SUMMIT CAFE
1601 LOWER WATER, HALIFAX · Food Establishment
Inspection summary
SUMMIT CAFE has been inspected 7 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since November 7, 2024. The most recent inspection, on May 25, 2026, found no infractions.
3 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 5 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.
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.
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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 27, 2026. For example:
29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
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 April 27, 2026. For example:
19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator: (b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
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 April 27, 2026. For example:
33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.
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 once on November 7, 2024. For example:
48(1) An operator must ensure that all food is stored and transported under conditions that do all of the following: a) protect the food from contamination, b) provide an environment that adequately controls contamination, c) protect the food from damage likely to make the food inedible.
Permits, records and postingLower risk
Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.
Recorded once on November 24, 2025. For example:
9(a) An operator must renew a permit, other than a temporary permit, on or before the expiry date by submitting a completed renewal application to the Minister on a form approved by the Administrator together with all of the following: (a) the applicable fee prescribed in Section 5;
About this data
These results come from Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program), 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.
7 inspections
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
4 infractions
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Ensure hand sink remains empty at all times and utilized for hand washing only.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- A deep clean is required of kitchen area and front cash area.
- 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.
- Obtain a probe thermometer for internal temperature monitoring of food items.
- 33(2) The operator must ensure that all refrigeration and heat-holding equipment has a temperature measuring device that is accurate and in good repair.
- In accordance with Section 4.1.11 of the Nova Scotia Food Services and Food Retail Code, you must: have a functioning thermometer(s) on all heating and cooling equipment
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 9(a) An operator must renew a permit, other than a temporary permit, on or before the expiry date by submitting a completed renewal application to the Minister on a form approved by the Administrator together with all of the following:
(a) the applicable fee prescribed in Section 5;
- Renew facility's Eating Establishment Permit
- 9(a) An operator must renew a permit, other than a temporary permit, on or before the expiry date by submitting a completed renewal application to the Minister on a form approved by the Administrator together with all of the following:
(a) the applicable fee prescribed in Section 5;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- General cleaning required inside cupboards, inside dry food storage area by cash and under grill area in kitchen.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- Observed access to hand sink blocked by strainer. Strainer was moved during inspection. Ensure hand sink remains empty at all times to allow for adequate hand washing.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- No food-grade sanitizer prepared/available. Household bleach was available on-site to prepare bleach solution. Ensure a food-grade sanitizer is available at all times for sanitizing food-contact surfaces.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Clean and disinfect all areas affected by rodent droppings.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Cleaning is required under/behind equipment, including under convection oven and under grill area.
- 48(1) An operator must ensure that all food is stored and transported under conditions that do all of the following:
a) protect the food from contamination,
b) provide an environment that adequately controls contamination,
c) protect the food from damage likely to make the food inedible.
- Raw meat observed stored in refrigerator above ready-to-eat food items. Ensure raw meat is always stored on bottom shelf of refrigerator.
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
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