Restaurant · Waterloo Region, ON

Symposium Cafe

Name: Symposium Cafe
Address: D - 500 Can Amera Pky, Waterloo Region, ON

D - 500 Can Amera Pky

Last inspected Feb 4, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

Read Reviews on Google

Re-inspection required

Get the next inspection, free.

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

Own this restaurant? Add an inspection badge to your website · Inspection prep checklist

Repeat problemsSerious findings or closures appear in two or more of the last three inspections. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

6 inspections

Compliance Inspection

Feb 4, 2026

Re-inspection required

5 recorded violations

criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection

In plain English

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

More about other finding

criticalCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ensure wash / rinse water is at 43�C or greater

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 —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use

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

criticalCode —Contamination

Official wording

Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces or equipment as often as necessary

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination

minorCode —Handwashing

Official wording

Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Provide hot and cold running water for hand washing in food preparation area, Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area

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

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Feb 4, 2026 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Oct 22, 2025

Infractions found

6 recorded violations

criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection

In plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode —Handwashing

Official wording

Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area, Provide soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area

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

criticalCode —Contamination

Official wording

Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces or equipment as often as necessary

In plain English

More about food not protected from contamination

criticalCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ensure wash / rinse water is at 43�C or greater

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

criticalCode —Food temperature

Official wording

Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24�C or greater for at least 45 seconds, Ensure wash water is between 60�C and 71�C

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use

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

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Oct 22, 2025 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Jul 3, 2025

Infractions found

3 recorded violations

criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4�C (40�F) or less, Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4�C (40�F) or less, Thaw all hazardous foods maintaining a temperature of 4�C (40�F) or less

In plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode —Handwashing

Official wording

Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance

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

criticalCode —Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Jul 3, 2025 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Apr 9, 2025

Infractions found

5 recorded violations

minorCode —Handwashing

Official wording

Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Provide hot and cold running water for hand washing in food preparation area

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

criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4�C (40�F) or less

In plain English

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

More about other finding

criticalCode —Food temperature

Official wording

Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

criticalCode —Contamination

Official wording

Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance

In plain English

More about food not protected from contamination

minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use

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

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Apr 9, 2025 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Nov 26, 2024

Infractions found

3 recorded violations

minorCode —Other

Official wording

Maintenance of sanitary facilities

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance

In plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance

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

criticalCode —Food temperature

Official wording

Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Nov 26, 2024 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Jul 15, 2024

Infractions found

3 recorded violations

minorCode —Handwashing

Official wording

Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Provide soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area

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

minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards

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

criticalCode —Contamination