Thinking Cup
Last inspected: Mar 30, 2026
17
Score
Thinking Cup, located at 234 Hanover St, Boston, MA, had a high-risk inspection on March 30, 2026, with a score of 17. This inspection identified 10 major and 16 minor violations, including issues with hand drying provision, handwashing cleanser availability, and food storage in prohibited areas. While the most recent inspection indicated significant concerns, Thinking Cup's historical record shows mostly low-risk outcomes across 16 scored inspections.
16
Inspections
0
Critical latest
10
Major latest
16
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 30, 2026
Routine
10 major violations. 16 minor violations.
17
Oct 16, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
86
Oct 7, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
55
Sep 26, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
58
Mar 19, 2025
Routine
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
78
Feb 3, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
95
Nov 14, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
Aug 16, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
90
Aug 5, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
70
Jul 30, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
78
Apr 17, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
74
Apr 9, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
74
Sep 13, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jan 5, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Aug 10, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations.
74
Aug 1, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations.
74
Violations — Mar 30, 2026 Inspection
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: Kitchen area handsink observed without paper towel. Provide
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Handwashing cleanser availability (pf)
Inspector notes: Kitchen handsink observed without handwashing soap. Provide to prevent contamination by hands. Additional handsinks in close proximity observed in compliance
590.006/6-301.11-PF
Food storage prohibited areas (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple cases of coffee cups observed stored inside the mop closet. Discontinue Milk open case refrigeration unit observed stored inside mop closet. Discontinue
590.003/3-305.12-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple wipping cloths observed stored on equipments and counter surfaces. Discontinue stored accordingly
590.003/3-304.14-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Portion cups observed stored inside foods. Discontinue provide handle utensils to dispense.
590.003/3-304.12-C
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Several food storage containers/ bulk bins observed without labels. Provide labels when removed from original containers
590.003/3-302.12-C
Package integrity (pf)
Inspector notes: Can of black olives observed heavily dented. Discard. PIC voluntarily discard the damaged can of olives
590.003/3-202.15-PF
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Violations noted on the inspection report. PIFC to provide active managerial controls and train staff on violations noted on the inspection report PIC to remove 2022 Letter Grade PIC to label 3 bay sink & Food prep sink
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Door sweep observed missing from back door. Install to prevent entryway from rodent/ pests.
590.006/6-202.15-C
(a) certified food protection manager (c)
Inspector notes: PIC unable to provide current Servsafe Certificate. Post current/ updated CFPM certificate
590.002(C)/2-102.12-C
Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)
Inspector notes: Kit for V&D clean up events observed missing supplies Provide and keep accessible
590.002/2-501.11-PF
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Observed staff working with RTE foods without proper hair restraint. Provide
590.002/2-402.11-C
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: RTE containers of prep foods stored in different cold holding unit observed missing date marking. Provide made/discard to all prep foods before storing
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Old rat droppings and mouse droppings observed in the room behind the dishwasher. Clean to remove IPM report was provided on site and not detailed. PIC to provide detailed IPM report citing drop ceiling notation from a licensed exterminator to: inca.prince@boston.gov PIC recommnended to increase visit from licensed exterminator
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Repairing-premises structures attachments and fixtures-methods (c)
Inspector notes: Hole observed in the wall next to the staff restroom. Repair to prevent pest/rodent entry Ceiling tile observed missing in the mop closet. Repair
590.006/6-501.11-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Floor throughout the facility (upstairs/downstairs) in need of cleaning due to debris accumulations and crumbs. Clean to remove Stagnant water observed in kitchen floor. Clean to remove Floor inside walking freezer observed wth ice build up. Clean to remove Kitchen floor observed line up with cardboard. Discontinue
590.006/6-201.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Large hole observed on floor drain/pipe in the room behind dishwasher. Provide repair. Potential entryway for pest/rodents Pipe under display refrigeration unit upstairs (pastry) observed leaking. Repair Handwashing sink upstairs observed not secure in place. Repair
590.005/5-205.15-C
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Excess water from upstairs cold unit observed dispensing inside kitchen handsink. Remove to prevent contamination by hands
590.005/5-205.11-PF
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Interior of ice machine upstrairs in the coffe area observed soiled 3 bay sink (middle/sanitizing bay) observed soiled interior of refrigeration unit observed soiled interior of microwave unit observed soiled warewashing drying shelvings/ rack observed rusty. Clean & sanitize to remove
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: High temp dishwasher final rinse gauge observed not operating (EE message). Provide Repair Walking freezer observe with heavy ice build up. Repair to find the root cause.
590.004/4-501.11-C
Temperature measuring devices manual and mechanical warewashing (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC unable to provide a working irreverssible thermometer (no battery)
590.004/4-302.13-PF
Ventilation hood systems adequacy (c)
Inspector notes: Panini press machine observed stored under shelvings without hood ventilation
590.004/4-301.14-C
Ventilation hood systems drip prevention (c)
Inspector notes: Observed heavily grease buildup and dripping from shelvings where papinin machine is stored. Will refer to BFD
590.004/4-204.11-C
Warewashing machine data plate operation specifications (c)
Inspector notes: High temp dishwasher observed missing date plate. Provide Motor door from 3 cold holding unit observed missing. Repair
590.004/4-204.113-C
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple cold holding unit/walk in observed without a conspicuous thermometer. Install and keep visible
590.004/4-204.112-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Cases of soy milk and other bottle beverages observed stored on the ground. Discontinue/ Elevate
590.003/3-305.11-C
Priority (Critical)
Priority Foundation (Major)
Core (Minor)
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