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Kelsey's

1550 Upper James St, Hamilton ON L9B 2L6 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

Kelsey's has been inspected 28 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since March 23, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 21, 2026, found no infractions.

12 of 28 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 15 times across 12 separate inspections, most recently on July 7, 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 10 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on January 19, 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 8 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on August 19, 2025. For example: Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less

  • 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 7 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on July 30, 2024. For example: Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests

  • 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 August 19, 2025. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

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.

28 inspections

  1. Complaint

    0 infractions

  2. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
    • Food in storage protected from contamination
      • Ensure racks, shelves or pallets are clean and designed to protect against contamination
  3. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • 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
  4. Routine Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
  7. 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
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
  8. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  9. Complaint

    0 infractions

  10. Routine Inspection

    0 infractions

  11. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  12. Routine Inspection

    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
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
      • Collect and remove garbage and waste as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
      • Protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests
  13. Routine 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
  14. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  15. Routine Inspection

    8 infractions

    • The premises is operated and maintained free from potential/immediate health hazards
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
    • 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 hot water sanitizer is at 82°C or greater for at least 10 seconds
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
  16. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  17. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
  18. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  19. Re-inspection

    2 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
  20. Complaint

    2 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
  21. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  22. Routine Inspection

    9 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
    • Illumination maintained in food premise as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
  23. Complaint

    0 infractions

  24. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
  25. Re-inspection

    4 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
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
  26. Routine Inspection

    8 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
    • 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
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Iodine concentration must be at least 25 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
  27. Re-inspection

    3 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
  28. Routine Inspection

    6 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
    • Illumination maintained in food premise as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise

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