Okay

Cafe on the Ave

4201 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Seattle

Rated “Okay” · as of Aug 13, 2026

Cafe on the Ave was last inspected on August 13, 2026 and scored 33 points. Inspectors found 3 violations, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

August 13, 2026 · Routine Inspection/Field Review

Unsatisfactory

Score: 33 points

1 critical2 general
  • CriticalFood temperature25 pts

    Cooked food wasn’t cooled properly.

    Official wording (code 1600)

    Proper cooling procedure

  • GeneralFacility upkeep3 pts

    Non-food surfaces were dirty or in poor repair.

    Official wording (code 4300)

    Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean

  • GeneralFood handling5 pts

    Food wasn’t protected from contamination during delivery, prep, storage, or display.

    Official wording (code 3300)

    Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

Sep 16, 2021: 202021/09Apr 28, 2022: 484822/04Dec 20, 2023: 8823/12Jun 18, 2024: 333324/06Nov 5, 2024: 202024/11May 9, 2025: 303025/05Dec 4, 2025: 939325/12Dec 19, 2025: 0025/12Feb 4, 2026: 0026/02Aug 13, 2026: 333326/08
Inspection scores over time. Lower is better (fewer violation points).

Inspection history

10 inspections on record

  1. Complete 0 points

    Educational Inspection

    No violations

  2. Satisfactory 0 points

    Return Inspection

    No violations

  3. Unsatisfactory 93 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 critical5 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature5 pts

      Cold food was held slightly too warm (42–45°F).

      Official wording (code 2120)

      Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

    • CriticalManagement & training5 pts

      Not every food worker had a current Food Worker Card.

      Official wording (code 0200)

      Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained

    • CriticalFood temperature25 pts

      Cooked food wasn’t cooled properly.

      Official wording (code 1600)

      Proper cooling procedure

    • CriticalFood handling10 pts

      Toxic chemicals weren’t labeled, stored, or used safely.

      Official wording (code 2500)

      Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

    • CriticalFood temperature25 pts

      Food was left at room temperature without proper time controls.

      Official wording (code 1900)

      No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available

    • GeneralFacility upkeep3 pts

      Non-food surfaces were dirty or in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 4300)

      Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during delivery, prep, storage, or display.

      Official wording (code 3300)

      Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep5 pts

      Sewage or wastewater wasn’t disposed of properly.

      Official wording (code 4500)

      Sewage, wastewater properly disposed

    • GeneralFacility upkeep5 pts

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Official wording (code 4400)

      Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections

    • GeneralFacility upkeep5 pts

      Food-contact surfaces weren’t kept clean and sanitized.

      Official wording (code 4200)

      Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized

  4. Unsatisfactory 30 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 critical4 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling5 pts

      Raw meat was stored above or next to ready-to-eat food.

      Official wording (code 1400)

      Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated

    • CriticalFood handling10 pts

      Unsafe or returned food wasn’t thrown out, or prepared food wasn’t date-marked.

      Official wording (code 1100)

      Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria

    • GeneralFacility upkeep3 pts

      Non-food surfaces were dirty or in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 4300)

      Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep5 pts

      Food-contact surfaces weren’t kept clean and sanitized.

      Official wording (code 4200)

      Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during delivery, prep, storage, or display.

      Official wording (code 3300)

      Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep2 pts

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Official wording (code 4800)

      Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment

  5. Unsatisfactory 20 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling10 pts

      Toxic chemicals weren’t labeled, stored, or used safely.

      Official wording (code 2500)

      Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during delivery, prep, storage, or display.

      Official wording (code 3300)

      Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Food wasn’t labeled or date-marked properly.

      Official wording (code 3100)

      Food properly labeled; proper date marking

  6. Unsatisfactory 33 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 critical3 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation10 pts

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked.

      Official wording (code 0600)

      Adequate handwashing facilities

    • CriticalFood handling5 pts

      Raw meat was stored above or next to ready-to-eat food.

      Official wording (code 1400)

      Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated

    • CriticalFood handling5 pts

      Raw shell eggs weren’t handled properly.

      Official wording (code 1500)

      Proper preparation of raw shell eggs

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Food wasn’t labeled or date-marked properly.

      Official wording (code 3100)

      Food properly labeled; proper date marking

    • GeneralHygiene & sanitation3 pts

      Staff were eating, drinking, or smoking where food is prepared.

      Official wording (code 3600)

      Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Wiping cloths weren’t stored in sanitizer, or sanitizer strength was wrong.

      Official wording (code 3400)

      Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

  7. Satisfactory 8 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling3 pts

      In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

      Official wording (code 3700)

      In-use utensils properly stored

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Wiping cloths weren’t stored in sanitizer, or sanitizer strength was wrong.

      Official wording (code 3400)

      Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

  8. Unsatisfactory 48 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 critical4 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation25 pts

      Hands weren’t washed when required.

      Official wording (code 0400)

      Hands washed as required

    • CriticalFood temperature5 pts

      Cold food was held slightly too warm (42–45°F).

      Official wording (code 2120)

      Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Wiping cloths weren’t stored in sanitizer, or sanitizer strength was wrong.

      Official wording (code 3400)

      Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

    • GeneralFacility upkeep5 pts

      Dishwashing setup or sanitizer strength wasn’t right, or test strips were missing.

      Official wording (code 4100)

      Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during delivery, prep, storage, or display.

      Official wording (code 3300)

      Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

    • GeneralFood temperature3 pts

      Frozen food was thawed the wrong way.

      Official wording (code 3000)

      Proper thawing methods used

  9. Unsatisfactory 20 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 critical Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling10 pts

      Fruits and vegetables weren’t washed properly.

      Official wording (code 0900)

      Proper washing of fruits and vegetables

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation10 pts

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked.

      Official wording (code 0600)

      Adequate handwashing facilities

More in Seattle

Source: Public Health – Seattle & King County open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 3 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.