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STARLING - APOTHECARY LOUNGE - YORK ON WILLIAM

54 YORK ST OTTAWA ON K1N 6Z9 · Food Safety

Inspection summary

STARLING - APOTHECARY LOUNGE - YORK ON WILLIAM has been inspected 8 times by Ottawa Public Health since May 30, 2024. The most recent inspection, on August 20, 2026, found no infractions.

4 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 12 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Chemicals and toxic substances and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 26, 2025. For example: Cloths and towels used for cleaning, drying or polishing utensils or cleaning food contact surfaces are in good repair, clean and used for no other purpose.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 9, 2026. For example: Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 9, 2026. For example: All food shall be protected from contamination and 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 26, 2025. For example: Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.

  • 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 once on May 30, 2024. For example: The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.

About this data

These results come from Ottawa 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.

8 inspections

  1. Required

    0 infractions

  2. Required

    4 infractions

    • All equipment, utensils and multi-service articles that are used for food preparation in the food premise are of sound and tight construction, in good repair and suitable for their intended use.
      • All the equipment, utensils and multi-service articles used in the food premise must be kept in good repair.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • The walls and ceilings of rooms and passageways must be readily cleaned and must be maintained in a sanitary condition.
    • Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
      • Use the approved other sanitizing agent in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
      • Provide a test reagent for determining the concentration of the other approved sanitizing agent where the sanitizing takes place.
    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
  3. Required

    8 infractions

    • All equipment, utensils and multi-service articles that are used for food preparation in the food premise are of sound and tight construction, in good repair and suitable for their intended use.
      • All the equipment, utensils and multi-service articles used in the food premise must be kept in good repair.
    • Cloths and towels used for cleaning, drying or polishing utensils or cleaning food contact surfaces are in good repair, clean and used for no other purpose.
      • Maintain cloths and towels used for cleaning, drying or polishing utensils or cleaning food contact surfaces in a clean condition.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
    • Multi-service utensils shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
      • Clean and sanitize multi-service articles after each use.
      • Clean and sanitize utensils other than multi-service articles as often as necessary to maintain them in a clean and sanitary condition.
    • The surfaces of equipment and facilities other than utensils that come in direct contact with food are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary condition.
      • Clean and sanitize the surfaces of equipment and facilities as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary conditions.
    • Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
      • Provide a test reagent for determining the concentration of the other approved sanitizing agent where the sanitizing takes place.
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
      • Keep potentially hazardous foods at an internal temperature of 60°C or higher.
    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
  4. Complaint

    0 infractions

  5. Required

    1 infraction

    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • The walls and ceilings of rooms and passageways must be readily cleaned and must be maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept in a sanitary condition so as to prevent contamination of food.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept free from materials and equipment not regularly used in the room.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
  6. Routine inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Follow-up inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Routine inspection

    6 infractions

    • All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
      • Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
      • Store and handle ice used in the processing of food or drink in a sanitary manner.
    • Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
      • Provide a test reagent for determining the concentration of the other approved sanitizing agent where the sanitizing takes place.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Protect the food premise against the entry of pests.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Every room in the premise where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept free from materials and equipment not regularly used in the room.
      • The floors, walls and ceilings of every room where food is prepared, processed, packaged, served, transported, manufactured, handled, sold, offered for sale or displayed must be kept clean and in good repair.
    • The surfaces of equipment and facilities other than utensils that come in direct contact with food are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary condition.
      • Clean and sanitize the surfaces of equipment and facilities as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary conditions.
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
      • Keep potentially hazardous foods at an internal temperature of 4°C (40°F) or lower.

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