Milk St Cafe
Last inspected: Apr 2, 2026
86
Score
Inspectors have visited Milk St Cafe 15 times, with records going back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Apr 2, 2026. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near four violations per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Milk St Cafe's latest score is in line with the Boston average of 86. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
15
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 2, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: No air gaps on multiple prep sinks in basement kitchen. Spoke with building plumber via phone. Provide quote for the scope of the work to request a variance or provide air gap on all prep sinks.
590.005/5-202.13-P
86
Apr 1, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: No air gaps on multiple prep sinks in basement kitchen. Spoke with building plumber via phone. Provide quote for the scope of the work to request a variance or provide air gap on all prep sinks.
590.005/5-202.13-P
86
Mar 11, 2026
Routine
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw shell eggs stored over ready to eat product in refigeration unit. Corrected on site.
590.003/3-302.11-P
Restriction and storage-medicines (p)
Inspector notes: Multiple medicine bottles observed in sushi and salad station. Discontiune storage of medication near food areas.
590.007/7-207.11-P
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: No air gaps on multiple prep sinks in basement kitchen. Spoke with building plumber via phone. Provide quote for the scope of the work to request a variance or provide air gap on all prep sinks.
590.005/5-202.13-P
Preventing contamination from hands (p)
Inspector notes: Employee observed handling ready to eat croutons with bare hands. Discontinue.
590.003(C)/3-301.11-P
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Guacamole on sandwich unit at 45F. Ensure cold holding at 41F or below.
590.003/3-501.16-P
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: No paper towels at salad area hand sink. Provide.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Segregation and location-distressed merchandise (pf)
Inspector notes: Expired cottage cheese in walk in cooler. Discarded by PIC. Ensure proper rotation.
590.006/6-404.11-PF
Conformance with approved procedures (pf)
Inspector notes: Sushi rice lab test and letters of guarentee are observed expired. Update.
590.008/8-103.12-PF
Handwashing signage (c)
Inspector notes: Provide hand sink only signage at coffe bar hand sink.
590.006/6-301.14-C
Wall and ceiling coverings and coatings (c)
Inspector notes: Missing ceiling tile by oven in basement area kitchen. Replace.
590.006/6-201.16-C
32
Nov 25, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 11 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Observed Guac Buffalo chicken hard boiled eggs in cold holding unit between 43F to 45.5F. Provide proper cold Holding of 41F or Below
590.003/3-501.16-P
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Reach in Unit and walk-in unit / Properly date mark all ready to eat foods/Provide made/discard date to all food prepped before storing in the refrigerator
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Food labels (pf)
Inspector notes: Display case / provide proper labeling to all prepackaged food Items ( Yogurt parfait Fruit cups)
590.003/3-602.11-PF
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple squeeze bottles observed without labels. Provide labels when removed from original containers
590.003/3-302.12-C
Walls and ceilings attachments (c)
Inspector notes: Basement kitchen observed missing celing tile above the Biodgett oven in catering area near the warewashing and in the main kitchen. Replace missing ceiling tile
590.006/6-201.17-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Basement kitchen and storage room clean the floor to remove debris. Clean to remove
590.006/6-201.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: 3 bay sink observed garbage disposal leaking from the bottom. Repair
590.005/5-205.15-C
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Observed employee without hair and beard restraints / provide proper hair restraints for all food prep workers
590.002/2-402.11-C
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (c)
Inspector notes: Front services case/ Provide Internal Thermometer to unit to measure 41 degree or below
590.004/4-204.112-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Green hood sticker observed expired in Oct 13 2025 / Contact hood cleaning company ASAP
590.006/6-501.14-C
Light bulbs protective shielding (c)
Inspector notes: In basement the lightbulbs have no shieldings or coverings. Provide shielding or coverings.
590.006/6-202.11-C
47
Jul 18, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Feb 5, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Dec 3, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Chicken 46F in top reach in Chicken 48F in bottom reach in / Items brought to proper refrigeration to cool down / Provide 41F or below
590.003/3-501.16-P
Cooling heating and holding capacities-equipment (pf)
Inspector notes: Reach in unit 50F / Unit was set to 45F and lowered upon realization / Ensure 41F or below. If repair is required do not store any items in unit until repair is made. Ice can be used in the top reach in during busy hours
590.004/4-301.11-PF
Walls and ceilings attachments (c)
Inspector notes: Hood tags expired in November 2024 / Contact hood cleaning company ASAP
590.006/6-201.17-C
74
Aug 22, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
May 3, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Conformance with approved procedures (p)
Inspector notes: Provide letter stating that the salmon is farm raised as it was originally stated it was wild and there were no letters or proof of parasite destruction
590.008/8-103.12-P
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Chicken salad 51F cut tomatoes 51F / Out on cold holding service line / All items were brought to bottom reach in to cool down after being prepped for lunch. Discussed cooling food before putting it out to service line and using the top unit covers to keep cold before lunch service begins / Provide 41F or below
590.003/3-501.16-P
Walls and ceilings attachments (c)
Inspector notes: Hood tags expired in April 2024 / Contact hood cleaning company ASAP
590.006/6-201.17-C
70
Nov 15, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jul 11, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Mar 13, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Dec 7, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean ceiling tiles in the bakery prep area. If tiles connot be cleaned replace them. Replace missing ceiling tile on ceiling at entrance of the bakery prep area. Clean floor area behind the kettles in the basmeent prep kitchen.
590.006/6-201.11-C
95
Aug 31, 2022
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Provide part for the coindensor in the walk nin cooler in the basement prep kitchen.
590.006/6-501.11-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: clean top of the grease trap in corner next to the 3 compartment sink in the basement prep kitchen.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Using drain plugs (c)
Inspector notes: keep all brooms and dust pans 6 inches off the floor when not in use.
590.005/5-501.114-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: clean the floor area of the landing behind the oven in the large Parve kitchen. Clean floor of area used as a dry goods storage area on the landing behind the small parve kitchen. Clean the floor area behind the kettle area in the basement prep kitchen.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: keep all wiping coths in a sanitizing solutio when not in use.
590.003/3-304.14-C
78
Apr 25, 2022
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: In the Parve kithcen keep all supplies 6 inches off the floor area. Clean the floor area of the landing behind the sushi prep area and next to the walk in cooler. araemove buildup od debris and soils from the floor area.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: clean the diorty pan storage rack. Remoe bujildup of soils and encrustments.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Provide proper storsge fo bulk foods. Keep in a coverd and if needed labeled container. Provide scoops with handles for dispensing all bulk fods. Remove plastic bowls with no handles used to dispense the bulk food items.
590.003/3-305.11-C
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: At the 3 bay sink area in the dairy kitchen keep mops 6 inches off the floor when mops are not in use.
590.006/6-501.114-C
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Milk St Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Milk St Cafe on file is from Apr 2, 2026. The public record contains 15 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Milk St Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Milk St Cafe.
How does Milk St Cafe compare to other restaurants in Boston?
Milk St Cafe most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is about the same as the Boston average of 86.
Has Milk St Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Milk St Cafe have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Milk St 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 Milk St Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Milk St Cafe is inspected around four times per year on average.
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