East Side Mario's
1389 Upper James St, Hamilton ON L9B 1K2 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
East Side Mario's has been inspected 13 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since April 13, 2022. The most recent inspection, on July 10, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.
1 of 13 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 8 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.
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.
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 14 times across 12 separate inspections, most recently on July 10, 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on July 10, 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 22, 2026. For example:
Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
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 once on October 22, 2024. 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 October 10, 2024. 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.
13 inspections
- Routine 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
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Routine 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
- Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure ceilings 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 food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Complaint
3 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Maintain and arrange furniture to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Re-inspection
1 infraction
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors 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
- 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
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
- Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
- Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
- Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
1 infraction
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
- Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
- 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
- Ensure wash water is between 60°C and 71°C
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure ceilings are kept clean and in good repair
- Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
- Dispose of liquid waste in a sanitary manner
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
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