PURPLE DOT CAFE
515 MAYNARD AVE S, SEATTLE, WA 98104 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)
Inspection summary
PURPLE DOT CAFE has been inspected 19 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since June 25, 2018. The most recent inspection, on October 8, 2026, recorded 7 infractions.
8 of 19 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 11 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Handwashing and staff hygiene.
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 15 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on March 6, 2025. For example:
2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
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 7 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on October 8, 2026. For example:
4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on December 10, 2025. For example:
0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 8, 2026. For example:
3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 8, 2026. For example:
1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
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.
19 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
7 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
- RED
- 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used
- RED
- 0100 - PIC present, demonstrates knowledge and performs duties to maintain AMC; certified manager on staff unless exempt
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
- BLUE
- 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
5 infractions
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 0100 - PIC present, demonstrates knowledge and performs duties to maintain AMC; certified manager on staff unless exempt
- RED
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
13 infractions
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- BLUE
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
- BLUE
- 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
- BLUE
- 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Return Inspection
2 infractions
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
11 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- BLUE
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available
- RED
- 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used
- RED
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
7 infractions
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
- BLUE
- 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
- BLUE
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
- RED
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
8 infractions
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- BLUE
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- BLUE
- 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
- BLUE
- 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
- BLUE
- 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available
- RED
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 1500 - Proper handling of pooled eggs
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed,...
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
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