J J Foley's Cafe
Last inspected: Apr 21, 2026
61
Score
Public records show 11 inspections at J J Foley's Cafe stretching back to 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Apr 21, 2026. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around six violations per visit lately, up from roughly four violations before.
When inspectors have written things up, “equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces” has been the most frequent reason, cited eight times.
Restaurants in Boston average 86, so J J Foley's Cafe trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 21, 2026
Routine
2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (pf)
Inspector notes: The low temp bar & kitchen dish machines are not reading chlorine.Repair Maintain chlorine 50PPM or per manufactures instructions 3 bay sink to be used
590.004/4-501.114-PF
Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)
Inspector notes: Provide sanitizer test strips for the 3 bay sink (test done using the inspectors test kit)
590.004/4-302.14-PF
Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the outside trash location to remove debris on the ground.
590.005/5-501.115-C
(a) certified food protection manager (c)
Inspector notes: The certified food protection managers & Allergen awareness certificates have expired.Provide current certificates from a full time employee.
590.002(C)/2-102.12-C
Light bulbs protective shielding (c)
Inspector notes: Replace the missing light shield above the prep location.
590.006/6-202.11-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the wall around the dish machine to remove soils. Clean the ceilings throughout the kitchen to remove dust buildup.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Clean the interiors of the fryer units to remove grease buildup. Clean the 6 burner range top to remove soils.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Receptacles (c)
Inspector notes: The outside trash receptacles are missing covers.Provide rodent proof trash receptacles.
590.005/5-501.13-C
61
May 9, 2025
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw shell eggs observed stored above ready to eat produce. Corrected on site.
590.003/3-302.11-P
Discarding or reconditioning unsafe adulterated or contaminated food (p)
Inspector notes: Moldy pepper jack cheese observed in walk in cooler. Discarded by PIC. Ensure all moldy or contamianted food is discarded.
590.003/3-701.11-P
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple foods in walk in cooler observed without date marking. Provide proper date marking for all foods held longer than 24 hours.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood fliters above grill observed with grease build up. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Cleaning receptacles (c)
Inspector notes: Grease bucket outside observed with grease build up and debris. Clean to remove to prevent potential pests.
590.005/5-501.116-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Sides of the fryolater are soiled. Behind hot holding area observed with soils. Clean to remove all soils.
590.004/4-602.13-C
58
Dec 6, 2024
Routine
3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)
Inspector notes: No test kit for the dishmachine. Provide test kit for the sanitizer being used.
590.004/4-302.14-PF
Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)
Inspector notes: No vomit & diarrhea kit on site. Provide vomit & diarrhea kit.
590.002/2-501.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Observed soil on the meat slicer. Clean/sanitize the meat slicer. Observed soiled hand sinks. Clean/sanitize hand sinks in the kitchen area.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cutting boards are worn/scored. Resurface/Replace
590.004/4-501.12-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Observed soiled walls behind the dish machine soiled floors around the stove and fryolator. Heavy grease build up inside the bottom of the fryolator. Clean to remove all grease and soil on walls and floors. Observed dust on the ceiling vents in the kitchen area. Clean to remove all dust.
590.006/6-201.11-C
67
Nov 6, 2024
Routine
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottles observed unlabled. Provide label.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Deli slicer observed with food debris. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Beef being thawed in stagnet 100F water. Discontinue. Run under cold running water.
590.003/3-501.13-C
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Employees on production line observed without hair restraints. Provide.
590.002/2-402.11-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker observed expired. Schedule cleaning appointment.
590.006/6-501.14-C
70
May 15, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Deli slicer observed with soils. Potato wedger obsevred with soils. Clean to remove all soils.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Utensils stored in stagnet water. Discontinue.
590.003/3-304.12-C
(a) certified food protection manager (c)
Inspector notes: Current food protection manager certificate observed expired. Sign up for new class.
590.002(C)/2-102.12-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Sides and front of grill are heavily soiled with food debris. Sides of oven are soiled. Under kitchen equiptment are soiled. Clean to remove all soils.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filters observed with heavy grease build up. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-202.18-C
74
Oct 27, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Interior of bar dish machine with soils and broken glass. Curtain for dish machine with black mold-like substance. Soda gun holders with soils. Clean to prevent contamination
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor and wall under and behind cook line with build-up of grease and soils. Interior of grill low-boy refrigerator with soils and moisture. Clean and dry areas to prevent contamination.
590.004/4-602.13-C
86
Jul 5, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired. Provide scheduled cleaning date
590.006/6-501.14-C
95
May 19, 2023
Routine
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Blanched french fries on counter at 62F. Store cooked potatoes in refrigeration 41F or below to prevent pathogen growth.
590.003/3-501.16-P
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: Restaurant side bar dish machine not testing for chlorine sanitizer. Discontinue using and service as needed. Bar side bar dish machine was out of sanitizer. Ensure warewashing machines have chemicals and are dispensing correctly
590.004/4-501.114-P
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Soda gun holders with mold-like build up. Clean to prevent contamination
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Handwashing sinks installation (pf)
Inspector notes: Water at kitchen hands sinks not above 75F. Water at 3 compartment sink 120F. Service/calibrate hand sinks for water minimum 100F
590.005/5-202.12-PF
(a )cooling methods (pf)
Inspector notes: Cooked chowder cooling in deep plastic container at 145F. Spread out in shallow metal pans to allow to cool rapidly.
590.003/3-501.15-PF
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired. Provide scheduled cleaning date
590.006/6-501.14-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor under cookline with soils and debris. Clean to avoid attracting pests
590.004/4-602.13-C
50
Jan 20, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Soda nozzle holder with soil build-up. Clean to prevent contamination. Corrected on site
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired. Provide scheduled cleaning date.
590.006/6-501.14-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor under cookline with soils debris and grease. Clean to avoid attracting pests
590.004/4-602.13-C
82
Dec 20, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Soda nozzle holder with soil build-up. Clean to prevent contamination. Corrected on site
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor under cookline with soils debris and grease. Clean to avoid attracting pests
590.004/4-602.13-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired. Provide scheduled cleaning date.
590.006/6-501.14-C
82
May 9, 2022
Routine
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: Sanitizer not registering a warewashing machines ar bar. Discontinue using dish machines for glass ware until calibrated to read 50ppm. Sanitizer buckets in kitchen without sanitizer. Corrected to 50ppm. Dish machine in kitchen not reading sanitizer. Replaced and reading 50ppm.
590.004/4-501.114-P
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Chowder in steam table at 40F. Cooked foods for hot holding must be reheated to 165f prior to placing into hot holding. Rehaeated to 188F.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw tukey burgers stored in conrtainer with raw beef burgers. Store raw meats separately to avoid cross contamination. Corrected on site
590.003/3-302.11-P
Consumption of animal foods that are raw undercooked or not otherwise processed to eliminate pathogens (pf)
Inspector notes: Consumer advisory on menu does not clearly correspond to undercooked items. Seared tuna is not indicated as undercooked. Update menu to clearly inform consumers.
590.003/3-603.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Fry cutter soiled. Clean after cutting fries to prevent contamination.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Containers of prepped soups and stews in walk-in without date marking. Prepped foods held over 24 hours require date marking to ensure product rotation.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Back door sweep degraded. Replace to prevent pests from entering estalishment.
590.006/6-202.15-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Shelves in kitchen covered with aluminum foil. Discard foil and discontinue covering shelves in foil. Use materials that are smooth cleanable durable and non-absorbent.
590.004/4-101.19-C
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Reduced oxygen packaged seared raw tuna thawed in refrigerator. Package advises to remove tuna from ackage prior to thawing.
590.003/3-501.13-C
Storage or display of food in contact with water or ice (c)
Inspector notes: Hard boiled eggs stored in water. Discontinue storing eggs in water to prevent pathogen growth.
590.003/3-303.12-C
39
Frequently Asked Questions
When was J J Foley's Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at J J Foley's Cafe on file is from Apr 21, 2026. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at J J Foley's Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces” has been cited eight times, more than any other issue at J J Foley's Cafe.
How does J J Foley's Cafe compare to other restaurants in Boston?
J J Foley's Cafe most recently scored 61 out of 100, which is lower than the Boston average of 86.
Has J J Foley's Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at J J Foley's Cafe have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at J J Foley's Cafe 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 J J Foley's Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, J J Foley's Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
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