Cafe Square One
Last inspected: Apr 20, 2026
74
Score
Public records show six inspections at Cafe Square One stretching back to 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Apr 20, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Violation counts have ticked up lately, averaging around six violations per visit versus roughly four violations earlier in the record.
Looking across the full record, “non-food contact surfaces clean” is the recurring theme, flagged four times.
Cafe Square One scores about where you'd expect for a Philadelphia restaurant. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
6
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 20, 2026
Reinspection
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 4 violations
Food separated & protected
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: - Observed shelled eggs stored above ready to eat prepared food items inside of the reach-in refrigerator in the food prep area. Corrective action; Operator moved the eggs to an appropriate shelf during the inspection.
46.281
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: - Observed clutter and out-of-use equipment in the rear basement storage areas. - Observed an out-of-use reach in refrigerator in the side hallway area (near the basement entrance).
46.671
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: - Observed food debris and stains on the lower shelving surfaces of the reach-in refrigerators/freezers throughout the prep areas. - Observed food debris and dust on lower shelving surfaces and underneath cooking equipment throughout the prep areas.
46.714
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: - Observed slight dust and debris on the floor perimeters and in-between equipment in the front food prep, rear ware washing/rear prep, and basement storage areas.
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
74
Feb 17, 2026
Reinspection
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
Proper cold holding temperature
Inspector notes: - Observed food items (bacon, lettuce, sliced tomato) held at ~49.8-50.1 degrees F in the cold-holding prep tables throughout the front prep area. PIC closed the lids of the cold-holding prep units and moved food items to a refrigeration unit to derive proper cold-holding temperature of food items and equipment.
46.385(a)(2)
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: The quaternary ammonium concentration in the sanitizing solution of the 3-bay warewash sink was 100 ppm, rather than 200-400 ppm as stated on the manufacturer's use directions. Corrective action; PIC added more sanitizer to the sanitizing solution concentration to derive the proper concentration of 200ppm during the inspection.
46.674(d)(e)
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: - Observed evidence of rodent activity in the front food prep, rear ware washing/rear prep, and basement storage areas.
46.981(k)(l)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: - Observed out-of-use equipment (closed display case) in the basement storage areas.
46.671
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: - Observed food debris and stains on the lower shelving surfaces of the reach-in refrigerators/freezers throughout the prep areas. - Observed food debris and dust on lower shelving surfaces and underneath cooking equipment throughout the prep areas. - Observed mouse droppings on the lower shelving surfaces underneath the cooking equipment in the front food prep area. - Observed rust on racks in the rear prep/ware washing area.
46.714
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: - Observed dust, debris, and mouse droppings on the floor perimeters and in-between equipment in the front food prep, rear ware washing/rear prep, and basement storage areas.
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
64
Jan 9, 2026
Routine
4 critical violations. 5 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 9 violations
Proper cold holding temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: - Observed food items (bacon, lettuce, sliced tomato) held at ~45.9-48.3 in the cold-holding prep tables throughout the front prep area. Corrective action; PIC closed the lids of the cold-holding prep units and moved food items to a refrigeration unit to derive proper cold-holding temperature of food items and equipment by the end of the inspection.
46.385(a)(2)
Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used
Inspector notes: - Observed first-aid/ointment stored on the shelf above the cold-prep unit/cutting board in the front food prep area. Sanitarian advised to move personal items/medicines from the food prep area. New Violation.
46.1028
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
Inspector notes: - Observed buckets and equipment stored inside the handwashing sink in the front prep and rear ware washing areas. Sanitarian advised PIC to remove items from the handwashing sink during the inspection. New Violation.
46.825(a)
Food separated & protected
Inspector notes: - A splash guard is not observed between the handwashing sink and the food prep counter (smoothie prep counter) at the front prep area, which does not protect food items from splash/contamination. New Violation.
46.281
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: - Observed food debris and grimes on the exterior handles of the reach-in refrigerators and freezers throughout the prep areas. - Observed food debris and stains on the lower shelving surfaces of the reach-in refrigerators/freezers throughout the prep areas. - Observed food debris and dust on lower shelving surfaces and underneath cooking equipment throughout the prep areas. New Violation.
46.714
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: - Observed hot water slow to generate to 100 degrees F at the handwashing sink in the front prep area and in the restroom area. New Violation.
46.805
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: - Observed milk crates stored on the floor surfaces throughout the prep areas. New Violation.
46.921
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: - Observed evidence of rodent activity in the front food prep, rear ware washing/rear prep, and basement storage areas. New Violation.
46.981(k)(l)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: - Observed cardboard lining shelving surfaces inside of the reach-in refrigerators in the rear prep area. New Violation.
46.522
43
Jul 9, 2024
Routine
11 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Thermometer provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible. New Violation.
46.632
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: Boxes of food and single-service items are not stored at least 6 inches above the floor at rear storage and the basement storage areas. New Violation.
46.321
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food employee observed not wearing or wearing ineffective hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints. New Violation.
46.152
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
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: The 3 compartment sink in the rear ware washing area is not properly sealed against the wall. New Violation.
46.652
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, & used; test strips
Inspector notes: Food facility lacks quaternary sanitizer test strips to monitor sanitizer concentration. New Violation.
46.634
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Food debris observed on tables and shelves at the food prep areas. Debris from wall observed on the shelves at the basement storage areas. New Violation.
46.714
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: No backflow prevention device observed on the water line of the ice machine at the rear ware washing area. New Violation.
46.824(b)(c)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: Dust observed on the ventilation cover at the ceiling of the toilet room. New Violation.
46.981(b)(i)
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Utility lines penetrating wall and ceiling surfaces are not sealed at the rear ware washing area. Holes observed at ceiling of rear ware washing area are not sealed. Baseboard coving on wall surfaces are not sealed at prep area. New Violation.
46.921
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: No lighting observed inside the utility closet. New Violation.
46.943
58
Apr 14, 2023
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Apr 5, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cafe Square One last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cafe Square One on file is from Apr 20, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cafe Square One?
Across the inspection record, “non-food contact surfaces clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Cafe Square One.
Has Cafe Square One's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Cafe Square One have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Cafe Square One 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 Square One inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cafe Square One is inspected around two times per year on average.
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