Contessa
Last inspected: May 1, 2026
90
Score
Public records show 12 inspections at Contessa stretching back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from May 1, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around two violations each.
Looking across the full record, “repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods” is the recurring theme, flagged four times.
Contessa's latest score of 90 sits above the Boston average of 86. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
12
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 1, 2026
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Mechanical warewashing equipment hot water sanitization temperatures (pf)
Inspector notes: High temp dishmachine in the warewash area (W) 138F (R) 194F- Ran it a few times and the numbers were different each time on the ecolab machine. Gauges on the machine are not working. Repair gauges. Irreversible thermometer- 160F
590.004/4-501.112-PF
90
Apr 9, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Cream & tomato sauce 46F. Product made one day prior was voluntarily discarded.
590.003/3-501.16-P
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Walk in cooler wall with peeling missing paint. Clean and resurface.
590.006/6-101.11-C
82
Aug 23, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Consumption of animal foods that are raw undercooked or not otherwise processed to eliminate pathogens (pf)
Inspector notes: Raw Oysters missing reminder (*) Provide.
590.003/3-603.11-PF
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Food employee with no hair restraint. Provide.
590.002/2-402.11-C
Prohibition-jewelry (c)
Inspector notes: Food employee with wrist watch expeditor with bracelet dragging on surfaces. Remove.
590.002/2-303.11-C
82
Aug 15, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Consumption of animal foods that are raw undercooked or not otherwise processed to eliminate pathogens (pf)
Inspector notes: Raw Oysters missing reminder (*) Provide.
590.003/3-603.11-PF
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Pizza oven site of previous fire has been walled off and sealed behind a door and cleanable surfaces. Make all necessary repairs. Contact health division prior to any equipment changes submit plans and equipment spec sheets for review to isdhealth@boston.gov.
590.006/6-501.11-C
Prohibition-jewelry (c)
Inspector notes: Food employee with wrist watch expeditor with bracelet dragging on surfaces. Remove.
590.002/2-303.11-C
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Food employee with no hair restraint. Provide.
590.002/2-402.11-C
78
Apr 11, 2024
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Pizza oven site of previous fire has been walled off and sealed behind a door and cleanable surfaces. Make all necessary repairs. Contact health division prior to any equipment changes submit plans and equipment spec sheets for review to isdhealth@boston.gov.
590.006/6-501.11-C
95
Feb 8, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Preventing contamination from hands (pf)
Inspector notes: Observed a food employee handling ready to eat foods with bare hands. Product voluntarily discarded. Food worker washed hands and donned gloves and returned to work. Corrected on site.
590.003(C)/3-301.11-PF
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Peeling paint near wall outside walkin freezer. Clean and seal. Exposed putty unfinished around pipes and in hole that was filled. Seal with cleanable materials. Walkin freezer floor insecure repair.
590.006/6-101.11-C
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Pizza oven site of previous fire has been walled off and sealed behind a door and cleanable surfaces. Make all necessary repairs. Contact health division prior to any equipment changes submit plans and equipment spec sheets for review to isdhealth@boston.gov.
590.006/6-501.11-C
82
Oct 18, 2023
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
(a) ceasing operations and reporting (pf)
Inspector notes: Fire in establishment from Pizza oven. Discontine operations.
590.008/8-404.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Clean and sanitize all effected kitchen equiptment.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean and sanitize all floors walls and ceilings.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Replace all damaged ceiling tiles.
590.006/6-201.11-C
74
May 9, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
When to wash (p)
Inspector notes: Employees actively preparing foods in an area located on the first floor where there is no handsink available to wash their hands PIC instructed to discontinue food preparation in this area until approved by the Health Department
590.002/2-301.14-P
Handwashing sinks-numbers and capacities (pf)
Inspector notes: Establishment is doing food preparation in an area located on the first floor and there is no handsink available in the area- Discontinue food prep in this area until approved by the Health Department
590.005/5-203.11-PF
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Priority violations noted on the inspection report- Review
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Interior panel of the ice machine with black mold like buildup- Clean with proper frequency
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired April 2023- Schedule hood cleaning and inspection
590.006/6-501.14-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Minor leak noted below the 3 bay sink- Leaking into a pan- Repair
590.005/5-205.15-C
58
Feb 6, 2023
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Preventing contamination from hands (p)
Inspector notes: Observed employee removing water from basil by squeezing the product with his bare hands. The product was then placed in a blender to prepare. Review glove use procedures with all staff Product voluntarily discarded
590.003(C)/3-301.11-P
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Containers of prepared potatoes on the counter at 71F. Per the PIC the product was being used for breakfast. Six quart containers of product were voluntarily discarded and denatured. Properly hold at 41F or below
590.003/3-501.16-P
(a) (b) and (c)(1) (4)-(16) demonstration (pf)
Inspector notes: Priority violations noted on inspection Review procedures with staff
590.002(B)/2-102.11-PF
Eating drinking or using tobacco (c)
Inspector notes: Observed multiple employees eating in kitchen area Employee taking olives with a bare hand from the service line and eating Employee at drink station eating from a container Review procedures for eating in kitchen areas with all employees and provide designated area for employee meals
590.002/2-401.11-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple dip wells with the water not flowing at the time of the inspection- Corrected
590.003/3-304.12-C
61
Nov 2, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 11 violations
(a) gloves use limitation (p)
Inspector notes: Multiple food handlers and ware washing staff leaving and returning to work stations wearing same gloves. Not changes gloves between handling multiple food items
590.003/3-304.15-P
When to wash (p)
Inspector notes: Observed no hand washing during inspection - PIC discussed hand washing with staff
590.002/2-301.14-P
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Hand sinks in ware washing area with items in basin. One of the hand sinks was blocked by large shelf and employees polishing glasses - PIC took corrective actin during inspection
590.005/5-205.11-PF
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Food handlers not wearing hair restraints
590.002/2-402.11-C
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Food containers not labeled throughout kitchen/prep
590.003/3-302.12-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: In use wiping cloths not stored in a sanitizing solution - Kitchen prep bar washing areas
590.003/3-304.14-C
Condiments protection (c)
Inspector notes: No spash guards at hand sink in bar (2 hand sinks are next to beverages)
590.003/3-306.12-C
Equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils-frequency (c)
Inspector notes: Old labels on clean equipment - Ware washing
590.004/4-602.11-C
Equipment and utensils air-drying required (c)
Inspector notes: Stacking wet equipment in ware washing area
590.004/4-901.11-C
Kitchenware and tableware-preventing contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Straws are not protected from contamination at bar
590.004/4-904.11-C
Preset tableware (c)
Inspector notes: Pre set table ware not protected
590.004/4-904.13-C
45
Jun 27, 2022
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Drain boards (c)
Inspector notes: Install proper drain boards to accommodate all air drying needs
590.004/4-301.13-C
Equipment and utensils air-drying required (c)
Inspector notes: Cleaned equipment is being stacked on racks following warewashing in a high temperature dishwasher- Allow area for proper air drying of equipment Observed food contacts being towel dryed in ware washing area
590.004/4-901.11-C
90
Apr 13, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Backflow prevention device when required (p)
Inspector notes: Non handwashing sinks at the bar area have hoses installed for cleaning with no back flow prevention- Hoses lay within sinks Provide back flow prevention or remove hoses
590.005/5-203.14-P
Cooling (p)
Inspector notes: Products in walk in refrigeration in deep plastic containers covered with plastic with an additional plastic cover over the container. Product prepared today but was in refrigeration for an undetermined time. Product had temperatures that ranged from 51F at the outside to 76F in the middle. Reviewed cooling procedures with the PIC. Product was removed and placed in metal hotel pans to properly finish cooling. Review cooling procedures with staff
590.003/3-501.14-P
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Priority violations noted on inspection report- Review procedures with staff
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Ceiling tile missing above warewashing machine- Replace
590.006/6-501.11-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood stickers have been damaged due to daily cleaning- Replace stickers and/or schedule hood cleanings as needed
590.006/6-501.14-C
Equipment and utensils air-drying required (c)
Inspector notes: Cleaned equipment is being stacked on racks following warewashing in a high temperature dishwasher- Allow area for proper air drying of equipment
590.004/4-901.11-C
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Heavily scored cutting boards- Replace as needed
590.004/4-501.12-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Pipe below high temperature dishwasher in warewashing leaking into a pan- Make proper repairs by a licensed plumber
590.005/5-205.15-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Knives stored between equipment- Discontinue
590.003/3-304.12-C
50
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Contessa last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Contessa on file is from May 1, 2026. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Contessa?
Across the inspection record, “repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Contessa.
How does Contessa compare to other restaurants in Boston?
Contessa most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Boston average of 86.
Has Contessa's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Contessa have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Contessa 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 Contessa inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Contessa is inspected around three times per year on average.
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