Banyan Bar & Refuge
Last inspected: Feb 5, 2026
90
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Banyan Bar & Refuge stretching back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Feb 5, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around two violations each.
The pattern that stands out is “system maintained in good repair”, which has been cited four times.
Restaurants in Boston average 86, so Banyan Bar & Refuge is doing better than most peers. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 5, 2026
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
(a) ceasing operations and reporting (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC Liz Brown present Fire in kitchen overnight. Soot and damaged equipment at cookline. Loss of electricity to cookline refrigeration. All food affected by loss of power discarded by staff. Contact ISD Health when cleaning of hood and kitchen is complete Building Department has signed off on life safety equipment and ansul system has been reset.
590.008/8-404.11-PF
90
May 13, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths stored on counter in prep area. Store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution to prevent cross contamination.
590.003/3-304.14-C
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Damaged wall in basement paper goods storage area. Repair to prevent pests from entering.
590.006/6-501.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Sink at hand sink at bar with slow leak. Repair as needed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
86
Jul 12, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths on kitchen prep table. Store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution to prevent cross contamination
590.003/3-304.14-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Pipe for detergent to kitchen dish amchine leaks. Repair as needed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
90
Apr 23, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Daylight visible under back door. Install door sweep to prevent pests from entering
590.006/6-202.15-C
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Ceiling tiles missing and damaged in warewashing area. Replace as needed
590.006/6-501.11-C
90
Aug 21, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
(b) and (c) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (c)
Inspector notes: Interior of ice machine with heavy dust debri. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-601.11-C
95
Jul 20, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
(a )cooling methods (pf)
Inspector notes: Two 5 gallon deep plastic containers of bork belly braising liquid in walk-in cooler uncovered at 150F. One 5 gallon deep plastic container of Dan Dan sauce stored covered at 80F. Dan Dan is made with room temperature ingredients- no cooking. Spread out sauces and cool with ice baths to ensure rapid cooling to the correct temperature in the correct amount of time.
590.003/3-501.15-PF
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)
Inspector notes: Rat droppings outside around oil receptacle. Clean area and maintain.
590.005/5-501.115-C
86
Jun 1, 2022
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)
Inspector notes: Extensive rodent droppings around oil barrels propane enclosures and trash barrels. Clean and consult licensed pest control as needed.
590.005/5-501.115-C
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Excessive amounts of unused equipment behind establishment- Remove and clean
590.006/6-501.114-C
90
May 23, 2022
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Cooling (p)
Inspector notes: Trays of rice stacked in prep reach-in cooler at 66-74F. PIC tated rice was cooked previous day. Discarded by PIC. Cooling log provided via email. Discontinue stacking rice without properly cooling and monitoring temperature.
590.003/3-501.14-P
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Front of house staff filling water bottles for table service at hand sink. Discontinue using hand sink to fill water bottles. Use server station tap or prep sink.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (pf)
Inspector notes: Irreversible thermometer not functioning. Replace battery or unit as needed.
590.004/4-204.112-PF
Consumption of animal foods that are raw undercooked or not otherwise processed to eliminate pathogens (pf)
Inspector notes: Consumer advisory font is too small on menu. Multiple asterixes indicate vegan raw or undercook and gluten free. One symbol must represent raw or under cooked.
590.003/3-603.11-PF
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Excessive amounts of unused equipment behind establishment- Remove and clean
590.006/6-501.114-C
Intensity-lighting (c)
Inspector notes: Light out above warewashing station. Replace.
590.006/6-303.11-C
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)
Inspector notes: Extensive rodent droppings around oil barrels propane enclosures and trash barrels. Clean and consult licensed pest control as needed.
590.005/5-501.115-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Slow drain at garde manger station hand sink. Repair as needed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor under dish machine with soils. Floor under bar equipment with soils. Interior of garde manger cooler soiled. Basin of hand sink at garde manger soiled. Clean all areas and maintain clean.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Aluminum foil covering equipment at cook line. Discontinue covering equipment with foil to avoid possible contamination.
590.004/4-101.19-C
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Reduced oxygen packaged tuna thawing in refrigerator. Per package instructions tuna packaging needs to be pierce or removed prior to thawing.
590.003/3-501.13-C
45
May 16, 2022
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Cooling (p)
Inspector notes: Trays of rice stacked in prep reach-in cooler at 66-74F. PIC tated rice was cooked previous day. Discarded by PIC. Cooling log provided via email. Discontinue stacking rice without properly cooling and monitoring temperature.
590.003/3-501.14-P
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (pf)
Inspector notes: Irreversible thermometer not functioning. Replace battery or unit as needed.
590.004/4-204.112-PF
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Front of house staff filling water bottles for table service at hand sink. Discontinue using hand sink to fill water bottles. Use server station tap or prep sink.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
Consumption of animal foods that are raw undercooked or not otherwise processed to eliminate pathogens (pf)
Inspector notes: Consumer advisory font is too small on menu. Multiple asterixes indicate vegan raw or undercook and gluten free. One symbol must represent raw or under cooked.
590.003/3-603.11-PF
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Reduced oxygen packaged tuna thawing in refrigerator. Per package instructions tuna packaging needs to be pierce or removed prior to thawing.
590.003/3-501.13-C
Intensity-lighting (c)
Inspector notes: Light out above warewashing station. Replace.
590.006/6-303.11-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Aluminum foil covering equipment at cook line. Discontinue covering equipment with foil to avoid possible contamination.
590.004/4-101.19-C
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)
Inspector notes: Extensive rodent droppings around oil barrels propane enclosures and trash barrels. Clean and consult licensed pest control as needed.
590.005/5-501.115-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor under dish machine with soils. Floor under bar equipment with soils. Interior of garde manger cooler soiled. Basin of hand sink at garde manger soiled. Clean all areas and maintain clean.
590.004/4-602.13-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Slow drain at garde manger station hand sink. Repair as needed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Banyan Bar & Refuge last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Banyan Bar & Refuge on file is from Feb 5, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Banyan Bar & Refuge?
Across the inspection record, “system maintained in good repair” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Banyan Bar & Refuge.
How does Banyan Bar & Refuge compare to other restaurants in Boston?
Banyan Bar & Refuge most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Boston average of 86.
Has Banyan Bar & Refuge's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Banyan Bar & Refuge have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Banyan Bar & Refuge means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Banyan Bar & Refuge inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Banyan Bar & Refuge is inspected around two times per year on average.
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