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BEN-BEN RESTAURANT

697 SOMERSET ST W OTTAWA ON K1R 6P5 · Food Safety

Official record from Ottawa →

Inspection summary

BEN-BEN RESTAURANT has been inspected 12 times by Ottawa Public Health since February 14, 2024. The most recent inspection, on September 8, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

2 of 12 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 16 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on September 8, 2026. For example: The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.

  • 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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on August 19, 2026. For example: Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 19, 2026. For example: Racks, shelves or pallets used for food storage must be designed to protect the food from contamination and must be readily cleanable.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 11, 2026. For example: Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.

  • 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 May 22, 2025. For example: Toxic and poisonous substances required for maintenance of sanitary conditions are kept separate from food, in containers bearing a label and used in a manner that does not contaminate the food.

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.

12 inspections

  1. Complaint

    1 infraction

    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
  2. Follow-up

    3 infractions

    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Protect the food premise against the entry of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the breeding of pests.
      • Maintain records of all pest control measures that are undertaken in the premise.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept in a sanitary condition so as to prevent contamination of food.
    • Operators of a food premise shall ensure that food handlers in the food premise practice good personal hygiene.
      • Food handlers must wear clean outer garments.
      • Food handlers shall take reasonable precautions to ensure that food is not contaminated by hair.
  3. Required

    6 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • Provide an adequate number of hand washing stations that are maintained and kept adequately supplied and that are situated for convenient access by food handlers.
      • The hand washing stations must be used only for the hand washing of employees.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Protect the food premise against the entry of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the breeding of pests.
      • Maintain records of all pest control measures that are undertaken in the premise.
      • Retain records of the pest control measures undertaken in the food premise for at least one year after the are made.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept in a sanitary condition so as to prevent contamination of food.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
    • 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.
    • Racks, shelves or pallets used for food storage must be designed to protect the food from contamination and must be readily cleanable.
    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
  4. Complaint

    3 infractions

    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept in a sanitary condition so as to prevent contamination of food.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
  5. Required

    3 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept in a sanitary condition so as to prevent contamination of food.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
  6. Required

    1 infraction

    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Protect the food premise against the entry of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
  7. Required

    1 infraction

    • Toxic and poisonous substances required for maintenance of sanitary conditions are kept separate from food, in containers bearing a label and used in a manner that does not contaminate the food.
      • Keep toxic and poisonous substances in a container that bears a label on which the contents of the container are clearly identified.
  8. Required

    0 infractions

  9. Routine inspection

    2 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • In compliance. Hand washing stations provided and adequately supplied.
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
  10. Follow-up inspection

    0 infractions

  11. Routine inspection

    4 infractions

    • Mechanical dishwashers are constructed, designed and maintained to provide clean wash water at the proper temperature, and a sanitizing rinse.
      • Provide a mechanical dishwasher constructed, designed and maintained to provide a sanitizing rinse using a clean chlorine solution of not less than 100 parts per million.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
    • 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.
  12. Routine inspection

    3 infractions

    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
    • 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.

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