HOT DOG CHARLIE'S-REN.
150 COLUMBIA STREET, RENSSELAER, NY 12144 · Restaurant (Restaurant)
Inspection summary
HOT DOG CHARLIE'S-REN. has been inspected 29 times by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) since December 15, 2000. The most recent inspection, on March 5, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
20 of 29 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Pests and Chemicals and toxic substances.
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on December 28, 2017. For example:
Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 5, 2026. For example:
Premises littered, unnecessary equipment and article present, living quarters no completely separated for food service operations, live animals, birds and pets not excluded
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 December 28, 2017. For example:
Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk
Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 4, 2016. For example:
Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
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 once on September 26, 2014. For example:
Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
About this data
These results come from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), 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.
29 inspections
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 15C: Premises littered, unnecessary equipment and article present, living quarters no completely separated for food service operations, live animals, birds and pets not excluded
- Not Critical Violation
- 15C: Premises littered, unnecessary equipment and article present, living quarters no completely separated for food service operations, live animals, birds and pets not excluded
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 14B: Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof contruction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin
- Not Critical Violation
- 14B: Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof contruction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Not Critical Violation
- 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 16: Miscellaneous, Economic Violation, Choking Poster, Training.
- Not Critical Violation
- 16: Miscellaneous, Economic Violation, Choking Poster, Training.
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
3 infractions
- 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Not Critical Violation
- 4A: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
- Critical Violation
- 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Critical Violation
- 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 1D: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
- Critical Violation
- 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Critical Violation
- 1D: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 8A: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Not Critical Violation
- 8B: In use food dispensing utensils improperly stored
- Not Critical Violation
- 8A: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Inspection
3 infractions
- 4A: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
- Critical Violation
- 8A: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Not Critical Violation
- 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Not Critical Violation
- 4A: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 1D: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
- Critical Violation
- 1D: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
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