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Santa Clara County, CA

Tower's Cafe

111 N Market St 120

Last inspected Aug 7, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Repeat problemsSerious findings or closures appear in two or more of the last three inspections. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

Routine Inspection

Aug 7, 2026

Pass

5 recorded violations

minorCode K23Pests

Official wording

No rodents, insects, birds, or animals

Inspector’s notes

One dead cockroach observed on a rolling cart and one other dead cockroach on a shelf. Per PIC, they do not have professional pest control services. Observed gel bait placed throughout the facility, per PIC, they placed it themselves. [CA] Clean and sanitize area of dead cockroaches. Provide pest control services as needed.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
minorCode K35Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity

Inspector’s notes

1. The upright cooler is in disrepair and not maintaining PHFs at 41F or lower. Ambient temperature measured at 50F. [CA] Refrigeration must be capable of maintaining PHFs at 41°F or below. 2. Facility has a non ANSI upright freezer and airfryer. [CA] New and/or replacement food equipment shall be certified or classified for sanitation by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certification program (e.g. NSF, UL EPH, UL Sanitation, CSA Sanitation, or ETL Sanitation).

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
minorCode K36Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use

Inspector’s notes

Repeat Violation: Faciltiy is reusing old single use food containers (sour cream and other tubs). [CA] Single use food container shall not be reused to store food.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
minorCode K32Food source and labeling

Official wording

Food properly labeled and honestly presented

Inspector’s notes

Repeat Violation: Facility prepackages/repackages food (potato salads and yogurts parfaits) and offers for sale in self-service area without proper labeling. [CA] Food prepackaged in a food facility shall bear a label with the following: 1) common name of the food, 2) list of ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, 3) quantity of contents, 4) name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

1. Hashbrowns were found in the non-ANSI airfryer measuring at 88F. 2. Repeat Violation: Chicken was measured at 61F above the prep cooler. 3.Repeat Violation: Egg Whites were measured at 82F above the prep cooler. 4. PHFs in upright cooler (sausages, cheese, tuna salad, chili) measured between 45-50F. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [COS] PIC agreed to discard PHFs held above the prep cooler after 4 hours of removal from temperature control. Discussed use of TPHC with facility. TPHC guidelines provided and approved onsite. PHFs in the upright cooler were discarded. See VC&D report.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Aug 7, 2026 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Dec 4, 2025

Pass

4 recorded violations

minorCode K32Food source and labeling

Official wording

Food properly labeled and honestly presented

Inspector’s notes

Second Repeat Violation: Facility prepackages food (fruit salads, and yogurts parfaits) and offers for sale in self-service area without proper labeling. [CA] Food prepackaged in a food facility shall bear a label with the following: 1) common name of the food, 2) list of ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, 3) quantity of contents, 4) name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
minorCode K30Other

Official wording

Food storage: food storage containers identified

Inspector’s notes

A white crystalline powder was unlabeled both in the kitchen and self service condiment area. [CA] Working containers holding food or food ingredients that are removed from their original packages shall be identified with the common name of the food if not easily recognizable.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

1. At the sandwich prep cold hold, on a plate stored above the inserts, diced chicken was measured at 61°F. Per PIC, they were extras from an order made approximately 30 minutes prior. 2. Eggs were found measuring at 60F on top of the cold hold inserts at around 11:30 am. Per PIC, they cooked them at 8:00 am. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [COS] The chicken was moved to the cooler for rapid cool down. [COS] PIC agreed to discard the eggs after 4 hours of removal from temperature control.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
minorCode K35Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity

Inspector’s notes

Repeat Violation: Facility has a non ANSI white freezer and microwave. [CA] New and/or replacement food equipment shall be certified or classified for sanitation by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certification program (e.g. NSF, UL EPH, UL Sanitation, CSA Sanitation, or ETL Sanitation).

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Dec 4, 2025 · Original Source

Routine Inspection

Jan 28, 2025

Pass

7 recorded violations

minorCode K36Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use

Inspector’s notes

In the walk in cooler rice was found ot be stored in a macaroni salad container. [CA] Single use food container shall not be reused to store food.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
minorCode K27Other

Official wording

Food separated and protected

Inspector’s notes

In the ice chest filled with ice meant for consumption, a can of redbull was found stored. [CA] Beverage bottles/cans shall not be stored fully submerged in ice in customer self-service area.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
minorCode K35Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity

Inspector’s notes

Facility has a non ANSI white freezer and microwave. [CA] New and/or replacement food equipment shall be certified or classified for sanitation by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certification program (e.g. NSF, UL EPH, UL Sanitation, CSA Sanitation, or ETL Sanitation).

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
minorCode K32Food source and labeling

Official wording

Food properly labeled and honestly presented

Inspector’s notes

REPEAT VIOLATION: Facility repackages food and offers for sale in self-service area without proper labeling. [CA] Food prepackaged in a food facility shall bear a label with the following: 1) common name of the food, 2) list of ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, 3) quantity of contents, 4) name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
minorCode K31Contamination

Official wording

Consumer self service does prevent contamination

Inspector’s notes

Near the cash register, in a bowl, hard boiled eggs were observed to not be protected from possible contamination. [CA] Food on display shall be protected from contamination by the use of packaging, counter, service line, or sneeze guards that intercept a direct line between the consumer's mouth and the food being displayed, containers with tight-fitting securely attached lids, display cases, mechanical dispensers, or other effective means.

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
criticalCode K07Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

At the sandwich prep cold hold, on a plate stored above the inserts, chicken was measured at 61°F. Per PIC, they removed it form the cooler about 30 minutes prior for an order and forgot to place it back. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [COS] The chicken was moved to the cooler for rapid cool down.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
minorCode K26Food temperature

Official wording

Approved thawing methods used; frozen food

Inspector’s notes

In the microwave, on a plate, chicken was measured at 80°F. Per PIC, they defrosted the chicken and they were going to place it in the cooler to cool down. [CA] Frozen potentially hazardous food shall only be thawed in one of the following ways: 1) under refrigeration that maintains the food temperature at 41°F or below, 2) completely submerged under potable running water for a period not to exceed two hours at a water temperature of 70°F or below, and with sufficient water velocity to agitate and flush off loose particles into the sink drain, 3) in a microwave oven if immediately followed by immediate preparation, 4) as part of a cooking process. If using the microwave to thaw PHFs then it must be immediately cooked to 165°F.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

Official record from Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, Jan 28, 2025 · Original Source

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