DENNY'S RESTAURANT
1 River STREET, Cortland, NY 13045
Last inspected Mar 17, 2026
Official source: New York State Department of Health (health.ny.gov) · All data sources
Failed. Did not meet health requirements at the latest inspection. Many failures are fixed and re-inspected within days — check the inspection date.
This source doesn’t issue a letter grade, so CleanPlate derived the status from the reported violation data.
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Inspection history
Mar 17, 2026
✕8 violations
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Toilet facilities inadequate, inconvenient, dirty, in disrepair, toilet paper missing, not self-closing doors, missing hand wash signs
- Food (ice) contact surfaces are improperly designed, constructed, installed, located (cracks, open seams, pitted surfaces, tin cans reused, uncleanable or corroded food contact surfaces)
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Critical: Enough refrigerated storage equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained or operated so that all potentially hazardous foods are cooled properly and stored below 45�F as required.
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
Apr 25, 2025
✕8 violations
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Garbage storage areas not properly constructed or maintained, creating a nuisance
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Critical: Enough refrigerated storage equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained or operated so that all potentially hazardous foods are cooled properly and stored below 45�F as required.
Sep 5, 2024
✓Jun 25, 2024
✕12 violations
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Critical: Enough refrigerated storage equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained or operated so that all potentially hazardous foods are cooled properly and stored below 45�F as required.
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Critical: Enough hot holding equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained and operated to keep hot foods above 140�F.
Sep 5, 2023
✕11 violations
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Insects, rodents present
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Critical: Enough refrigerated storage equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained or operated so that all potentially hazardous foods are cooled properly and stored below 45�F as required.
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
Nov 15, 2022
✓6 violations
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Insects, rodents present
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
Oct 1, 2021
✓3 violations
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
Dec 6, 2019
✓12 violations
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof contruction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin
- Food (ice) contact surfaces are improperly designed, constructed, installed, located (cracks, open seams, pitted surfaces, tin cans reused, uncleanable or corroded food contact surfaces)
- Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
Jan 19, 2018
✓8 violations
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Food (ice) contact surfaces are improperly designed, constructed, installed, located (cracks, open seams, pitted surfaces, tin cans reused, uncleanable or corroded food contact surfaces)
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
Aug 9, 2017
✕9 violations
- Food (ice) contact surfaces are improperly designed, constructed, installed, located (cracks, open seams, pitted surfaces, tin cans reused, uncleanable or corroded food contact surfaces)
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Critical: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or below 45�F during cold holding, except smoked fish not kept at or below 38�F during cold holding.
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
Feb 22, 2016
✕7 violations
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Food (ice) contact surfaces are improperly designed, constructed, installed, located (cracks, open seams, pitted surfaces, tin cans reused, uncleanable or corroded food contact surfaces)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Critical: Potentially hazardous foods are not stored under refrigeration except during necessary preparation or approved precooling procedures (room temperature storage).
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
Jan 7, 2015
✕4 violations
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Critical: Food workers do not use proper utensils to eliminate bare hand contact with cooked or prepared foods.
- Critical: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or above 140�F during hot holding.
Jun 25, 2014
✕3 violations
- Critical: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
Oct 24, 2013
✓4 violations
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Improper thawing procedures used
Apr 30, 2013
✓
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Source: New York State Department of Health (health.ny.gov). Data shown unmodified from the official government record. CleanPlate is an independent service, not affiliated with any government agency. See something wrong? Report a data issue.
