South St. Diner

178 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111
American
Last inspected: Dec 4, 2025
74
Score
Medium Risk

South St. Diner appears in inspection records seven times, starting in 2022. On Dec 4, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.

Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around two violations each.

“(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

That's lower than the typical Boston restaurant, which scores around 86. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.

7
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 4, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Sausage links in container on flat top grill at 115F. Reheated to acceptable temperature. Hold hot items at 135F or above.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
(a) certified food protection manager (c)
Inspector notes: Allergy certificates observed expired. Update.
590.002(C)/2-102.12-C
Maintaining premises unnecessary items and litter (c)
Inspector notes: Excess oil containers and trash observed in back alley. Remove all trash and clean all debris.
590.006/6-501.114-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker observed expired. Schedule cleaning appointment.
590.006/6-501.14-C
74
May 8, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Oct 3, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filters above fryer with grease build up. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Outside receptacles (c)
Inspector notes: Grease observed uncovered in back alley. Provide secure cover for grease container.
590.005/5-501.15-C
90
Jan 25, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw shell eggs stored above ready to eat fruits in production line refrigeration unit. Person in charge corrected.
590.003/3-302.11-P
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Cut potato left in ambient ait by fryolater. Potato at 58F. Person in charge removed. Ensure all cold foods are kept 41F or below.
590.003/3-501.16-P
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Ice machine in basement obsevred with soils. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Frozen food (c)
Inspector notes: Stand up freezer in basement is not working properly. Packages of french fries are not frozen solid. Person in charge moved product. Ensure all frozen food is kept frozen.
590.003/3-501.11-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filter observed with grease build up above flattop grill. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-202.18-C
61
Jul 5, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: Low temperature dishmachine not esting for sanitizer. Service as needed to meet 50ppm minimum. Wash rinse sanitize dishes in 3 compartment sink.
590.004/4-501.114-P
Miscellaneous sources of contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Condensation on dining room ceiling panel. Confirm condensation tubing is not blocked. Service as needed to prevent condensation build-up in ceiling.
590.003/3-307.11-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Debris under and around dish machine. Clean to avoid attracting pests.
590.004/4-602.13-C
78
Feb 23, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Aug 15, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Hot hold of Sausages on counter @ 85f ensure proper hot hold of 135f or above. Not sure how long sausage was out of temperature so voluntarily discarded by employee at time of inspection (10 sausage links).
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: Chlorine sanitizer not registering in low temperature machine repai to read 50-150ppm of Chlorine
590.004/4-501.114-P
Handwashing cleanser availability (pf)
Inspector notes: No hand soap @ cooking line hand sink replace
590.006/6-301.11-PF
Outdoor storage surface (c)
Inspector notes: Grease leaking from grease barrels and containers in back alley onto sidewalk and curb clean to remove. Power wash effected areas.
590.005/5-501.11-C
64

Frequently Asked Questions

When was South St. Diner last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at South St. Diner on file is from Dec 4, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at South St. Diner?

Across the inspection record, “(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at South St. Diner.

How does South St. Diner compare to other restaurants in Boston?

South St. Diner most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Boston average of 86.

Has South St. Diner's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at South St. Diner have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at South St. Diner 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 South St. Diner inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, South St. Diner is inspected around two times per year on average.