Joia Ristorante & Lounge

189 State St, Boston, MA 02109

Italian

Last inspected: Apr 29, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Inspectors have visited Joia Ristorante & Lounge five times, with records going back to 2024. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 29, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around two violations compared to roughly five violations earlier on.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “sanitizing solutions testing devices”, showing up two times.

That falls roughly in the middle of the pack for Boston restaurants. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 29, 2026

Routine

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Common name-working containers (pf)

Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottle observed without label. Provide.

590.007/7-102.11-PF

Nonfood contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Soiled foil observed in shelfing in kitchen area. Remove.

590.004/4-602.13-C

Aug 11, 2025

Routine

2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 4 violations

Equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils-frequency (p)

Inspector notes: Interior of Ice Machine with mold like build up clean to remove

590.004/4-602.11-P

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

Inspector notes: Cold hold of Raw Shelled Eggs @ 58f ensure proper cold hold of 41f or below. Chef filled zip lock bags with ice and placed on shelled eggs at time of inspection.

590.003/3-501.16-P

Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)

Inspector notes: No vomit clean up kit on site supply and also fill out clean up procedure paper work. Will be supplkied with email opf the report

590.002/2-501.11-PF

Floors walls and ceilings utility lines (c)

Inspector notes: Floor of Walkin cooler for beer and kegs with pooling water build up on floor clean to remove

590.006/6-201.12-C

Dec 2, 2024

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Hot water and chemical-methods (p)

Inspector notes: Sanitizer in low temp machine not registering. Machine was primed and run 3 times with no color change on strip / Repair to provide 50ppm chlorine

590.004/4-703.11-P

Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)

Inspector notes: No test strips available at the time of the inspection. Provide.

590.004/4-302.14-PF

Controlling pests (c)

Inspector notes: Evidence of fruit fly activity noted behind the bar area. Address.

590.006/6-501.111-C

Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)

Inspector notes: Squeeze bottles in the bar refrigerator with no labels. Provide.

590.003/3-302.12-C

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: Utensils observed being stored in between coolers. Discontinue and store all equipment in a clean and protected manner.

590.003/3-304.12-C

Wiping cloths use limitation (c)

Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths observed being left out on counter tops. Discontinue and provide a proper sanitizing solution.

590.003/3-304.14-C

Nov 25, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 4 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)

Inspector notes: No test strips available at the time of the inspection. Provide.

590.004/4-302.14-PF

Controlling pests (c)

Inspector notes: Evidence of fruit fly activity noted behind the bar area. Address.

590.006/6-501.111-C

Wiping cloths use limitation (c)

Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths observed being left out on counter tops. Discontinue and provide a proper sanitizing solution.

590.003/3-304.14-C

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: Utensils observed being stored in between coolers. Discontinue and store all equipment in a clean and protected manner.

590.003/3-304.12-C

Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)

Inspector notes: Squeeze bottles in the bar refrigerator with no labels. Provide.

590.003/3-302.12-C

Mar 22, 2024

Routine

2 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 4 violations

Hand drying provision (pf)

Inspector notes: Handsink missing paper towels.Provide

590.006/6-301.12-PF

Food temperature measuring devices (pf)

Inspector notes: Missing thermometer for food tem verification. Provide

590.004/4-302.12-PF

Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)

Inspector notes: Hood sticker exp 6/23. Provide updated inspection.

590.006/6-501.14-C

(b) and (c) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (c)

Inspector notes: Heavy soils on exterior of both ice machine. Clean to remove Heavy soils on exterior of low temp machine. Clean to remove

590.004/4-601.11-C

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Joia Ristorante & Lounge last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Joia Ristorante & Lounge on file is from Apr 29, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Joia Ristorante & Lounge?

Across the inspection record, “sanitizing solutions testing devices” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Joia Ristorante & Lounge.

How does Joia Ristorante & Lounge compare to other restaurants in Boston?

Joia Ristorante & Lounge most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is about the same as the Boston average of 86.

Has Joia Ristorante & Lounge's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Joia Ristorante & Lounge have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Joia Ristorante & Lounge 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 Joia Ristorante & Lounge inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Joia Ristorante & Lounge is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Harborside Inn of Boston

185 State St

Score: 100 — Low Risk

Granary Tavern

168 Milk St

Score: 47 — High Risk

Central Wharf Co.

160 Milk St

Score: 95 — Low Risk

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