La Cuchara Restaurant
Last inspected: Feb 27, 2026
26
Score
La Cuchara Restaurant, located at 381 Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester, MA, underwent a high-risk inspection on February 27, 2026. This inspection resulted in 2 critical, 7 major, and 7 minor violations. Previous inspections for La Cuchara Restaurant have predominantly fallen into the medium-risk category.
12
Inspections
2
Critical latest
7
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 27, 2026
Routine
2 critical violations. 7 major violations. 7 minor violations.
26
Feb 20, 2026
Routine
2 critical violations. 7 major violations. 7 minor violations.
26
Oct 9, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
70
Oct 1, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
70
Sep 5, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
55
Aug 28, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
55
Feb 4, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
70
Jan 27, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
70
Sep 5, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
61
Aug 27, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
61
Aug 23, 2024
Routine
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
67
Mar 8, 2024
Routine
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
67
Violations — Feb 27, 2026 Inspection
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Excess items and debris in back alley way. Clean all excess trash items.
590.006/6-501.114-C
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Numerous container and buckets of food observed stored in different cold holding unit observed without date marking. Provide made/discard date before storing.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Food temperature measuring devices (pf)
Inspector notes: provide properly working metal stem cooks thermometer to measure both hot and cold foods
590.004/4-302.12-PF
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Person in charge must be properly trained to monitor hand washing understand proper procedures for manual ware washing of equipment ensure proper cleaning methods and frequency for clean in place of food and non food contact surfaces and review responsibilities for company illness procedures. Certified Manager must retrain all staff.
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Interior of freezer observed with accumulated food spills and encrusted debris. clean to remove
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Front door observed without door sweep. provide door sweep to remove all daylight from exterior door
590.006/6-202.15-C
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Lettuce tomato and onion salad at the front service unit with elavated temperature of 59F. Discontinue and ensure all TCS foods are being maintained at below 41F
590.003/3-501.16-P
Miscellaneous sources of contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Black beans observed stored inside a green sanitizer bucket in the refrigerator/ food must be stored in approved food-grade containers only. Discontinue (COS) Green cutting board observed stored on the floor near the oven. Food contact surface and utensils must be stored at leat 6 inch of the floor to prevent contamination ./Properly store on a clean elevated surface or desiginated storage rack.
590.003/3-307.11-C
Food preparation (c)
Inspector notes: There is no prep sink to wash produce lettuce . Provide a food prep sink to protect produce during preparation. 2.27.2027 copy of the variance form provided at the time of compliance visit No space to install a prep sink
590.003/3-305.14-C
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Squeeze bottles filled with sauces observed with no labels. Provide
590.003/3-302.12-C
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw eggs observed stored above (ready -to -eat food) vegetables in refrigerator. Store raw animal products below RTE foods at all times to prevent contamination
590.003/3-302.11-P
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Refrigerator/foods stored uncovered in units/properly cover all foods
590.003/3-302.11-C
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: Both handwashing sink in front service area and kitchen observed without paper towels. Provide and maintain all the time
590.006/6-301.12-PF
(a) (b) and (c)(1) (4)-(16) demonstration (pf)
Inspector notes: At the time of inspection the staff on site were unable to answer question pertaining to temperature control or any managerial controls. .CFPM to train staff on procedures The PIC Jennifer is not a certified food manager. Provide a full time certified food manager at this location.
590.002(B)/2-102.11-PF
Controlling pests (c)
Inspector notes: Evidence of minor mouse dropping observed in the kitchen between the oven and fridge on the floor/ clean to remove./ Provide a detailed licensed exterminator’s report to keila.depina@boston.gov
590.006/6-501.111-C
Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)
Inspector notes: No procedure or supplies for vomit/ diarrhea clean up kit./ Provide complete vomit clean up kit
590.002/2-501.11-PF
Priority (Critical)
Priority Foundation (Major)
Core (Minor)
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