Black Lamb
Last inspected: May 1, 2026
74
Score
Black Lamb appears in inspection records 10 times, starting in 2022. Black Lamb was last inspected on May 1, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around three violations lately and about five violations before that.
When inspectors have written things up, “nonfood contact surfaces” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Restaurants in Roxbury average 83, so Black Lamb trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
10
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 1, 2026
Routine
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
Preventing contamination from hands (p)
Inspector notes: Observed food employee shucking raw oysters with bare hands. Product voluntarily discarded. Worker washed hands donned new gloves and returned to work. COS.
590.003(C)/3-301.11-P
Backflow prevention (p)
Inspector notes: Culinary sink that does not have a seperation gap in the drain pipe underneath the sink. Consult a licensed plumber to install and provide a copy of ISD plumbing permit. Provide work ordersk scope of work and timeframe of completion upon re inspection.
590.005/5-402.11-P
74
Mar 12, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Backflow prevention (p)
Inspector notes: Foods being cooled using indirect ice contact ice bath in culinary sink that does not have a seperation gap in the drain pipe underneath the sink. Consult a licensed plumber to install and provide a copy of ISD plumbing permit. Provide work ordersk scope of work and timeframe of completion upon re inspection.
590.005/5-402.11-P
Shell stock maintaining identification (pf)
Inspector notes: Date of last sold not being recorded on shellstock tags in file. Retrain staff.
590.003/3-203.12-PF
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Side exterior door near raw bar with daylight emitting at bottom of door. Seal with pest proof materials so no daylight is visible.
590.006/6-202.15-C
Warewashing machines manufacturers’ operating instructions (c)
Inspector notes: High temperature dish machine with gauges indecipherable filled with water and condensate. Replace.
590.004/4-501.15-C
70
Mar 11, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
(a) and (c) good repair and calibration-utensils and temperature and pressure measuring devices (c)
Inspector notes: High temp dish machine rinse gauage reading 150F.Repair guage Maintain rinse 180-194F Temp strip reading in compliance Wash temp 160F
590.004/4-502.11-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the interiors of the reachin keg units to remove soils/spills. Lower prep--Clean the exterior of the light shield above the tabletop oven to remove food debris.
590.004/4-602.13-C
90
Apr 2, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (pf)
Inspector notes: Low temp bar machine not reading chlorine.Repair Maintain chlorine 50PPM or per manufactures instructions. Wash temp 130F Staff to use main kitchen machine
590.004/4-501.114-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the ice machine vents to remove dust buildup.
590.004/4-602.13-C
(a) and (c) good repair and calibration-utensils and temperature and pressure measuring devices (c)
Inspector notes: High temp dish machine rinse guage not operating.Repair Temp strip reading in compliance. OK to use machine
590.004/4-502.11-C
82
Mar 15, 2024
Routine
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Shell stock maintaining identification (pf)
Inspector notes: Shell tags missing the datemarking for last sold/served. Maintain shell stock tags in chronological order held for 90 days with the date of the last served/sold.
590.003/3-203.12-PF
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (pf)
Inspector notes: Low temp bar machine not reading chlorine.Repair Maintain chlorine 50PPM or per manufactures instructions. Wash temp 130F Staff to use main kitchen machine
590.004/4-501.114-PF
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Provide labels on all bulk storage containers.
590.003/3-302.12-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the ice machine vents to remove dust buildup.
590.004/4-602.13-C
(a) and (c) good repair and calibration-utensils and temperature and pressure measuring devices (c)
Inspector notes: High temp dish machine rinse guage not operating.Repair Temp strip reading in compliance. OK to use machine
590.004/4-502.11-C
70
Feb 14, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Discarding or reconditioning unsafe adulterated or contaminated food (p)
Inspector notes: Broken sprinkler pipe in above apartment food items in the kitchen exposed. Exposed food items to be denatured/discarded per disposal order in the trash dumpster(pick up is on 2.13.24 per the owner)
590.003/3-701.11-P
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Sprinkler pipe was damaged in the apartment above the restaurant.Water flooded the bar dining room & basement kitchen. Establishment was not operating at the time of the incident. Spoke with Principal Health inspector Theresa Senaschal Business will remain voluntarily closed Owner instructed to provided a professional cleaning company to clean/sanitize/disinfect provide all repairs as needed forward all cleaning/repair documents to ISDhealth@Boston.gov Be re-inspected by Building Electrical & Health for approval to re-open
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Water damage- broken sprinkler pipe from the above apartment Clean/sanitize/disinfect all affected locations using a professional cleaning company. Provide all documentation to ISD Health
590.006/6-201.11-C
Light bulbs protective shielding (c)
Inspector notes: Replace damaged light shields in the kitchen/prep locations
590.006/6-202.11-C
Intensity-lighting (c)
Inspector notes: Light fixtures observed damaged with water.Power is out at this time.Repair all damaged fixtures Restore power and provide an electrician report
590.006/6-303.11-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean all equipment counters shelving prep stations to remove excess water & soils.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Water damage at several ceiling locations.Resurface/Repair as needed
590.006/6-101.11-C
61
Dec 28, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Dec 20, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations.
View 4 violations
Preventing contamination from hands (p)
Inspector notes: Observed employee topping lettuce on hamburger without gloves. Person in charge discarded.
590.003(C)/3-301.11-P
Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)
Inspector notes: No test kit available for Quat sanitizer. Provide.
590.004/4-302.14-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Crushed ice machine observed with soils in the interior. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottle without label. Provide.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
64
Mar 23, 2023
Routine
3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Food debris observed in production line hand sink. Person in charge removed. Hand sinks should only be used for handwashing. Proper hand washing at other locations observed.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Soils observed in the interior of crushed ice machine as well as on top of ice inside the machine. Person in charge removed all effected ice. Clean and sanitize interior of ice machine.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Observed chemical spray bottle unlabled. Provide label
590.007/7-102.11-PF
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Hole in wall in basement at the bottom of the stairs. Repair.
590.006/6-501.11-C
Light bulbs protective shielding (c)
Inspector notes: No protective sheild covering lights in warewash area. Provide.
590.006/6-202.11-C
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Observed employees prepping food items with no hair restraints. Provide.
590.002/2-402.11-C
Wall and ceiling coverings and coatings (c)
Inspector notes: Ceiling in basement is damaged and discolored. There is a company on site addressing issue at this time.
590.006/6-201.16-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Grease observed in hood filters above fryolater. Clean to remove
590.004/4-202.18-C
58
Jun 17, 2022
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Preventing contamination from hands (p)
Inspector notes: Cook on production line prepping parsley with bare hands. Person in charge discarded.
590.003(C)/3-301.11-P
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Visable mold build up on interior of ice machine. Person in charge confirmed. Clean all soils.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Squeeze bottles on raw bar have no labels. Provide.
590.003/3-302.12-C
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Black Lamb last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Black Lamb on file is from May 1, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Black Lamb?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood contact surfaces” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Black Lamb.
How does Black Lamb compare to other restaurants in Roxbury?
Black Lamb most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Roxbury average of 83.
Has Black Lamb's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Black Lamb have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Black Lamb means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Black Lamb inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Black Lamb is inspected around three times per year on average.
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