Skip to content
Loading map…

LA PERLA RESTAURANTE

204 JAMES STREET, UTICA, NY 13501 · Restaurant (Food Service Establishment)

Inspection summary

LA PERLA RESTAURANTE has been inspected 17 times by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) since October 3, 2000. The most recent inspection, on May 29, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

4 of 17 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 12 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2024. For example: Improper thawing procedures used

  • 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on October 27, 2023. 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 27, 2023. 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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on February 19, 2019. For example: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.

  • 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 October 27, 2023. 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.

17 inspections

  1. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15B: Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
      • Not Critical Violation
  2. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
      • Not Critical Violation
  3. Inspection

    8 infractions

    • 5C: Potentially hazardous foods are not stored under refrigeration except during necessary preparation or approved precooling procedures (room temperature storage).
      • Critical Violation
    • 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 5A: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or below 45�F during cold holding, except smoked fish not kept at or below 38�F during cold holding.
      • Critical Violation
    • 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • 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
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
  4. Inspection

    9 infractions

    • 8C: Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 14A: Insects, rodents present
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 14B: Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof contruction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 14C: Pesticide application not supervised by a certified applicator
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 2E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate potentially hazardous food temperatures during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding.
      • Critical Violation
    • 4A: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
      • Critical Violation
  5. Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 14C: Pesticide application not supervised by a certified applicator
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • 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
    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
  6. Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 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
  7. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 4A: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
      • Critical Violation
    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
  8. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
  9. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
      • Not Critical Violation
  10. Inspection

    0 infractions

  11. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 16: Miscellaneous, Economic Violation, Choking Poster, Training.
      • Not Critical Violation
  12. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
  13. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 1H: Food from unapproved source, spoiled, adulterated on premises.
      • Critical Violation
    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
  14. 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
  15. Inspection

    0 infractions

  16. Inspection

    0 infractions

  17. Inspection

    0 infractions

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website