Rico's Restaurant
866 Mohawk Rd. E, Hamilton ON L8T 2R5 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
Rico's Restaurant has been inspected 20 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since October 14, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 18, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
11 of 20 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Food temperature control and Cleaning and sanitizing.
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 11 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on August 18, 2026. For example:
Food protected from contamination or adulteration
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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on March 25, 2026. For example:
Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
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 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on November 19, 2025. For example:
Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 18, 2026. 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 July 11, 2023. 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.
20 inspections
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- 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 floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
- Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Displayed food must be enclosed in a manner to prevent contamination
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
5 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests
- Provide tightly sealed entrances and / or screened entrances to prevent the entry of insects, birds, rodents, and other pests
- 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
- Provide adequate refrigerated space for hazardous food storage
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Complaint
0 infractions
- Complaint
0 infractions
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- 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
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Maintain ventilation system to ensure elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests
- Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
- Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
- Ensure manual dishwashing includes the three steps: wash, rinse, and sanitize
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
- 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
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Routine Inspection
7 infractions
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
- 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
- Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
- Store toxic/poisonous substances in compartment away from food or food working surfaces or utensils
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Cover all food in storage
- Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
- Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Routine Inspection
3 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 ceilings are kept clean and in good repair
- Ensure walls 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 are cleaned and sanitized
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Cover all food in storage
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
6 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
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Equip sanitary facility with a supply of toilet paper
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
- Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
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