GOOD INFORMATION. BETTER PEACE OF MIND.Español · Always free. No signup required.

Eating & Drinking · Boston, MA

Grotto

37 Bowdoin St

Last inspected Mar 31, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

The department’s records list this business as closed or out of business.

Read Reviews on Google

Passed

Get the next inspection, free.

We'll email you when Grotto has a new health inspection. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.

No account needed. Unsubscribe at any time.

SteadyThe last two inspections recorded a similar number of violations. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

5 inspections

Inspection

Mar 31, 2025

Passed

7 recorded violations

minorCode 590.004/4-202.18-CFacility maintenance

Official wording

Ventilation Hood Systems Filters (C)

Inspector’s notes

Hood filters observed with grease build up. Clean to remove.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode 590.004/4-602.13-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood Contact Surfaces (C)

Inspector’s notes

Shelfing above cookline observed with soils and grease build up. Clean to remove.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode 590.005/5-501.15-COther

Official wording

Outside Receptacles (C)

Inspector’s notes

Excess oil containers in alleyway. No grease bucket for soiled oil. Provide barrel for soiled oil.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
minorCode 590.006/6-301.14-CHandwashing

Official wording

Handwashing Signage (C)

Inspector’s notes

Provide hand wash only sign at all hand sinks.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
majorCode 590.006/6-501.111-PFPests

Official wording

Controlling Pests (Pf)

Inspector’s notes

Mice droppings observed under bench seating in dining room. Clean to remove. Provide pest reports.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
majorCode 590.007/7-102.11-PFOther

Official wording

Common Name-Working Containers (Pf)

Inspector’s notes

Chemical spray bottle observed without labels. Provide.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode L1Other

Official wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s notes

No allergy certificate posted. Provide.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Mar 31, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Mar 14, 2025

Failed

7 recorded violations

minorCode 590.004/4-202.18-CFacility maintenance

Official wording

Ventilation Hood Systems Filters (C)

Inspector’s notes

Hood filters observed with grease build up. Clean to remove.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode 590.004/4-602.13-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood Contact Surfaces (C)

Inspector’s notes

Shelfing above cookline observed with soils and grease build up. Clean to remove.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode 590.005/5-501.15-COther

Official wording

Outside Receptacles (C)

Inspector’s notes

Excess oil containers in alleyway. No grease bucket for soiled oil. Provide barrel for soiled oil.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
minorCode 590.006/6-301.14-CHandwashing

Official wording

Handwashing Signage (C)

Inspector’s notes

Provide hand wash only sign at all hand sinks.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
majorCode 590.006/6-501.111-PFPests

Official wording

Controlling Pests (Pf)

Inspector’s notes

Mice droppings observed under bench seating in dining room. Clean to remove. Provide pest reports.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
majorCode 590.007/7-102.11-PFOther

Official wording

Common Name-Working Containers (Pf)

Inspector’s notes

Chemical spray bottle observed without labels. Provide.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode L1Other

Official wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s notes

No allergy certificate posted. Provide.

In plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Mar 14, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Oct 31, 2024

Not required

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Oct 31, 2024 · Original Source

Inspection

Oct 6, 2023

Passed

2 recorded violations

minorCode 590.004/4-602.13-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood Contact Surfaces (C)

Inspector’s notes

Heavy soils and visible rodent droppings located on the dishmachine. Clean to remove Heavy food soils on refrigeration units. Clean to remove. Heavy rodent activity on metal shelving units utilized for dishware. PIC removed plates to be cleaned properly. PIC Washed and sanitized the area.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode 590.006/6-501.18-CWater, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Cleaning of Plumbing Fixtures (C)

Inspector’s notes

Handsink with heavy soils and debris. Clean to remove

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Oct 6, 2023 · Original Source

Inspection

Sep 29, 2023

Failed

2 recorded violations

minorCode 590.004/4-602.13-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Nonfood Contact Surfaces (C)

Inspector’s notes

Heavy soils and visible rodent droppings located on the dishmachine. Clean to remove Heavy food soils on refrigeration units. Clean to remove. Heavy rodent activity on metal shelving units utilized for dishware. PIC removed plates to be cleaned properly. PIC Washed and sanitized the area.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode 590.006/6-501.18-CWater, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

Cleaning of Plumbing Fixtures (C)

Inspector’s notes

Handsink with heavy soils and debris. Clean to remove

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Sep 29, 2023 · Original Source

More restaurants nearby