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1515 Brown Barrel Tap & Grill

1515 Upper Ottawa St, Hamilton ON L8W 3E2 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

1515 Brown Barrel Tap & Grill has been inspected 18 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since July 21, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 20, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

4 of 18 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 6 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 13 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on August 20, 2026. For example: Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 13 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on June 16, 2025. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on November 12, 2025. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on November 12, 2025. For example: Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded once on March 25, 2026. For example: Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests

About this data

These results come from City of Hamilton Public Health Services, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

18 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
  2. Complaint

    0 infractions

  3. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
  5. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
  7. Routine Inspection

    7 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Single service containers and articles kept free from contamination
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Remove all materials not associated with the daily operation of the premises
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
      • Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
  8. Re-inspection

    3 infractions

    • Operator ensured the results of any inspection conducted by a public health inspector are posted in accordance with the inspector's request
      • Post disclosure sign in a location visible by patrons.
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
  9. Routine Inspection

    5 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Maintain ventilation system in manner not permitting health hazard
      • Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Thaw all hazardous foods maintaining a temperature of 4°C (40°F) or less
  10. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
  11. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Maintain ventilation system in manner not permitting health hazard
      • Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
  12. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
  13. Routine Inspection

    5 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Maintain ventilation system to ensure elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
  14. Routine Inspection

    5 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are of sound and tight construction
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are corrosion-resistant and non-toxic
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
  15. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are corrosion-resistant and non-toxic
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
  16. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
  17. Routine Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area
      • Maintain hand washing stations with adequate supplies
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure ventilation system/exhaust hood/filters/canopy is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store and handle ice in a sanitary manner
      • Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
  18. Routine Inspection

    0 infractions

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