Growling Gator Bar & Grill
86 Main St W, Grand Bend ON N0M 1T0 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
Growling Gator Bar & Grill has been inspected 2 times by Lambton Public Health since July 24, 2025. The most recent inspection, on August 20, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
None of the 2 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.
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 once on August 20, 2026. For example:
Re-heat hazardous food to its original cooking temperature within 2 hours.
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 24, 2025. For example:
Food is protected from potential contamination (i.e. food covered, labelled, off floor, stored on racks, sneeze guard, physical hazards).
Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk
Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.
Recorded once on August 20, 2026. For example:
Mechanical ventilation is operable where required.
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded once on July 24, 2025. For example:
A separate hand washing basin that is easily accessible is provided for food handlers.
About this data
These results come from Lambton 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.
2 inspections
- Required
2 infractions
- Re-heat hazardous food to its original cooking temperature within 2 hours.
- Fail to ensure that hot holding units (i.e. steam tables, crock pots, heat lamps) are not used to re-heat food.
- Mechanical ventilation is operable where required.
- Fail to ensure ventilation system is clean; grease accumulation was observed.
- Re-heat hazardous food to its original cooking temperature within 2 hours.
- Required
2 infractions
- Food is protected from potential contamination (i.e. food covered, labelled, off floor, stored on racks, sneeze guard, physical hazards).
- Fail to cover or enclose all food in storage or on display with a food grade cover.
- A separate hand washing basin that is easily accessible is provided for food handlers.
- Fail to ensure hand washing basin is used for hand washing purposes only.
- Food is protected from potential contamination (i.e. food covered, labelled, off floor, stored on racks, sneeze guard, physical hazards).
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