AFRICAN BBQ HOUSE
491 SOMERSET ST W OTTAWA ON K1R 5W5 · Food Safety
Inspection summary
AFRICAN BBQ HOUSE has been inspected 7 times by Ottawa Public Health since May 8, 2025. The most recent inspection, on July 16, 2026, found no infractions.
3 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Chemicals and toxic substances.
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.
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 15, 2026. For example:
Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
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 2 times on July 15, 2026. For example:
Multi-service utensils shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk
Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.
Recorded once on June 11, 2025. For example:
Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk
Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.
Recorded 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 15, 2026. For example:
Every food premise shall be provided with hot and cold running water under pressure.
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 15, 2026. For example:
Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
About this data
These results come from Ottawa Public Health, 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.
7 inspections
- Follow-up
0 infractions
- Required
6 infractions
- Every food premise shall be provided with hot and cold running water under pressure.
- Provide hot and cold running water under pressure in areas where food is processed, prepared or manufactured or where utensils are cleaned.
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
- In compliance. Hand washing stations provided and adequately supplied.
- The ventilation system is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke and excessive heat.
- Maintain the ventilation system in a manner that it eliminates odours, fumes, vapours, and smoke.
- Multi-service utensils shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
- The surfaces of equipment and facilities other than utensils that come in direct contact with food are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary condition.
- Clean and sanitize the surfaces of equipment and facilities as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary conditions.
- Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
- Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
- Failure to comply may result in legal action.
- Every food premise shall be provided with hot and cold running water under pressure.
- Required
0 infractions
- Follow-up
0 infractions
- Required
3 infractions
- The ventilation system is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke and excessive heat.
- Every food premise ensures that sanitary facilities are maintained in accordance with the design, construction and installation requirements in Ontario Regulation 332/12, is properly equipped and in good repair.
- Keep every sanitary facility sanitary, properly equipped and in good repair.
- Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
- Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
- Required
2 infractions
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
- Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
- Required
1 infraction
- A person giving notice of an intention to commence to operate a food premise to the medical officer of health under subsection 16(2) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act shall include his or her name, contact information and the location of the food premise in the notice.
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