Checkmate Cafe
Last inspected: Apr 22, 2026
78
Score
The health department has logged 12 inspections at Checkmate Cafe, the earliest from 2022. Checkmate Cafe was last inspected on Apr 22, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around two violations to closer to five violations.
The pattern that stands out is “nonfood-contact surfaces”, which has been cited seven times.
Restaurants in Roslindale average 85, so Checkmate Cafe trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
12
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 22, 2026
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Original plastic containers containing dressings being re-used and have a mold like substance on the openings. Discontinue re-using dressing containers.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Controlling pests (c)
Inspector notes: Evidence of what appears to be rodent droppings observed on the shelf where pizza pans are being stored. Address clean to remove and provide an up to date pest control report for the re-inpection date specified. At the time of the visit there were no other signs of any activity noted. Droppings were possibly older as stated by owner.
590.006/6-501.111-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths observed being left out non counter tops. Discontinue and provide a proper sanitizing solution.
590.003/3-304.14-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Single door upright freezer does not appear to be fucntioning properly. Address and ensure the freezer is functioning properly or discontinue use. Foods inside of the unit were at below 40F at the time of the inspection.
590.004/4-202.16-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Preparation sink in the back storage area has no air gap. Provide air gap on the preparation sink as discussed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
78
Apr 13, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: Preparation sink in the back storage area has no air gap. Provide air gap on the preparation sink as discussed.
590.005/5-202.13-P
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Single door upright freezer does not appear to be fucntioning properly. Address and ensure the freezer is functioning properly or discontinue use. Foods inside of the unit were at below 40F at the time of the inspection.
590.004/4-202.16-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths observed being left out non counter tops. Discontinue and provide a proper sanitizing solution.
590.003/3-304.14-C
Controlling pests (c)
Inspector notes: Evidence of what appears to be rodent droppings observed on the shelf where pizza pans are being stored. Address clean to remove and provide an up to date pest control report for the re-inpection date specified. At the time of the visit there were no other signs of any activity noted. Droppings were possibly older as stated by owner.
590.006/6-501.111-C
Miscellaneous sources of contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Original plastic containers containing dressings being re-used and have a mold like substance on the openings. Discontinue re-using dressing containers.
590.003/3-307.11-C
70
Nov 18, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: At the three bay sink no sanitizer is available. No warewashing taken place at this time. PIC has address this at this time.
590.004/4-501.114-P
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: In walk in found sliced meats with no date markings. Please provide.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean wall and floor behind and under the cooking line equipment.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean shelves below prep table in back room. Clean slicer and pizza machine. Clean plastic tubs in walk in of grime and some mold build up.
590.004/4-202.16-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filters on cooking line will need to be cleaned. Hood expres this month. Please have the cleaned.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Door to walk in is peeling and rusty. Please scrap and paint.
590.006/6-101.11-C
64
Apr 1, 2025
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean up the floor in back room under prep table and two door refrigerator of the old droppings. When this is done please have pest control come out and check for any holes that should be filled. Please provide a pest control report at re-inspection. Pest control report should have notes for you to address areas that need repairs. Basement is not being use please have pest control check it out for any holes or cracks and to bait. 3-3-25 PIC has done a deep cleaning and will have pest control come back out in two weeks. I will be back out to review the report. Please stay on top of the cleaning. 3-24-25 PIC has been keeping up with the cleanings but pest control did not show up. PIC stated that they are coming out Friday. If they do not show please try another company.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
90
Mar 24, 2025
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean up the floor in back room under prep table and two door refrigerator of the old droppings. When this is done please have pest control come out and check for any holes that should be filled. Please provide a pest control report at re-inspection. Pest control report should have notes for you to address areas that need repairs. Basement is not being use please have pest control check it out for any holes or cracks and to bait. 3-3-25 PIC has done a deep cleaning and will have pest control come back out in two weeks. I will be back out to review the report. Please stay on top of the cleaning. 3-24-25 PIC has been keeping up with the cleanings but pest control did not show up. PIC stated that they are coming out Friday. If they do not show please try another company.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
90
Feb 24, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean up the floor in back room under prep table and two door refrigerator of the old droppings. When this is done please have pest control come out and check for any holes that should be filled. Please provide a pest control report at re-inspection. Pest control report should have notes for you to address areas that need repairs. Basement is not being use please have pest control check it out for any holes or cracks and to bait.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean the floor under and behind the cooking equipment and under prep table in back room. Evidence of dry food debris and old rodent droppings.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean.. Inplace cooking equipment Plastic containers in the walk in Wire shelves in the walk in Fan cover and condencer in the walk in.
590.004/4-202.16-C
82
Nov 14, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean the floor behind the cooking line. Visibly soiled.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: In walk in please clean the wire shelf the fan cover and the exterior of the food containers as discussed.
590.004/4-202.16-C
90
Apr 26, 2024
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
(a) ceasing operations and reporting (pf)
Inspector notes: At this time spoke with PIC. The location did have a smell of smoke from fire two door down. He has Clean Joe Emergency Services coming in today with air scrubbers and first thing in the morning 7am clearner will be in to clean the place top to bottom. Location did not lose power and no fire damage inside the location.
590.008/8-404.11-PF
90
Feb 26, 2024
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean wire shelves in walk in. Visibly soiled. Clean plastic containers in walk in visibly soiled. Clean exterior refrigeration and cooking equipment.
590.004/4-202.16-C
95
Jun 23, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to date make products in the walk in as discussed. Please see attached hand out.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the wall to the right of the hood on cooking line at discuused.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean exterior of cooking equipment and pizza maker on counter in back room. Clean all food containers in walk in of any grime and food build up.
590.004/4-202.16-C
Walls and ceilings attachments (c)
Inspector notes: Please clean condencer and cover over fans in walk in.
590.006/6-201.17-C
78
Aug 24, 2022
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: The sauce on the steam table is 122F (after being stirred). Provide proper hot holding of 135F or above. (reheated by the manager)
590.003/3-501.16-P
Food-contact surfaces-cleanability (pf)
Inspector notes: They are storing food directly in plastic drawers that have cracks in them. Provide food contact containers for food storage.
590.004/4-202.11-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: There is some grease buildup along the floor and equipment of the cooking line. Clean the area to remove debris. The shelves in the walk in have some black buildup on them. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
74
Apr 26, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)
Inspector notes: They could no find the test strips. Provide test strips for the sanitizing solution.
590.004/4-302.14-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: The filters in the walk-in are soiled with dust. Clean to remove. Some of the counters and shelving are soiled with food debris. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Checkmate Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Checkmate Cafe on file is from Apr 22, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Checkmate Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surfaces” has been cited seven times, more than any other issue at Checkmate Cafe.
How does Checkmate Cafe compare to other restaurants in Roslindale?
Checkmate Cafe most recently scored 78 out of 100, which is lower than the Roslindale average of 85.
Has Checkmate Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Checkmate Cafe have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Checkmate Cafe 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 Checkmate Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Checkmate Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
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