Ale House
802 1/2 Upper Gage Ave, Hamilton ON L8V 4K4 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
Ale House has been inspected 18 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since December 9, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 27, 2026, found no infractions.
7 of 18 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 15 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.
Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.
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 10 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on August 20, 2026. For example:
Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
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 9 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on August 20, 2026. 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2026. For example:
Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on August 20, 2026. For example:
Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
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 August 13, 2025. For example:
Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
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
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Re-inspection
3 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
- 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
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
- 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
- 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
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- 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 equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
- Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
- Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Ensure ice is made from potable water
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Re-inspection
2 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
- 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
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
9 infractions
- The premises is operated and maintained free from potential/immediate health hazards
- Maintain premise free from conditions that may, be a health hazard, adversely affecting the sanitary operation of the premises
- 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
- 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 equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
- 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
- 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
- Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
- Store toxic/poisonous substances in container bearing identifying labels
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
- Ensure food handlers confine hair while handling food
- The premises is operated and maintained free from potential/immediate health hazards
- 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
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
- Collect and remove garbage and waste as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions
- 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
- 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
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
1 infraction
- Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- 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 protected from contamination or adulteration
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
- Collect and remove garbage and waste as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Cover all food in storage
- Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
- Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
- Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer