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CAFE ON THE AVE

4201 UNIVERSITY WAY NE, SEATTLE, WA 98105 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)

Inspection summary

CAFE ON THE AVE has been inspected 27 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since October 27, 2014. The most recent inspection, on August 13, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

9 of 27 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 13 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Cleaning and sanitizing.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 17 times across 12 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2026. For example: 1600 - Proper cooling procedure

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 15 times across 10 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2026. For example: 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 9 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on December 4, 2025. For example: 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 8 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on June 18, 2024. For example: 3600 - Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 4, 2025. For example: 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

About this data

These results come from Public Health – Seattle & King County, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

27 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  2. Educational Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    10 infractions

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 4500 - Sewage, wastewater properly disposed
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available
      • RED
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 1100 - Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria
      • RED
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used
      • RED
  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 3600 - Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1500 - Proper preparation of raw shell eggs
      • RED
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
  9. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
  10. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 0900 - Proper washing of fruits and vegetables
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  11. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  13. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  14. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  15. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  16. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1000 - Food in good condition, safe and unadulterated; approved additives
      • RED
  17. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
  19. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  20. Return Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  21. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  22. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  23. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  24. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
      • RED
    • 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
      • RED
  25. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  26. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  27. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

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