Restaurant Inspections: Upper Crust, Wonder Cafe, Joe's Variety and More

The Watertown Health Department makes inspections of the town's 200-plus restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and more each year. They look for a variety of violations, including critical ones that could lead to food borne illness.

The inspection reports are public records. If there are violations, the inspector always returns for a follow up inspection to ensure that the violations are corrected. Establishments with repeated or serious violations are called for a hearing with the Board of Health.

Bemis Market

The Health Department also inspects markets serving food. Bemis Market was re-inspected at the end of October after one critical violation was found in August. It was remedied by the follow up.

• No employee had a serve-safe certificate to show they were trained in food safety.

• Plastic cups were being used as food scoops
• Scoop handles were contaminated with food products
• The hand sink was blocked by a mop bucket
• No paper towels by the hand sink
• A colander had food product still inside
• The hot and sour soup was stored at too low a temperature
• Cooked chicken and shrimp was stored at too warm a temperature
• Soap dispensers at the hand sink were empty

• Food permit was not displayed
• Ground beef in the refrigerator was too warm and food was stacked too high in the refrigerator
• The meat slicer had soiled food product on the blade
• The piercing tip of the can opener was soiled