A-1 BBQ Family Restaurant
1435 Main St E, Hamilton ON L8K 1C4 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
A-1 BBQ Family Restaurant has been inspected 17 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since March 4, 2022. The most recent inspection, on July 27, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.
2 of 17 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 11 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Pests and Cleaning and sanitizing.
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.
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 10 separate inspections, most recently on July 27, 2026. For example:
Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
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 9 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on July 27, 2026. For example:
Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 20, 2025. For example:
Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 21, 2024. For example:
Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
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 once on October 21, 2024. For example:
Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
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.
17 inspections
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
4 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
- 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
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Contact licensed pest control operator for insect / rodent / pest treatment and control
- Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
- Provide tightly sealed entrances and / or screened entrances to prevent the entry of insects, birds, rodents, and other pests
- 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
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- 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
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Re-inspection
1 infraction
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Routine Inspection
9 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
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
- Food in storage protected from contamination
- Routine Inspection
5 infractions
- 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
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- 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
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests
- Contact licensed pest control operator for insect / rodent / pest treatment and control
- Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
- Certified food handler present in the food service premise
- Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- 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
- Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Thaw all hazardous foods maintaining a temperature of 4°C (40°F) or less
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Maintain ventilation system in manner not permitting health hazard
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- 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 floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
- Single service containers and articles kept free from contamination
- Maintain single service containers and articles free from contamination
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Maintain and arrange furniture to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Maintain and arrange appliances to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Remove all materials not associated with the daily operation of the premises
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests
- Contact licensed pest control operator for insect / rodent / pest treatment and control
- Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
- 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
- Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
- Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Maintain sanitary facility clean and in good repair
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Maintain and arrange appliances to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
1 infraction
- 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
- Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
- Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
- Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
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