Bistro 238
9 1413 King St E, Courtice ON L1E 2J6 · Food Safety Inspections
Inspection summary
Bistro 238 has been inspected 6 times by Durham Region Health Department since December 20, 2024. The most recent inspection, on July 29, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.
1 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 7 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Chemicals and toxic substances and Handwashing and staff hygiene.
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.
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 July 29, 2026. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 19, 2026. For example:
Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
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 April 25, 2025. For example:
Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels
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 once on July 29, 2026. For example:
Food protected from potential contamination and/or adulteration
Equipment and utensilsLower risk
Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 29, 2026. For example:
Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
About this data
These results come from Durham Region Health Department, 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.
6 inspections
- Routine
3 infractions
- Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
- * Fail to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Potentially hazardous foods observed at an internal temperature above 4° C (40°F)
- Operator to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
- Food protected from potential contamination and/or adulteration
- * Observed raw foods stored above cooked / ready-to-eat foods
- Operator to ensure cooked and ready-to-eat foods are separated and above raw foods when handled or stored
- Operator to ensure all foods are covered in storage
- Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
- * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are in clean and in good repair
- Operator to adjust or repair the malfunctioning cooler immediately. Do not store any potentially hazardous foods in the malfunctioning unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4° C or lower
- Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
- Routine
3 infractions
- Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
- * Fail to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Potentially hazardous foods observed at an internal temperature above 4° C (40°F)
- Operator to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
- Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
- * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
- Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
- Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
- * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are in clean and in good repair
- Operator to adjust or repair the malfunctioning cooler immediately. Do not store any potentially hazardous foods in the malfunctioning unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4° C or lower
- Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
- Routine
1 infraction
- Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
- * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
- Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
- Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
- Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine
2 infractions
- Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels
- * Fail to provide hot and cold water for hand washing in food preparation area
- Operator to ensure hand washing basins are adequately supplied
- Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
- * Fail to provide sufficient detergent, chemicals, or required water temperatures for washing and sanitizing
- Hot water sanitizer must be at 82°C or greater for at least 10 seconds
- Operator to ensure the appropriate chemicals and/or temperatures are used for proper washing and sanitizing
- Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels
- Routine
1 infraction
- Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels
- * Fail to provide hot and cold water for hand washing in food preparation area
- Operator to ensure hand washing basins are adequately supplied
- Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels
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