Ghost Light Tavern
Last inspected: Dec 8, 2025
82
Score
Ghost Light Tavern appears in inspection records six times, starting in 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Dec 8, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around six violations to closer to four violations per visit.
“Nonfood contact surfaces” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Boston restaurant, which scores around 86. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 8, 2025
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Holes in wall near mop sink. Repair.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)
Inspector notes: Grease laden soils on trash storage surfaces in alleyway beside establishment and what appears to be cooking waste oil leak toward catch basin. Clean to remove. Disposed waste water into mop sink.
590.005/5-501.115-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Grease and soils on floors under warewashing area and behind grease trap. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Cleaning receptacles (c)
Inspector notes: Waste oil container with visible soils. Clean to remove.
590.005/5-501.116-C
82
Sep 2, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Threshold at back door damaged and showing daylight. Repair as needed to rpevent pests from entering.
590.006/6-202.15-C
95
Feb 16, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: Main floor 1st bar dish machine and upstairs 1st dish machine not sanitizing. Service as needed. Use 2nd dish machines for glassware. PIC stated machine are being replaced next week.
590.004/4-501.114-P
Segregation and location-distressed merchandise (pf)
Inspector notes: Prepped foods dated more than 7 days- gravy 2/7 pickled peppers 11/29. Discarded by PIC. Submit recipes to lab for extended shelf life of house-made pickles.
590.006/6-404.11-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Unlabeled chemical spray bottles at both bars. Label all chemical bottles to prevent contamination.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Soda gun holders at nboth bars with soil build-up. Cl;ean to prevent contamination Soda gun holder at end of main bar and middle of upstairs bar crain into ice bins. Add drainage tubes to prevent contamination.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Upstairs bar dish machines leak water during cycle. 1st floor bar 1st dump sink drain leaks. Repair as needed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Debris and soils under both bars. Soils and spills in upstairs bar refrigerator. Food and debris under kitchen ice machine. Clean all areas to avoid attracting pests.
590.004/4-602.13-C
58
Jul 25, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired May 2022- Schedule hood cleaning and inspection
590.006/6-501.14-C
95
Jun 30, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
When to wash (p)
Inspector notes: Employees unable to properly wash hands at the only handwash sink available in upstairs kitchen- Blocked by small shelving Corrected on site
590.002/2-301.14-P
Preventing contamination from hands (p)
Inspector notes: Observed employee handling garnishes for drinks with her bare hands- Review glove use procedures with employees
590.003(C)/3-301.11-P
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Small shelving unit used to hold breading material at fryolators in front of the only handsink in the kitchen. The violation has been noted on previous inspections Handsink must be fully accessible for proper handwashing during all operational hours Corrected on site
590.005/5-205.11-PF
Warewashing machines automatic dispensing of detergents and sanitizers (pf)
Inspector notes: Low temperature dish machine is not automatically dispensing chlorine sanitizer. The machine was primed numerous times at the time of the inspection and had a reading of 0ppm chlorine Service call made at the time of the inspection Low temperature dishwashers are availble at the bar for cleaning of tablewares Equipment shall be washed in the 3 bay sink until proper repairs are made
590.004/4-204.117-PF
(a) (b) and (c)(1) (4)-(16) demonstration (pf)
Inspector notes: Numerous priority and repeat violations noted on inspection report
590.002(B)/2-102.11-PF
Mechanical-ventilation (c)
Inspector notes: Establishment using a flat top grill at the bar to cook grilled cheese sandwiches with no ventilation hood above- Equipment removed at the time of the inspection
590.006/6-304.11-C
Food storage prohibited areas (c)
Inspector notes: The ice machine at the establishment is not properly working. An additional ice machine is being rented and was placed in the mechanical room directly next to an open mop sink and in close proximity to a sump pump area. Establishment will discontinue using ice from this machine and will order bagged ice. New machine will be removed from the room and placed in the prep area where the nonworking ice machine is located.
590.003/3-305.12-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired May 2022- Schedule hood cleaning and inspection
590.006/6-501.14-C
47
Apr 22, 2022
Routine
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
(a) gloves use limitation (p)
Inspector notes: Observed employee handle raw hamburgers with gloved hands without changing prior to touchin buns- Reviewed and corrected
590.003/3-304.15-P
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: Low temperature dish machine in use at the time of the inspection with 00ppm chlorine. Sanitizer was changed machine was primed and sanitizer measured at 50ppm Ensure sanitizer is tested daily prior to use
590.004/4-501.114-P
When to wash (p)
Inspector notes: Employees unable to properly wash hands at blocked handsink- corrected
590.002/2-301.14-P
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Drip tray in ice cream machine with heavy black buildup- Review cleaning procedures with staff- Inspect machine for work components Interior top of ice machine with blackbuildup- Clean with proper frequency
590.004/4-601.11-PF
(a) (b) and (c)(1) (4)-(16) demonstration (pf)
Inspector notes: Several priority violations noted on inspection report Review procedures with staff
590.002(B)/2-102.11-PF
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Only available handsink in upper kitchen completely blocked by breading station- Removed
590.005/5-205.11-PF
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple handsinks at bar broken and marked not to use- Make proper repairs
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floors below equipment with heavy soils and debris- Clean with proper frequency
590.004/4-602.13-C
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ghost Light Tavern last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Ghost Light Tavern on file is from Dec 8, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Ghost Light Tavern?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood contact surfaces” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Ghost Light Tavern.
How does Ghost Light Tavern compare to other restaurants in Boston?
Ghost Light Tavern most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is lower than the Boston average of 86.
Has Ghost Light Tavern's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Ghost Light Tavern have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Ghost Light Tavern 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 Ghost Light Tavern inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Ghost Light Tavern is inspected around two times per year on average.
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