site*
46.282
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: Gap observed at the basement trap door. This outer opening in the food facility does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals. New Violation.
46.922(e)(f)
In-use utensils: properly stored
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Ice scooper in the ice machine at the downstairs coffee service bar- observed in direct contact with and the ice not having handle stored above the top of the ice. *PIC corrected on site*
46.302
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: Milkcrates observed being used for elevation storage throughout the facility. New Violation.
46.522
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: -rusty ceiling vent observed in the warewashing area -floor drains observed with accumulation of food residue
46.714
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: hot water was delayed at the employee handwash sink at the first-floor coffee bar area. New Violation.
46.805
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: General cleaning needed (premises): -food residue observed on floor underneath food equipment in main kitchen
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
47
Aug 8, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 7 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 8 violations
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Old food residue was observed in the handwash sink in the kitchen prep area. A handwashing facility may not be used for purposes other than handwashing.
46.825(a)
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: Visible physical evidence of rodent activity observed: mouse droppings observed in the basement prep area on lower shelving and along basement prep area perimeters New Violation.
46.981(k)(l)
In-use utensils: properly stored
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Common bowls or food containers observed without handles in direct contact with bulk food ingredients. *PIC removed at the time of inspection*
46.302
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: Cutting boards observed with deep scratches and scoring not allowing for effective cleaning and sanitizing. New Violation.
46.672
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, & used; test strips
Inspector notes: Food facility lacks up-to- date sanitizer test strips to monitor sanitizer concentration (strips were soiled). New Violation.
46.634
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: -Mouse droppings observed on lower shelving in basement prep area. New Violation.
46.714
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: hot water was delayed at the employee handwash sink at the first-floor coffee bar area. New Violation.
46.805
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Brooms observed idle on the floor in the basement prep area. Maintenance tools should be elevated in a designated space when not in use. New Violation.
46.981(e)(m)
61
Jul 17, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation. 2 corrected on site.
View 2 violations
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: The handwash sink in the employee area does not have single-use towels, continuous towels, or air drying device. COS
46.981(h)
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Brooms and mops were observed not hanging. COS
46.981(f)
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cafe Lift last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cafe Lift on file is from Dec 10, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cafe Lift?
Across the inspection record, “non-food contact surfaces clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Cafe Lift.
Has Cafe Lift's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Cafe Lift have averaged around seven violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Cafe Lift 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 Cafe Lift inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cafe Lift is inspected around two times per year on average.
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