Sugar Bowl Cafe

857 Dorchester Av, Dorchester, MA 02125

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Jan 28, 2026

100

Score

Low Risk

Across the available record, Sugar Bowl Cafe has nine inspections on file, the first dated 2022. On Jan 28, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around three violations to closer to one violation per visit over the last few inspections.

“Effectiveness-hair restraints” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.

Among Dorchester restaurants, the typical score is 86; Sugar Bowl Cafe is comfortably above that bar. The record reflects steady performance over time.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 28, 2026

Routine

No violations found.

100

Jul 23, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)

Inspector notes: Staff not wearing hair restraint.Provide

590.002/2-402.11-C

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: Ice scoop stored in the ice machine with handle in contact with ice.Discontinue and train staff to store ice scoop with handle above the ice or in a clean container

590.003/3-304.12-C

Mar 14, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)

Inspector notes: Noted no hair restraint worn during food prep or handling food. Provide

590.002/2-402.11-C

Dec 4, 2024

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Sponges use limitation (c)

Inspector notes: Observed sponge used for warewashing in the 3 bay sink. Discontinue

590.004/4-101.16-C

Sep 19, 2024

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Backflow prevention air gap (p)

Inspector notes: The PIC mentioned that they wash the produce in a middle of the ware washing sink with no air gap.Discussed with the PIC to provide variance request to wash fruits/vegetables in the middle sink.Will send a variance form to be filled and submitted. A variance was submitted by th owner to the Health Division for an approval.

590.005/5-202.13-P

Other liquid wastes and rainwater (c)

Inspector notes: Observed a drain hose coming out of the coffee machine and draining into a sanitizer 3 bay sink. Provide properly plummend.

590.005/5-403.12-C

Sep 6, 2024

Routine

3 critical violations. 3 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)

Inspector notes: Raw eggs stored above on a shelf with RTE foods. Removed by PIC

590.003/3-302.11-P

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

Inspector notes: Tuna salad stored in the refrigerator at 44.3F and Chicken salad at 45.4F. Person In Charge removed it and moved to another refrigerator to cool it down. Monitor the temperature of the above foods to be at 41F or below.

590.003/3-501.16-P

Backflow prevention air gap (p)

590.005/5-202.13-P

Other liquid wastes and rainwater (c)

Inspector notes: Observed a drain hose coming out of the coffee machine and draining into a sanitizer 3 bay sink. Provide properly plummend.

590.005/5-403.12-C

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

Inspector notes: Observed squezze bottles without any labels. Provide

590.003/3-302.12-C

Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)

Inspector notes: Observed food being prepped without any hairnets. Provide

590.002/2-402.11-C

Mar 2, 2023

Routine

No violations found.

100

Oct 18, 2022

Routine

1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Hand drying provision (pf)

Inspector notes: At the handsink there was no papertowels - Provide papertowels to ensure staff is washing hands properly

590.006/6-301.12-PF

System maintained in good repair (c)

Inspector notes: Handsink nozzle have water spouting out- Repair or replace nozzle

590.005/5-205.15-C

Controlling pests (c)

Inspector notes: Immature flies and mature flies observed - Provide an up to date pest control report detailed from a licensed pest control company

590.006/6-501.111-C

Apr 14, 2022

Routine

1 critical violation.

View 1 violation

Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)

Inspector notes: Whole shell eggs stored next to cooked bacon on bottom shelf of cooler. - PIC removed the bacon and placed on upper-shelf of cooler. dicontinue storing raw products net to ready to eat foods

590.003/3-302.11-P

Show all 9 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sugar Bowl Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Sugar Bowl Cafe on file is from Jan 28, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Sugar Bowl Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “effectiveness-hair restraints” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Sugar Bowl Cafe.

How does Sugar Bowl Cafe compare to other restaurants in Dorchester?

Sugar Bowl Cafe most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Dorchester average of 86.

Has Sugar Bowl Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Sugar Bowl Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Sugar Bowl 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 Sugar Bowl Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Sugar Bowl Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 100 — Low Risk

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