Heavy Metal Sausage Co., the South Philly charcuterie and sandwich shop on Porter Street, has suspended all indoor dining after city health inspectors found 10 violations requiring corrective action during an Aug. 21 visit.
The shop remains open for takeout and meat orders Thursday through Sunday, but lunch seating, trattoria dinners and all reservations have been paused indefinitely while owner Pat Alfiero and his team work with the city on compliance fixes.
Basement prep, ventilation among 10 violations
Inspectors from the Department of Licenses and Inspections arrived early in the afternoon and stayed more than three hours, Philadelphia Magazine’s Foobooz reported. The inspection report detailed problems ranging from minor issues, like improperly labeled containers of beef tallow, to major ones: unlicensed food prep in the basement, a lack of handwashing sinks and cooks working on electric burners without adequate ventilation.
Inspectors also flagged mouse droppings behind equipment, improper glove use and storage not elevated off the floor. Four of the 10 violations were corrected on the spot, such as relocating cleaning supplies and mop buckets. The remaining fixes will require new equipment, construction and extensive paperwork.
Alfiero says shop is ‘still going to be here’
Alfiero responded on Reddit after the news circulated in the r/Philadelphiaeats community, writing that the health department “has changed their opinion on our bathroom being for customer use” after approving dine-in for four years…