El Barco
Last inspected: Mar 24, 2026
55
Score
Across the available record, El Barco has 11 inspections on file, the first dated 2022. On Mar 24, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around four violations to closer to nine violations.
Looking across the full record, “surface characteristics-indoor areas” is the recurring theme, flagged six times.
Restaurants in Boston average 86, so El Barco trails the local norm. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
10
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 24, 2026
Routine
1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Non-continuous cooking of raw animal foods (pf)
Inspector notes: Establishment is par cooking chicken. Draft procedures and email them to isdhealth@boston.gov for this process as required.
590.003/3-401.14-PF
Intensity-lighting (c)
Inspector notes: Right hand side of kitchen very dimly lit. Install adequate lighting.
590.006/6-303.11-C
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Large gap under front door with daylight emitting. Seal with pest proof materials so no daylight is visible through bottom of the door.
590.006/6-202.15-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Grout voids in tile floor in warewashing area and at wait station. Clean and resurface.
590.006/6-101.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: One of two handsink at bar is inoperable. Repair. Abandoned grease trap. Remove.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Ceiling tiles heavily soiled in back area of kitchen. Floors with soils and debris under and around ice machines bar floors with soils and debris. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils-frequency (c)
Inspector notes: Clean and sanitize inside ice machines.
590.004/4-602.11-C
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: Sliding glass door to kitchen walkin with large gap between doors. Repair/seal. Door to one of two ice machines is broken. Repair.
590.004/4-501.11-C
Anti-choking
Inspector notes: 590.011 No choke save certificate. Provide.
590.009(E)
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Several pieces of equipment out of use left over from former Summer Shack. Remove.
590.006/6-501.114-C
Controlling pests (c)
Inspector notes: Numerous small flies seen in bar areas as noted on pest report dated 3/19/26 from Braman. Provide updated pest report for treatment of fruit flies.
590.006/6-501.111-C
55
Mar 12, 2026
Routine
2 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Non-continuous cooking of raw animal foods (pf)
Inspector notes: Establishment is par cooking chicken. Draft procedures and email them to isdhealth@boston.gov for this process as required.
590.003/3-401.14-PF
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Numerous small flies seen in bar areas wait station near ice machines. Provide updated pest control report upon re inspection.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Anti-choking
Inspector notes: 590.011 No choke save certificate. Provide.
590.009(E)
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Several pieces of equipment out of use left over from former Summer Shack. Remove.
590.006/6-501.114-C
Intensity-lighting (c)
Inspector notes: Right hand side of kitchen very dimly lit. Install adequate lighting.
590.006/6-303.11-C
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Large gap under front door with daylight emitting. Seal with pest proof materials so no daylight is visible through bottom of the door.
590.006/6-202.15-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Grout voids in tile floor in warewashing area and at wait station. Clean and resurface.
590.006/6-101.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: One of two handsink at bar is inoperable. Repair. Abandoned grease trap. Remove.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Ceiling tiles heavily soiled in back area of kitchen. Floors with soils and debris under and around ice machines bar floors with soils and debris. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils-frequency (c)
Inspector notes: Clean and sanitize inside ice machines.
590.004/4-602.11-C
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: Sliding glass door to kitchen walkin with large gap between doors. Repair/seal. Door to one of two ice machines is broken. Repair.
590.004/4-501.11-C
52
Aug 28, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Several items at the taco station open top unit reading 48-50F for approx 30-40min per PIC.Maintain cold holding temp of 41F or below. PIC removing to cool/hold 41F or below Unit to be serviced
590.003/3-501.16-P
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: Taco station open top unit not holding items 41F or below.Repair Repair the door at the small ice machine
590.004/4-501.11-C
Cleaning floors dustless methods (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the floors under/around the ice machine to remove debris/soils
590.006/6-501.13-C
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Remove any unused equipment from the storage location.
590.006/6-501.114-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Repair the lower wall at the entrance to the ice machine room.
590.006/6-101.11-C
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (c)
Inspector notes: Provide a working internal thermometer in the taco station open top unit.
590.004/4-204.112-C
67
Aug 22, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Repair the damaged diamond plate floor inside the walkin unit.
590.006/6-101.11-C
95
Jul 17, 2025
Routine
3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Provide labels on all chemical spray bottles
590.007/7-102.11-PF
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: Provide paper towels at the dish room handsink.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: There were a large amount of drain flies observed at the mop closet.Provide a full pest report upon re-inspection.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filters above the char broiler observed with soils.Clean to remove soils.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the interior of the handsink to remove debris. Clean the interiors of the fry cabinets to remove grease build up.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Repair the large hole in the wall (old ice cream machine location) Repair the damaged diamond plate floor inside the walkin unit.
590.006/6-101.11-C
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Secure all CO2 tanks
590.006/6-501.114-C
Cleaning floors dustless methods (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the excess water from the dish room floor.
590.006/6-501.13-C
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: Repair the broken ice machine door.
590.004/4-501.11-C
55
Aug 1, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: Provide an air gap at the 2 bay prep sink. Upon re-inspection The PIC has submitted a letter from the plumbing company stating that it can not be done. PIC will apply for a variance
590.005/5-202.13-P
86
Jun 7, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: Provide an air gap at the 2 bay prep sink.
590.005/5-202.13-P
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Cole slaw reading 53F held overnight per PIC.Discarded Maintain cold holding 41F or below.
590.003/3-501.16-P
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: Interior of the 2 drawer unit appears to be frozen unit not holding 41F or below.Repair
590.004/4-501.11-C
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Wall outside of the shell stock walk in observed damaged.Repair
590.006/6-101.11-C
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Repair the damaged door sweep at the front door
590.006/6-501.11-C
Intensity-lighting (c)
Inspector notes: Light bulb not operating above the char broiler.Replace bulb.
590.006/6-303.11-C
61
Nov 15, 2023
Routine
3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple buckets inside warewash hand sink. Person in charge corrected.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple immature flies in bar area. Clean and sanitize area. Provide updated pest reports.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple ice machines obsevred with soils. Meat slicer observed with food debris. Clean to remove all soils.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Bulk bins do not have labels. Provide.
590.003/3-302.12-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Freezer floor is soiled. Area behind oyster bar has soiled floor and cove tiles. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Items stored on ground in freezer. Elevate to prevent potential contamination.
590.003/3-305.11-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Plastic cups being used to dispense product. Discontinue.
590.003/3-304.12-C
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple containers of uncovered food product on production line. Cover to prevent potential contamination.
590.003/3-302.11-C
58
Apr 11, 2023
Routine
3 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Blue chemical observed in spray bottle without label. Person in charge corrected.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Food debris observed in slicer. Clean after each use.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple pans of food in walk in observed without proper date marking. All foods held over 24 hours need proper date marking.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Items observed on floor of walk in freezer. Elevate to prevent contamination.
590.003/3-305.11-C
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Squeeze bottles obsevred without labels in multiple locations. Provide labels.
590.003/3-302.12-C
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple container of food on production line are uncovered. Cover to prevent potential contamination.
590.003/3-302.11-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Grease build up observed in hood filters above fryolater. Clean to remove
590.004/4-202.18-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Scale in back of house observed heavily rusted. Person in charge discarded.
590.004/4-101.19-C
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Gakset in oyster bar refrigeration are damaged. Replace
590.006/6-501.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Woman's room sink observed not working. Work order has been placed by PIC. There is a working sink in bathroom.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Soda machine in back of house observed soiled. Tops of fryolater are soild. Bottom of refrigeration units on production line are soiled. Top of expo line observed soiled. Clean to remove soils.
590.004/4-602.13-C
50
Sep 28, 2022
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Rice on hot line at 116F. Person in charge indicated it has just been cooked. Person in charge removed and reheated.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Observed fruit fly presence in bar area and dry storage area. Provide updated pest reports.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Ice machine near back door is soiled. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Removing dead or trapped birds insects rodents and other pest (c)
Inspector notes: Observed mouse in glue trap. Person in charge discarded.
590.006/6-501.112-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Gaskets on production line low boy refrigerator are soiled and torn. Replace Bottom of fry refrigerator is soiled. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Light bulbs protective shielding (c)
Inspector notes: Provide light sheild cover for trash room light.
590.006/6-202.11-C
61
Apr 14, 2022
Routine
3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: No paper towels at seafood station sink. Person in charge corrected on site. Employees observed washing hands correctly after replaced.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Visable mold build up on upstairs ice machine. Person in charge confirmed. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Segregation and location-distressed merchandise (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple bottles of buttermilk in cooler expired on 3/24/22. Person in charge discarded.
590.006/6-404.11-PF
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Bar hand sink is leaking. Repair.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filters above grill station heavily soiled. Clean to remove soils.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Handwashing signage (c)
Inspector notes: Hand wash only sign needed on cookline sink. Provide
590.006/6-301.14-C
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Barco last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Barco on file is from Mar 24, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Barco?
Across the inspection record, “surface characteristics-indoor areas” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at El Barco.
How does El Barco compare to other restaurants in Boston?
El Barco most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Boston average of 86.
Has El Barco's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at El Barco have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at El Barco 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 El Barco inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Barco is inspected around three times per year on average.
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