At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
76/ 100 · 24 points taken off
8 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Sep 30, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. Arome Cafe got more than most.
Compared with 9,600 Santa Clara County food places. Each place's last routine inspection counts.
What was found out about Arome Cafe?
It's fair to care about this. Here's what the county found. Tap any item to see how a kitchen fixes it.
- Marked critical: Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right K14How to fixFix it
- Pests seen inside: drain flies K23How to fixFix it
- Permits available K49How to fixFix it
Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
We review Santa Clara County health data to make this report. We are not the County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health.
Visit them directly at deh.santaclaracounty.gov (opens the department's site) · How we review
For Arome Cafe's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, Arome Cafe. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim Arome Cafe first; we check that you run it.
Your whole team can help. Each person gets one next step, and everyone can see what's done.
This is my place: claim Arome CafeWe'll help you get every item done. You don't have to do it alone.
We know an inspection can feel heavy, especially when it's busy.
Fix it together
Follow the steps for each item, with the rule beside it.
Next: Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized rightThe county found: “Major violation: Employees were observed washing dishes in the three compartment warewash sink without any…”
First step: Clean first, then sanitize
Then the next one: Pests seen inside: drain flies
Log it
Your team logs the fix on their phones, with the time and who did it.
Show what you did
Saying what you fixed, in your own words, builds trust. Families and regulars respect a kitchen that owns it and fixes it.
Each fix step comes from the rule it names: Food Code 4-603.16, Food Code 6-501.112, Food Code 3-305.11, Food Code 3-304.14.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 3 done
Clean first, then sanitize
From Food Code 4-603.16
Logged
That's one done. We'll be here for the next.
What people see now
Today, people see the department's words and nothing from you.
What people see after you fix and log it
Example reply
CleanCleaverBusiness reply
Your business replied to this with the public statement:
We fixed this the same day. Now our team logs it on their phones at open and close.
The date of your reply
This is not an official update to the health inspection report. The county's record is unchanged.
Most kitchens get something cited at some point. What people remember is that you fixed it.
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Replies are part of a paid plan. We read each one before it goes up. You can take it down any time. Only the department can change its record.
Do you work there, and someone else owns it? I work there
What people see next
Under each item here, people see what you fixed, in your words.
Left alone, or fixed together
Left alone, the same items can come back at the next inspection. Fixed together, they're done.
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Inspections
From County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health · 4 inspections on record · Last checked Oct 6, 2026
The county visited 3 times in the last 12 months (2 routine, 1 follow-up).
Fewer points taken off than last time (31 → 24). That takes a team.
Every visit
LatestSep 30, 2026Routine inspection76 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 76 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Sep 30, 2026.
8 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Major violation: Employees were observed washing dishes in the three compartment warewash sink without any sanitizer. [CA] Whenever utensils, equipment, and food contact surfaces are cleaned, they need to be washed with soapy water, rinse with clean water, and sanitized with 200 ppm quaternary ammonia sanitizer or 100 ppm chlorine. Employees were demonstrated the proper washing procedures. The utensils were rewashed accordingly (COS). Repeated major violation: Heavy slim buildup was observed inside the ice machine’s internal part. [CA] Clean the internal part of the ice machine immediately.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Food Code 4-602.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Clean first, then sanitize
- 1. Scrape off food.
- 2. Wash with detergent and warm water.
- 3. Rinse off the soap (soap weakens sanitizer).
From Food Code 4-603.16
When to clean food-contact surfaces
4 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Cleaning vs sanitizing, and sanitizer strengths
The full guide has 4 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Arome Cafe? Fix it
Not critical (7)
Pests seen inside: drain flies
The department's words
K23 No rodents, insects, birds, or animals
Multiple drain flies were observed in the preparation area and some in the front dining area. [CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method.
Food Code 6-501.111
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
What to do
- Any sign of mice, rats or roaches: act now. Protect or throw out affected food, clean the area, and call the pest control operator the same day.
- Flies or ants in food areas: act within 24 hours.
- Insects in food: throw that food out and check the stock around it.
From Food Code 6-501.112
What NOT to do
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Signs of pests and what to do
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Arome Cafe? Fix it
Permits available
The department's words
K49 Permits available
48 HOUR NOTICE-- Our records indicate this facility has a delinquent account and is operating without a valid Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health permit|. The facility has an outstanding account balance in the amount of $1,7,21.25 Payment must be made within 48 hours (2 business days) to the Santa Clara County DEH online at our website which is https://paydirect.link2gov.com/SantaClaraCountyDEH/ItemSearch using an account ID number AR1355635. You may also drop a business check or a crasher's check at our office address written on the top right corner. A re-inspection will not be conducted if your account is paid in full by 10/02/2026. The facility shall remain open, and a new valid permit will be mailed after payment has been received. If your account has not been paid in full by the Comply By date, a re-inspection will be carried out, and the facility owner may be billed at the current hourly rate per County Ordinance Code B11-8. Non-payment of permit fees within 48 hours will result in additional legal actions up to and including facility closure.
Food on the floor or under drips
The department's words
K30 Food storage: food storage containers identified
Many food products on boxes were stored directly on the floor or on milk crate back in the storage area and some below the front counter. [CA] To prevent insect hiding and breading and for easy cleaning of the floor area, please store all food products at least six inches off the floor on an approved shelf or dunnage rack.
Food Code 3-305.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Where food may never be stored
- Keep food at least 6 inches off the floor.
- Never in restrooms, locker or dressing rooms, garbage rooms, or mechanical rooms (furnace, water heater, electrical).
- Never under stairs, or under sewer lines, leaking water lines or fire sprinkler lines.
From Food Code 3-305.11
Top to bottom
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Fridge and freezer storage order
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Arome Cafe? Fix it
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
A couple of wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters. [CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach). There was very low sanitizer concentration on one of the sanitizer buckets. [CA] Maintain the sanitizer concentration on the sanitizer buckets at 200 ppm quaternary ammonia. 100 ppm chlorine (bleach), 272 ppm -700 ppm lactic acid levels.
Food Code 3-304.14
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Keep the bucket strong
- Wet cloths sit in sanitizer between uses: chlorine 50–99 ppm, or quat at label strength.
- Test with the cloths in the bucket when you mix it and every 2 hours.
- Remake it at once if it tests low or has food or dirt in it. Never just add more sanitizer to a dirty bucket.
From Food Code 3-304.14
Keep cloths apart
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Wiping cloths and sanitizer buckets
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Arome Cafe? Fix it
Equipment in poor repair
The department's words
K35 Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity
The facility has multiple cooking equipment installed without any permit including multiple OMEO portable induction cooktops and a tabletop miniature deep noodle boiler stored without any exhaust hood. [CA] All utensils and 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). Remove the tabletop miniature deep fryer. Contact this division’s Plan Check program for review and approval of equipment prior to installation. Furthermore, all equipment that uses gas/electricity and produces steam, grease, and excessive heat must be stored under the exhaust hood.
Food Code 4-101.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Look over the equipment; report anything broken
Equipment in good repair
In CleanCleaver: Look over the equipment; report anything broken
Are you Arome Cafe? Fix it
Show 2 more
Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food
The department's words
K27 Food separated and protected
Some open bag food products were stored on the shelf in the dry storage area. [CA] Store all open bag food products in properly labeled bulk containers.
Food Code 3-302.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Top to bottom
- 1. Top: ready-to-eat food (salads, desserts, cut fruit, cooked leftovers, deli meat, cheese, drinks)
- 2. Raw fish and seafood (cooked to 145°F)
- 3. Whole cuts of beef, pork and lamb; raw shell eggs (145°F)
From Food Code 3-302.11
Keep raw meat types apart
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Fridge and freezer storage order
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Arome Cafe? Fix it
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
There is not a food safety manager certified person in the facility. [CA] Someone from the facility must take a food safety certificate class within two months and keep a copy of the certificate on file. Food Safety Manager certificate class may be taken on the following websites: 1. Premier Food Safety: https://www.premierfoodsafety.com/food-manager-certification/california\ 2. Learn 2 Serve: https://www.360training.com/learn2serve/food-safety-manager/California 3. Serve Safe Manager: https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Manager
EarlierFeb 11, 2026Follow-up inspectionGreen placard
4 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Repeated violation: Employees were observed washing dishes in the three compartment warewash sink without any sanitizer. [CA] Whenever utensils, equipment, and food contact surfaces are cleaned, they need to be washed with soapy water, rinse with clean water, and sanitized with 200 ppm quaternary ammonia sanitizer or 100 ppm chlorine. Employees were demonstrated the proper washing procedures. The utensils were rewashed accordingly (COS).
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Not critical (3)
Equipment in poor repair
The department's words
K35 Equipment, utensils: Approved, in good repair, adequate capacity
Two counter-top household fryers were observed back in the kitchen area to fry food products. [CA] The coffee shop does not have an exhaust hood to conduct frying and cooking of food products. Therefore, cease and desist such operation and remove the equipment from the facility
Pests seen inside: drain flies
The department's words
K23 No rodents, insects, birds, or animals
Repeated violation: Multiple drain flies were observed in the preparation area and some in the front dining area. [CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method. A household fly trap was installed above the food preparation counter. [CA] Cease and desist installing such traps in the facility.
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
There are holes on the ceiling above the front preparation table and one above the walk-in cooler back in the kitchen area. [CA] The holes on the ceiling and on the wall must be sealed.
EarlierFeb 5, 2026Routine inspection69 out of 100 (Yellow placard)
8 violations listed, 2 marked critical.
Critical (2)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Employees were observed washing dishes in the three compartment warewash sink without any sanitizer. [CA] Whenever utensils, equipment, and food contact surfaces are cleaned, they need to be washed with soapy water, rinse with clean water, and sanitized with 200 ppm quaternary ammonia sanitizer or 100 ppm chlorine. Employees were demonstrated the proper washing procedures. The utensils were rewashed accordingly (COS). Repeated violation: Heavy slim buildup was observed inside the ice machine’s internal part. [CA] Clean the internal part of the ice machine immediately.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
The department's words
K06 Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible
There were no paper towel and soap supplies on one of the handwash sinks located in the kitchen. [CA] Provide soap and paper towel supplies for the handwash immediately. The person in charge refilled the supplies (COS).
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Not critical (6)
Shelves and surfaces need cleaning
The department's words
K33 Nonfood contact surfaces clean
One of the vent in one of the restroom is detached from the wall. There also is an abundant dust accumulation on the restroom’s exhaust vent. [CA] Conduct a regular cleaning of the exhaust vent.
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Multiple wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters. [CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach).
The department's words
K07 Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
Some potentially hazardous foods stored on the preparation fridge, including diced tomato and roasted beef were measured between 45°F and 50 °F. [CA] All potentially hazardous foods like meat, seafood, poultry, dairy products, cooked vegetables, cooked cereals, greens, and diced tomatoes shall always be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. Please monitor the temperature and use of the refrigeration unit regularly
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
There is a missing screen cover for the make-up air duct located back in the kitchen. There also is a hole on the wall above the walk-in cooler as well. [CA] Replace the missing screen cover. The large holes on the roof/ceiling panels must also be covered.
Pests seen inside: drain flies
The department's words
K23 No rodents, insects, birds, or animals
Multiple drain flies were observed in the preparation area and some in the front dining area. [CA] Eliminate all insects and rodents from the facility by a legal method.
Show 1 more
Eating or drinking in a food area
The department's words
K04 Proper eating, tasting, drinking, tobacco use
Employees working in the back in the kitchen area was observed eating while preparing food. [CA] Employees may only drink or eat in designated areas. If employees must drink in the food preparation area, they must use covered cup container with a straw. Their drinks must also be stored in designated areas to prevent possible contamination.
EarlierMay 22, 2025Routine inspection87 out of 100 (Green placard)
6 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (6)
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Some slim buildup was observed inside the ice machine’s internal part. [CA] Clean the internal part of the ice machine immediately.
Signs posted; last inspection report available
The department's words
K47 Signs posted; last inspection report available
Current Environmental Health permit was not posted on public view. [CA] The most current Environmental Health permit must be posted on public view at all the time.
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Repeated violation: Couple of wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters. [CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach).
Dish sink or dish machine not set up right
The department's words
K34 Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
Repeated violation: There is no approved sanitizer measuring strip to measure the concentration of the chemicals used to sanitize dishes and utensils in the facility. [CA] Provide approved sanitizer measuring strips for the chemicals used in sanitizing utensils. equipment, and food contact surfaces.
Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed
The department's words
K36 Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use
Repeated violation: Boxes of single use and other utensils were stored on the floor back in the storage area. [CA] For easy floor cleaning and to prevent insect/rodent infestation and hiding, store all utensils/equipment at least six inches off the floor on approved shelf/dunnage rack at all the time.
Show 1 more
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
Repeated violation: There is a gap between the walk-in cooler and the ceiling panel located above it. There are some large holes on the ceiling panel as well. [CA] Seal the gap between the cooler and the the roof. The large holes on the roof/ceiling panels must also be covered.
Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health. This is the department's data, not CleanCleaver's. See the department's full record (opens the department's site)
What you can do
As a customer of Arome Cafe, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right Read the free guide
- Pests seen inside: drain flies Read the free guide
- Food on the floor or under drips Read the free guide
- Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer Read the free guide
- Equipment in poor repair In CleanCleaver: Look over the equipment; report anything broken
- Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food Read the free guide
Call Arome Cafe
Ask for the manager. Arome Cafe can only fix what it knows about.
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Complain directly to the health department
We are not the health department. You can report to them on their site. Report to County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health (opens the department's site)
When regulars speak up kindly and kitchens fix things, the whole neighborhood eats well. Now you know what the inspector found, and what you can do about it.
About this record
Opens the county's own page for this place.
Most people don't know what a normal result looks like for a place that's open every day. The ranges use each place's last routine inspection in this area. No other county is mixed in.
100 means the inspector found no problems. Santa Clara County takes points off for each problem. Big ones take off more.
The county posts a green, yellow or red placard after each inspection, and gives routine inspections a score. In the county's data, a routine inspection with no violations listed scored 100, and the score drops as violations are found. The county's page does not say which scores or findings give each color: ask the department.
- Inspection type
- Routine inspection
- Result
- 76 out of 100 (Green placard)
- Source
- County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
This is not an official ranking or grade. See the official source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health (opens the department's site) .
Information on this page may be out of date. Check the original source to confirm.