Franklin Cafe

278 Shawmut Av, Roxbury, MA 02118

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Dec 1, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Franklin Cafe has been inspected six times since 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Dec 1, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around two violations to closer to four violations per visit.

“Backflow prevention” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

Franklin Cafe's latest score of 95 sits above the Roxbury average of 83. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Dec 1, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Service sink (c)

Inspector notes: No mop sink. Install.

590.005/5-203.13-C

Oct 8, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Backflow prevention (p)

Inspector notes: The drain pipe for the basement prep sink does not have an indirect to waste drain pipe. Install.

590.005/5-402.11-P

Service sink (c)

Inspector notes: No mop sink. Install.

590.005/5-203.13-C

Sep 24, 2025

Routine

4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 10 violations

(a) gloves use limitation (p)

Inspector notes: Food employee handled raw pork then returned to work on other items and touch pan handle. Instructed to change gloves wash hands don new gloves sanitize pan. Corrected on site .

590.003/3-304.15-P

Backflow prevention (p)

Inspector notes: The drain pipe for the basement prep sink does not have an indirect to waste drain pipe. Install.

590.005/5-402.11-P

(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)

Inspector notes: Chive oil 63F. Product out of temperature for less than one hour placed on ice to cool.

590.003/3-501.16-P

Cooling (p)

Inspector notes: Deep pan of mashed potatoes on counter @ 114F. Made within the hour moved onto indirect ice bath to cool. Cooling process shall start when food reaches to 135F after cooking.

590.003/3-501.14-P

Shell stock maintaining identification (pf)

Inspector notes: Date of last sold not recorded on tags in shellstock tag file. Corrected on site.

590.003/3-203.12-PF

Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)

Inspector notes: No V&D kit provide. emailed procedures

590.002/2-501.11-PF

Service sink (c)

Inspector notes: No mop sink. Install.

590.005/5-203.13-C

Nonfood contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Stair leading to basement with visible soils. Clean to remove.

590.004/4-602.13-C

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: Utensils at the cookline (ladles ect) stored in standing water. Maintain water above 135F

590.003/3-304.12-C

Anti-choking

Inspector notes: No choke save certificate. Provide. (A) Anti-choking Procedures in Food Service Establishments. (1) Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94 § 305D restaurants with a certain seating capacity are required to have one or more employees trained in a manual choke-saving procedure in accordance with 105 CMR 605.000: Approved Choke-saving Procedures. (2) Each food service establishment with a seating capacity that conforms with M.G.L. c. 94 § 305D shall: (a) Have on its premises while food is being served an employee trained in manual procedures approved by the Department to remove food lodged in a person's throat; and (b) Make adequate provision for insurance to cover employees trained in rendering such assistance.

590.009(E)

Oct 3, 2024

Routine

2 major violations. 3 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Handwashing cleanser availability (pf)

Inspector notes: Handsink at bar without soap and paper towel. Provide.

590.006/6-301.11-PF

Cooling heating and holding capacities-equipment (pf)

Inspector notes: The cooking line refrigerating unit with a lot of water at the bottom it appears as it has a leak. Repair.

590.004/4-301.11-PF

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: Observed knives stored between equipment at the cooking line. Store properly on a clean and sanitize surface

590.003/3-304.12-C

Manual warewashing equipment chemical sanitization using detergent-sanitizers (c)

Inspector notes: Bar Dish Machine without soap. Provide.

590.004/4-501.115-C

Handwashing signage (c)

Inspector notes: Handsink at bar without signage. Provide.

590.006/6-301.14-C

Dec 1, 2023

Routine

No violations found.

100

Nov 3, 2022

Routine

No violations found.

100

Show all 6 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Franklin Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Franklin Cafe on file is from Dec 1, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Franklin Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “backflow prevention” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Franklin Cafe.

How does Franklin Cafe compare to other restaurants in Roxbury?

Franklin Cafe most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Roxbury average of 83.

Has Franklin Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Franklin Cafe have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Franklin 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 Franklin Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Franklin Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Syrian Grocery Import Co.

270 Shawmut Av

Score: 100 — Low Risk

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