SAN FERMO
5341 BALLARD AVE NW, SEATTLE, WA 98107 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)
Inspection summary
SAN FERMO has been inspected 15 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since September 14, 2016. The most recent inspection, on January 15, 2026, found no infractions.
7 of 15 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.
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.
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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on October 30, 2024. For example:
4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 29, 2024. For example:
1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
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 July 5, 2019. For example:
1200 - Proper shellstock ID; wild mushroom ID; parasite destruction procedures for fish
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 once on January 24, 2017. For example:
0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
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 once on September 14, 2016. For example:
2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
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.
15 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- BLUE
- 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 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
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- BLUE
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 1500 - Proper preparation of raw shell eggs
- RED
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 1200 - Proper shellstock ID; wild mushroom ID; parasite destruction procedures for fish
- RED
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 2700 - Variance obtained for specialized processing ...
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
- RED
- 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready to eat foods.
- Consultation/Education - Field
4 infractions
- 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
- RED
- 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
- RED
- 1200 - Proper shellstock ID; wild mushroom ID; parasite destruction procedures for fish
- RED
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
- RED
- 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
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