Sam's Tavern
400 9th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
How the BiteKarma score works
Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.
The official rating comes from Public Health – Seattle & King County, which looks at the trend of the last few routine inspections, so it can differ from the BiteKarma score. The BiteKarma score works the same way in every city we cover.
At a glance
- Keeps coming up: Adequate handwashing facilities, cited 3 times, plus 3 other repeat issues.
- #59 in Seattle's Hall of Shame, among the lowest BiteKarma scores in the city.
- Passed 2 of 9 graded inspections since 2021.
- Last inspected Sep 10, 2026: failed with 1 violation, 1 critical.
- 10 critical violations in the last two years.
Inspection history 10 visits
- 2026
- Failed Sep 10
Return Inspection
1 violation, 1 critical
- Critical Adequate handwashing facilities
- Failed Aug 24
Routine Inspection
8 violations, 6 critical
- Critical Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
- Critical Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
- Critical Adequate handwashing facilities
- Critical Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria
- Critical PIC present, demonstrates knowledge and performs duties to maintain AMC; certified manager on staff unless exempt
- Critical Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods
- Minor Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Minor Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- Visit Jun 11
Educational Inspection
- 2025
- Failed Nov 24
Routine Inspection
2 violations, 1 critical
- Critical Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45°F (7°C)
- Minor Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
Nearby
BiteKarma scores around Sam's Tavern, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.