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PORTAGE BAY CAFE IN BALLARD

2821 NW MARKET ST STE C, SEATTLE, WA 98107 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)

Inspection summary

PORTAGE BAY CAFE IN BALLARD has been inspected 41 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since August 31, 2009. The most recent inspection, on April 23, 2026, found no infractions.

14 of 41 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Cleaning and sanitizing.

The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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 30 times across 19 separate inspections, most recently on August 25, 2025. For example: 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))

  • 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 10 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on January 18, 2024. 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 8 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on July 1, 2024. For example: 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 31, 2025. For example: 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled

  • 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 March 17, 2023. 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.

41 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  2. Educational Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
      • BLUE
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used
      • RED
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods
      • RED
  9. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130 to 134 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (54 to 56 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  10. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  11. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than130 degrees)
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed,...
      • BLUE
  13. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  14. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
  15. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  16. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4500 - Sewage, waste water properly disposed
      • BLUE
    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
  17. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
    • 1200 - Proper shellstock ID; wild mushroom ID; parasite destruction procedures for fish
      • RED
  18. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  19. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  20. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  21. Return Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
      • RED
  22. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  23. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  24. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  25. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  26. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  27. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  28. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  29. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1500 - Proper handling of pooled eggs
      • RED
  30. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  31. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  32. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  33. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  34. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  35. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  36. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 0500 - Proper methods used to prevent bare hand...
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from RTE food
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
      • RED
  37. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during ...
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  38. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 3100 - Proper labeling, signage
      • BLUE
    • 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during ...
      • BLUE
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  39. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  40. Return Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  41. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than 130° F )
      • RED

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