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Restaurant · Minneapolis, MN

Loon Cafe

500 1st Ave N

Last inspected Dec 18, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Complete
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

Dec 18, 2025

Complete

Official score: 94 · Understand this area’s scale

6 recorded violations

minorCode MN Rule 4626.1515Facility maintenance

Official wording

Keep the physical facilities in good repair.

Inspector’s notes

Epoxy flooring in the dry storage area by the Keg Walk In Cooler was observed worn out, cracked and pitted in multiple areas. Cement floor in the Keg Walk In Cooler was observed damaged as well. Repair these floors and maintain them so that they are smooth and easily cleanable at all times.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0275FFood temperature

Official wording

Discontinue storing food preparation or dispensing utensils in a container of water that is not maintained at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) and not cleaned when empty.

Inspector’s notes

Tongs were observed being stored in a bucket of sanitizer water between uses at the time of inspection. Discussed with Chef this is not an approved way to store tongs between uses, as the sanitizer does not fully dry before being used and can get sanitizer on the food that is being handled with the tongs. Discontinue storing in-use tongs in sanitizer buckets. Retrain staff to store in-use tongs in a clean container and to wash, rinse and sanitize them every 4 hours.

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 MN Rule 4626.1520ACleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Clean all physical facilities (floors, walls, ceilings). Keep them clean.

Inspector’s notes

Ceiling tiles in the basement and kitchen areas were observed heavily soiled. Clean these and maintain them clean or replace tiles that cannot b easily cleaned. Maintain ceiling tiles clean and in good condition at all times.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0845EContamination

Official wording

Clean surfaces contacting non-TCS foods: • When surfaces may have been contaminated • At least once every 24 hours for consumer self-service utensils • Before restocking consumer self-service equipment and utensils • As often as needed to keep surfaces clean

Inspector’s notes

Soda gun drip cups in the bar area were observed soiled with accumulated slime residue at the time of inspection. Clean these and maintain them clean to sight and touch.

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 MN Rule 4626.0805C1Chemicals

Official wording

Have an approved chlorine chemical sanitizer solution. The solution must have a minimum concentration of 50 ppm. The solution must also meet the temperature and pH requirements of this rule.

Inspector’s notes

Main kitchen chlorine dish machine was measured at 0PPM at the time of inspection. The machine was run over 5 cycles, primed and tested each time and still did not reach 50PPM chlorine concentration as required by manufacturer's data plate. Discussed with Chef and Manager that the dish machine should not be used until it can adequately sanitize dishes at 50PPM chlorine. Manager stated they would call a service request in to their service provider to repair the dish machine. Discontinue use until the machine can be repaired and adequately sanitize all dishes at 50PPM chlorine.

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely
majorCode MN Rule 4626.0442BFood temperature

Official wording

The consumer advisory disclosure must include either: • A description of the food as raw or undercooked • An asterisk to a footnote describing the food as raw or undercooked

Inspector’s notes

The Loon Burger and a fried egg add-on to sandwiches were each observed missing an asterisk on the menu at the time of inspection. Discussed with manager that for each item that customers can request to be served raw or undercooked, there needs to be an asterisk linking the food item to the consumer warning at the bottom of the menu. The consumer warning must be on each page that the menu has raw or undercooked food items on it. Provided consumer advisory guidance document with emailed report for establishment to follow when reprinting their menus. Provide asterisk to consumer advisory on menu to warn customers of the risk of potential foodborne illness when consuming foods that are served raw or undercooked or contain raw or undercooked ingredients.

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 Minneapolis Health Department, Dec 18, 2025 · Original Source

Routine

Dec 20, 2024

Complete

Official score: 92 · Understand this area’s scale

6 recorded violations

minorCode MN Rule 4626.1515Other

Official wording

Keep the physical facilities in good repair.

Inspector’s notes

Epoxy flooring in dry storage by keg cooler is worn and cracked. Cement floor in Walk in Keg Cooler is damaged as well. Repair and maintain in good condition.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0275FOther

Official wording

Discontinue storing food preparation or dispensing utensils in a container of water that is not maintained at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) and not cleaned when empty.

Inspector’s notes

Tongs and sandwich knives were observed stored in a sanitizer bucket filled with water at the time of inspection. This is not an approved way to store in-use utensils in water. Either store utensils in water kept at 135F or higher at all times while in use or store utensils in empty container and wash rinse and sanitize every 4 hours. Discontinue storing utensils in buckets of water.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
minorCode MN Rule 4626.1520AOther

Official wording

Clean all physical facilities (floors, walls, ceilings). Keep them clean.

Inspector’s notes

The ceiling tiles in the basement and kitchen area were observed heavily soiled. Clean and maintain clean or replace tiles that cannot be easily cleaned. Maintain ceiling clean and in good condition at all times.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
criticalCode MN Rule 4626.0405AOther

Official wording

Throw away TCS foods seven days after being made or opened. Day one is the date food was made or opened.

Inspector’s notes

Spinach dip marked for the 10th of December was observed expired by 4 days at the time of inspection. Discussed with Chef that foods must be used within 7 days and counting the day the product was made as day 1. A second batch of product was already made, and was within the 7 day date mark. Required Chef to remove and discard all expired spinach dip containers and use the second batch as it was still safe to use. Retrain staff on date marking procedures and ensure food is used up within the 7 days.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
criticalCode MN Rule 4626.0225AOther

Official wording

Make sure all ready-to-eat foods and garnishes are not touched with bare hands.

Inspector’s notes

Observed employee preparing burger bun with bare hands. Discussed with employee that foods should not be touched with bare hands for high risk of spreading illnesses. Discard food that is touched with bare hands. Employee then went to handwash sink, washed hands and put on gloves before resuming food preparation activities. Retrain staff to use barriers to bare hands when working with food, such as gloves, utensils or deli paper. Discontinue working with food that is ready-to-eat with bare hands.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0625Other

Official wording

Provide a manufacturer's data plate on the warewashing machine that indicates the machines operating specifications required for washing, rinsing and sanitizing temperature, pressure requirements and conveyor or cycle speed.

Inspector’s notes

Dish machine did not have an easily readable manufacturer's data plate at the time of inspection. Data plate is required to be legible and easy to read at all times. Contact dish machine maintenance company to have a new data plate installed on machine. Keep data plate legible and easy to read at all times.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Minneapolis Health Department, Dec 20, 2024 · Original Source

Routine

Dec 12, 2023

Complete

Official score: 94 · Understand this area’s scale

6 recorded violations

minorCode MN Rule 4626.1515Other

Official wording

Keep the physical facilities in good repair.

Inspector’s notes

Epoxy flooring in dry storage by keg cooler is worn and cracked. Cement floor in Walk In keg cooler is damaged as well. Repair and maintain in good condition.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
minorCode MN Rule 4626.1040BOther

Official wording

Keep the plumbing system in good repair.

Inspector’s notes

At the time of inspection, main handwash sink's warm water in the kitchen area was observed turned off due to the faucet leaking. Discussed with Person In Charge and one of the owners that the handwash sink must have hot water accessible at all times so that employees have comfortable handwashing temperature to wash hands. Any barrier to washing hands must be remedied. Repair hand sink so that hot water is accessible and sink does not leak. Maintain sink in good repair at all times.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
criticalCode MN Rule 4626.0805C1Other

Official wording

Have an approved chlorine chemical sanitizer solution. The solution must have a minimum concentration of 50 ppm. The solution must also meet the temperature and pH requirements of this rule.

Inspector’s notes

Chlorine sanitizer was measured in the low temperature dish machine at 0 PPM at the time of inspection. One of the owners called their service provider, but service provider would not be able to come repair the machine until the next day. The 3 basin sink in the basement prep area did not have stoppers to allow for warewashing in the 3 basin sink, so inspector instructed temporary sanitization method by immersion in 50-100 PPM chlorine solution using commercial bleach on site as final sanitize step until the repair could be made to the machine. Once machine is repaired and dispenses 50 PPM, use of dish machine for washing, rinsing and sanitizing of dishes can be resumed. Monitor and maintain dish machine chlorine sanitizer according to data plate at 50PPM at all times.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
majorCode MN Rule 4626.0715Other

Official wording

Have a test kit for the type of sanitizer used.

Inspector’s notes

At the time of inspection, there was no quat sanitizer test kit available to monitor sanitizer concentrations. Provide test kit for each sanitizer type used on site and maintain on site at all times.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0275FOther

Official wording

Discontinue storing food preparation or dispensing utensils in a container of water that is not maintained at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) and not cleaned when empty.

Inspector’s notes

Tongs and sandwich knives were observed stored in sanitizer buckets at the time of inspection. Discussed with Person In Charge that this is not an approved method to store in-use utensils. Instructed PIC to remove utensils from sanitizer buckets and place them in the dish area to be washed, rinsed and sanitized before use. Discontinue storing in-use knives and other utensils in sanitizer buckets and wash, rinse and sanitize at minimum every 4 hours.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding
minorCode MN Rule 4626.1520AOther

Official wording

Clean all physical facilities (floors, walls, ceilings). Keep them clean.

Inspector’s notes

The ceiling tiles in the basement prep area were observed heavily soiled. Clean and maintain clean or replace tiles that cannot be easily cleaned. Maintain ceiling clean and in good condition at all times.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Minneapolis Health Department, Dec 12, 2023 · Original Source

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