Happy Donuts Is Back - Noe Valley Breathes Sigh of Relief

Y'all won't believe just how many people have contacted us about the status of Happy Donuts over the last couple months. Noe Valley's favorite 24/7 food purveyor closed in December with a promised opening date 2 weeks later. That was extended another 2 weeks. And then the signs disappeared after they failed a DBI inspection, prompting fear that they wouldn't reopen. Today we're happy to announce that you can once again get your 24 hour sugar high--Happy Donuts opened last night.

Happy Donuts is back, totally open, and selling donuts again. It’s a good day in #noevalley. /cc @NoeValleySF pic.twitter.com/BsUXDslnhA
— Jenn Deering Davis (@jdeeringdavis) March 3, 2015

We assumed they closed for necesarry upgrades, cleaning or to install a fancy new marble counter. We didn't look for permit issues until the opening soon signs came down and the donuts were still MIA. We weren't the only ones curious. Neighbor Chris sent this today:

...It was a sudden development--one day the doors were locked, there was brown craft paper covering the windows, and a sign that said they were closed for "renovations". My wife & I thought this was dubious and just yesterday they reopened with zero renovations (that I could tell).

A quick search of SFDPH's food inspection database revealed a health score of 65 on 12/23/14 from a routine unscheduled inspection. (Any score below 70 is "poor" and a high risk.) They scored a 94 from a subsequent inspection on 2/6/14.

The idea that they were forced to close is a good theory. The DBI permit issued in October describes the project as a "Change of ownership upgrades required by SFDPH. Interior remodel." That permit has not been signed off on, FWIW. The plumbing permit issued in December indicates ADA upgrades to the bathroom and other kitchen upgrades. Neither permit address the non-ADA compliant step to get inside the shop. Alex confirms some updates:

@jdeeringdavis @NoeValleySF new bathrooms and therefore kitchens. As long as #2 is there all good
— Alex Norton (@testaroscia) March 3, 2015

Which is all good. But what people really want to know:

@ktopenn @NoeValleySF Looked almost identical to me! Doughnuts tasted the same too.
— Jenn Deering Davis (@jdeeringdavis) March 3, 2015

[Photo: @jdeeringdavis]

This Week In Noe Valley: Maggots At Whole Foods, Judgemental Maps, And Springtime Fun

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Maggots at the Noe Valley Whole Foods meat dept; cleared by the DPH [KRON4]
• San Francisco reflected in puddles – gorgeous [The Bold Italic]
• Composite aerial map of San Francisco in 1938 [David Rumsey]
• The NV library will now be open 7 days a week [City Insider]
• Ana Kamin’s Noe Valley guide on Steller [Fluxi on Tour]
• Mission group really doesn’t want to become like Noe Valley – or Valencia St. [SF Gate]
• The San Francisco map that everyone will hate [Judgemental Maps]
• Followed by the SF Stereotype Map and the Judgemental SF Map 1860s Edition [Burrito Justice]
• Spring through the eyes of a local photographer [Cindy Loughridge]
• Noe Valley Pet Co’s 15th Birthday on May 10: "A Quincinera party w/pinata of dog treats!" [@omnivorebooks]
• What the...? Mother nature window display on Vine [Tapata]
• A thought-provoking perspective on the gentrification of SF from a progressive who’s evicted tenants [SF Magazine]

[Photo: via Chrissaulx]

This Week In Noe Valley: The Best And Worst Of Noe Valley Dining, And Real Estate Now And Then

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• La Ciccia not only serves some of the best food around, they've got their priorities straight [7x7]
• An alarming health score posted in the window of Happy Donuts [freezybug]
• Anyone lose a dice costume? [robvsf]
• Home sellers continue to rule the market as the median price of a Noe Valley SFH stays above $1.5M. [Downing & Co.]
• But remember this? What renting/buying was like back in the day. [40 Going on 28]
• In adjusted dollars, it may be possible to get a deal like in 1990: check out these "cheap" Noe Valley homes. [Curbed]

[Photo: vivlahrs]

Doorstep Menus: Yummy House

San Francisco restaurants are required to post inspection scores where patrons can see them. But not all restaurants cater to eat-in customers - they do most of their business as take-out or delivery. Here we report inspection scores for restaurants leaving menus on Noe Valley doorsteps. We'll update the post for each eatery as new information becomes available.

Name: Yummy House
Address: 4829 Mission St

Current Score: 82/100 (December 2009)


Moderate Risk: Improper hot/cold holding temperatures; Foods not separated or protected
Low Risk: Floors, walls, ceilings improperly constructed, in disrepair, not clean; Improper food storage/Improper container ID; VERMIN - Rodents/Roaches/Flies; Improper storage: equipment, utensils, linens

Previous Inspections:

Aug 2009: 3/5 stars
Feb 2009: 3/5 stars
Aug 2008: 3/5 stars
Nov 2007: 4/5 stars

Getting a doorstep menu that we're not? Send us a picture of the menu and we'll post about it.

[Health Code: SB 180]
[SFDPH Scores: Environmental Health]
[Clean Scores: Yummy House]
[NVSF: All Doorstep Menu Posts]

Tung Sing: Shut Down by Health Department

When Tung Sign closed abruptly for a "kitchen remodel" we decided to investigate. Public records always provide a better explanation than a sign on the door.

A "complaintant" - presumably a neighbor - filed a report: "Complaintant hired a plumber to determine the source of a leak that is damaging inventory in basement. Plumber says it is coming from the common wall and occupants of 4015 refused access."

The building department detected "...seepage through basement foundation at 4011-24th St. Also at backyard. Dye tested, yellow-green, at 4015-24th St, back cottage, restaurant kitchen and bathrooms...Dye test is positive. Gave owner 1st [Notice of Violation]."

In other words? Leaking sewer pipe. To be fixed this week. Or so. Permit # PP20081017271 was issued 10/17 to "Replace a section of the sewer line that leaks due to wear & tear : Approx 40' & including 6 drainage outlets." They plan to open this Friday.

A recent inspection (6/23/08) detected no sewage leak so this must be a new thing. (Tung Sing's score is 90/100, with mostly low-risk problems since abated.)

Update (10/21): We spoke to one of the owners today and she said they will likely open later this week, pending inspections. Whatever the case may be, they've now scratched out the end date for the sign below.