BISTRO EAST
274 ST GEORGE, ANNAPOLIS ROYAL · Food Establishment
Inspection summary
BISTRO EAST has been inspected 10 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since December 6, 2023. The most recent inspection, on August 4, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
3 of 10 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 6 inspections with 12 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Protecting food from contamination and Cleaning and sanitizing.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on July 8, 2026. For example:
19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator: (b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 19, 2025. For example:
27(d) A food establishment must develop and demonstrate policies and procedures for personnel that ensure that a person entering a food handling area or engaging in an operation in a food establishment who comes into contact with food meets all of the following: (d) the person washes their hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food;
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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 19, 2025. For example:
29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
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 December 19, 2025. For example:
19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following: (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
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 once on December 6, 2023. For example:
33(2) The operator must ensure that all refrigeration and heat-holding equipment has a temperature measuring device that is accurate and in good repair.
About this data
These results come from Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program), 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.
10 inspections
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 24(1) Food establishments must provide equipment or containers to hold and handle liquid and solid wastes and recyclables.
- Obtain proper bins and/or dumpster to hold garbage and recyclables between collection days.
- 24(1) Food establishments must provide equipment or containers to hold and handle liquid and solid wastes and recyclables.
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Ensure paper towel dispenser are available at all handwash sinks and paper towel is placed inside the dispensers.
- 24(1) Food establishments must provide equipment or containers to hold and handle liquid and solid wastes and recyclables.
- Obtain proper bins and/or dumpster to hold garbage and recyclables between collection days.
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Ensure paper towel dispenser are available at all handwash sinks and paper towel is placed inside the dispensers.
- 24(1) Food establishments must provide equipment or containers to hold and handle liquid and solid wastes and recyclables.
- Obtain proper bins and/or dumpster to hold garbage and recyclables between collection days.
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 88 A person to whom a permit is issued shall comply with all terms and conditions of the permit.
- In accordance with Section 88 of the Health Protection Act, you must comply with all terms and conditions of the Food Establishment permit, including (but not limited to) the following: A food safety permit renewal form for an eating establishment must be submitted on or before the expiry date of the of the permit. Ensure the food safety permit is renewed.
- 9(a) An operator must renew a permit, other than a temporary permit, on or before the expiry date by submitting a completed renewal application to the Minister on a form approved by the Administrator together with all of the following:
(a) the applicable fee prescribed in Section 5;
- Ensure permit is renewed. Renewal notice left on-site.
- 88 A person to whom a permit is issued shall comply with all terms and conditions of the permit.
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
- In accordance with Section 2.4.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure all floors are durable, easily cleanable and non-slip. Tiles in kitchen and behind the bar must be replaced. If left uncorrected a critical violation will be issued and a follow-up inspection needed.
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- No paper towel in the kitchen's handwashing only station. Paper towel was replaced.
- 27(d) A food establishment must develop and demonstrate policies and procedures for personnel that ensure that a person entering a food handling area or engaging in an operation in a food establishment who comes into contact with food meets all of the following:
(d) the person washes their hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food;
- Ensure proper hygiene practices are in place. During the inspection an employee was observed touching their nose and face and not washing their hands. Ensure the staff washroom is not being used as the kitchen's handwashing station. After returning from the washroom an employee must wash their hands.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- In accordance with Section 4.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure non-food contact surfaces of equipment must be cleaned at a frequency that will prevent the accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue and other debris. General cleaning needed in the following area but not limited to: inside the ventilation canopy.
- 9(a) An operator must renew a permit, other than a temporary permit, on or before the expiry date by submitting a completed renewal application to the Minister on a form approved by the Administrator together with all of the following:
(a) the applicable fee prescribed in Section 5;
- Ensure permit is renewed. Renewal notice left on-site.
- 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 19(1)(a) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(a) that the risk of contaminating the food is minimized;
- In accordance with Section 2.3 and Section 2.4.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must keep all floors, walls and ceilings in food preparation, processing and storage areas in good repair. A part of the ceiling/hole on top of the food preparation area must be fixed.
- 8(2) A permit must be posted in a conspicuous location in the food establishment.
- Food permit must be posted on a conspicuous location within the food premises.
- 19(1)(a) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(a) that the risk of contaminating the food is minimized;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 19(1)(a) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(a) that the risk of contaminating the food is minimized;
- In accordance with Section 2.17 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure all exterior openings are protected against the entry of pests. Large window inside the kitchen MUST be screened.
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- All the handwashing stations must be adequately equipped with a sufficient supply of paper towels.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- In accordance with Section 4.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure non-food contact surfaces of equipment must be cleaned at a frequency that will prevent the accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue and other debris. Fume hood must be cleaned. To accomplish this jobs must be undertaken by professional companies/staff.
- 33(2) The operator must ensure that all refrigeration and heat-holding equipment has a temperature measuring device that is accurate and in good repair.
- In accordance with Section 4.1.11 of the Nova Scotia Food Services and Food Retail Code, you must: have a functioning thermometer(s) on all heating and cooling equipment; and calibrate all thermometers routinely and maintain calibration logs.
- 8(2) A permit must be posted in a conspicuous location in the food establishment.
- 19(1)(a) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(a) that the risk of contaminating the food is minimized;
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