Eating & Drinking · Boston, MA

Dot Block Diner

1203 Dorchester Av

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

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More Issues RecentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

Quick Answers

When was Dot Block Diner last inspected?: The most recent inspection on record was on Nov 4, 2026. The result listed by Boston Inspectional Services Department was “Failed”.
Were any violations recorded at the last inspection?: Yes: 6 violations recorded, none marked critical. Each one is listed below with the official wording.
How many inspections are on record?: 7 inspections on record, from Jun 27, 2025 to Nov 4, 2026.
Has Dot Block Diner ever been closed by the health department?: No closure appears in the 7 inspection records we hold for this business. The earliest is dated Jun 27, 2025.

The Full Inspection History

7 inspections

Inspection

Nov 4, 2026

Failed

6 recorded violations

majorCode 590.007/7-102.11-PFOther

Official Wording

Common Name-Working Containers (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Chemical spray bottles without labels. Label all chemical spray bottles to prevent contamination.

In Plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode 590.002/2-402.11-CEmployee health and hygiene

Official Wording

Effectiveness-Hair Restraints (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Food handlers without hair restraints. Provide hats or hairnets for all food handlers.

In Plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues

minorCode 590.004/4-101.19-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Nonfood-Contact Surfaces (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Aluminum foil lining shelves in kitchen. Discard foil. Shelf at coffee station made of unfinished wood. Paint or seal shelf as needed.

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 590.004/4-602.13-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Nonfood Contact Surfaces (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Grease and debris under fryer units. Clean to avoid attracting pests.

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 590.005/5-205.15-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

System Maintained in Good Repair (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Leak under hand sink at coffee bar. Walk-in refrigerator compressor leaking. Repair as needed.

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

majorCode 590.006/6-301.12-PFOther

Official Wording

Hand Drying Provision (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Kitchen hand sink out of towels. Provide soap and towels at all hand sinks at all times.

In Plain English

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

More about other finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Nov 4, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Jan 14, 2026

Passed

5 recorded violations

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

PIC will need to post an Allergen certificate.

In Plain English

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

More about inspection finding

minorCode 590.003/3-302.12-COther

Official Wording

Food Storage Containers Identified with Common Name of Food (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Not all food containers had labels please be sure all have labels.

In Plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode 590.003/3-304.12-CEquipment and utensils

Official Wording

In-Use Utensils Between-Use Storage (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Please discontinue to store tongs on oven door handles on the cooking line.

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

minorCode 590.004/4-202.18-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

Ventilation Hood Systems Filters (C)

Inspector’s Notes

PIC will need to clean the hood filters on cooking line. Hood sticekr good until end of the month.

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

majorCode 590.004/4-302.13-PFFood temperature

Official Wording

Temperature Measuring Devices Manual and Mechanical Warewashing (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

PIC could not find the measuring disk or thermal strips for the high temperature dishwasher. Please provide

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

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Jan 14, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Jan 7, 2026

Failed

5 recorded violations

minorCode 590.003/3-302.12-COther

Official Wording

Food Storage Containers Identified with Common Name of Food (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Not all food containers had labels please be sure all have labels.

In Plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode 590.003/3-304.12-CEquipment and utensils

Official Wording

In-Use Utensils Between-Use Storage (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Please discontinue to store tongs on oven door handles on the cooking line.

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

minorCode 590.004/4-202.18-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

Ventilation Hood Systems Filters (C)

Inspector’s Notes

PIC will need to clean the hood filters on cooking line. Hood sticekr good until end of the month.

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

majorCode 590.004/4-302.13-PFFood temperature

Official Wording

Temperature Measuring Devices Manual and Mechanical Warewashing (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

PIC could not find the measuring disk or thermal strips for the high temperature dishwasher. Please provide

In Plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

PIC will need to post an Allergen certificate.

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, Jan 7, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Nov 5, 2025

Passed

4 recorded violations

minorCode 590.003/3-302.12-COther

Official Wording

Food Storage Containers Identified with Common Name of Food (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Some squeeze bottles containers are missing labels provide.

In Plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode 590.005/5-205.15-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

System Maintained in Good Repair (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Pipe below wash bay at 3 bay sink leaking repair.

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 590.006/6-501.14-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Cleaning Ventilation Systems Nuisance and Discharge Prohibition (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Exhausthood sticker expired service by licensed exhausthood cleaner and post current permit.

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

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

Post all permits at a conspicuous location visible by the public.

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, Nov 5, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Oct 29, 2025

Failed

4 recorded violations

minorCode 590.003/3-302.12-COther

Official Wording

Food Storage Containers Identified with Common Name of Food (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Some squeeze bottles containers are missing labels provide.

In Plain English

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

More about other finding

minorCode 590.005/5-205.15-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

System Maintained in Good Repair (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Pipe below wash bay at 3 bay sink leaking repair.

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 590.006/6-501.14-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Cleaning Ventilation Systems Nuisance and Discharge Prohibition (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Exhausthood sticker expired service by licensed exhausthood cleaner and post current permit.

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

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

Post all permits at a conspicuous location visible by the public.

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, Oct 29, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Jun 30, 2025

Passed

2 recorded violations

majorCode 590.003/3-603.11-PFFood temperature

Official Wording

Consumption of Animal Foods that are Raw Undercooked or Not Otherwise Processed to Eliminate Pathogens (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Menu's need a full consumer advisory on burgers and eggs / Provide an asterisk

In Plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

minorCode 590.006/6-501.12-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Cleaning Frequency and Restrictions (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Clean establishment to remove construction dust

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 Boston Inspectional Services Department, Jun 30, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Jun 27, 2025

Failed

2 recorded violations

majorCode 590.003/3-603.11-PFFood temperature

Official Wording

Consumption of Animal Foods that are Raw Undercooked or Not Otherwise Processed to Eliminate Pathogens (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Menu's need a full consumer advisory on burgers and eggs / Provide an asterisk

In Plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

minorCode 590.006/6-501.12-CCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Cleaning Frequency and Restrictions (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Clean establishment to remove construction dust

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 Boston Inspectional Services Department, Jun 27, 2025 · Original Source