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Steve's Open Kitchen

149 James St S, Hamilton ON L8P 2Z5 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

Steve's Open Kitchen has been inspected 8 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since September 21, 2022. The most recent inspection, on April 30, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.

None of the 8 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 4 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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 8 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on April 30, 2026. For example: Food protected from contamination or adulteration

  • 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 April 30, 2026. For example: Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred

  • 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 February 7, 2024. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

  • 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 on September 21, 2022. For example: Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less

  • 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 26, 2024. 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.

8 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
    • 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
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred
      • Clean and sanitize multi-service articles after each use and as often as necessary
      • Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces or equipment as often as necessary
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
      • Handle raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods, on separate preparation surfaces, and with separate utensils to prevent contamination
      • Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
  2. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Illumination maintained in food premise as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
      • Fail to provide required illumination during all hours of operation
  3. Routine Inspection

    3 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
    • Illumination maintained in food premise as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
      • Fail to provide required illumination during all hours of operation
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
  4. Routine Inspection

    5 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
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • 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
    • 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
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store and handle ice in a sanitary manner
  5. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food in storage protected from contamination
  6. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • Food in storage protected from contamination
      • Ensure racks, shelves or pallets are clean and designed to protect against contamination
  7. Routine Inspection

    5 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 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 in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Remove all materials not associated with the daily operation of the premises
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
      • Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
    • 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
  8. 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
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • 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
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Sanitary facilities maintained as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment

Nearby inspected facilities

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