Chicago Health Dept
1537 N DAMEN AVE · WICKER PARK, CHICAGO
Passed most recent inspection (May 2025).
14 inspections on record since 2014 · Last inspected May 2025.
MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE HOLE IN WALL NEAR GRILL.
MUST SCRAPE CHIPPING PAINT ON WALL IN PREP AREA TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FILTERS AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT.
OBSERVED 2 CONTAINERS OF BULK INGREDIENTS NOT LABELED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAMES.
OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF GRIME AND FOOD DEBRIS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE LOCATED IN THE DISH AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
OBSERVED TORTILLA CHIP SCOOPER BEING STORED ON SIDE OF THE WALL WITH THE FOOD CONTACT SURFACE EXPOSED. INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO PROPERLY STORE THE CHIP SCOOPER BETWEEN USES.
OBSERVED FEMALE FOOD HANDLER PREPPING AND HANDLING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP TO-GO AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MANAGER PROVIDE THE FEMALE FOOD HANDLER WITH A HAT DURING THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION.
OBSERVED DIRT AND DUST BUILD UP ON THE CEILING ABOVE THE TO-GO BOXES AND THROUGHOUT THE TO-GO FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLE IN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED DIRT AND DUST BUILD UP ON LIGHT SHIELD COVERS ABOVE PREP COOLERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENTS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED TCS FOODS IN WALK IN COOLER CHOPPED VEGGIES, VARIETY SALSAS, PASTOR,CARNE ETC WITH IMPORPER DATE MARKING LABELS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABLES INDICATING DISCARD OR USE BY DATE ON ALL REFRIGERATED FOODS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED DIRTY BLACK CRATES USED FOR HOLDING PRODUCE IN WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND USE FOOD GRADE ONLY CONTAINERS.
NOTED THE FLOORS INSIDE THE WALK IN FREEZER ARE DIRTY. MUST DETAIL CLEAN.
OBSERVED BOWLS USED TO DISPENSE VARIOUS FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO A UTENSIL WITH A HANDLED SCOOP AND TO STORE THE SCOOP EITHER IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER IN BETWEEN USE OR IN THE FOOD WITH THE HANDLE FACING UP OUT OF THE FOOD.
FOUND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE: COOKED DICED CARROTS AT TEMP OF 60.8F.PARTIALLY COOKED STRIPS OF BEEF AT TEMP OF 45.7F- 46.4F AND 49 .CARROTS JUICE AT TEMP OF 68F. ALL PRODUCTS MENTIONED WERE STORED INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER .COLD FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 40F AND BELOW. POUNDS 92,VALUE 345 CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE HANDLING DIRTY DISHES(SCRAPING AND PUT THEM THRU THE HIGH TEMP MACHINE), THEN WITHOUT WASHING HANDS HANDLING /STORING CLEAN DISHES. NO HAND WASHING BETWEEN THE TASK. ONCE DIRTY DISHES ARE HANDLED,MUST WASH HANDS PRIOR TO HANDLE CLEAN DISHES.INFORMATION GIVEN ON HAND WASHING. MANAGER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-010(A)
OBSERVED VARIOUS KIND OF DISPOSABLE MULTI USE UTENSILS STORED UNDER THE WASTE WATER PIPE AT STORAGE LOCATED AT 1520 N DAMEN. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE ITEMS OR ENCASE SAID PIPES.
GREASE INSIDE THE DEEP FRYER BY THE FLAT GRILL INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
STORAGE FLOOR AT SOUTH WEST CORNER (1520 N DAMEN) OF DISPOSABLE STORAGE NOT EVEN ALSO DEBRIS AT SAID AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR(SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON ABSORBENT SURFACE), CLEANAND MAINTAIN FLOOR.
REPAIR WALLS AT DISPOSABLE STORAGE(1520 N DAMEN)NORTH SIDE.
POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE HANDLING DIRTY DISHES(SCRAPING AND PUT THEM THRU THE HIGH TEMP MACHINE), THEN WITHOUT WASHING HANDS HANDLING /STORING CLEAN DISHES. NO HAND WASHING BETWEEN THE TASK. ONCE DIRTY DISHES ARE HANDLED,MUST WASH HANDS PRIOR TO HANDLE CLEAN DISHES.INFORMATION GIVEN ON HAND WASHING. MANAGER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-010(A)
WASTE OIL GREASE CONTAINER WITH GREASE ON TOP THE LID AND AROUND THE EDGE OF THE UNIT.ALSO OIL SPILLAGE ON CEMENT GROUND.INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAID CONTAINER AND GROUND. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-020
ALL THREE LIGHT SHIELD ARE BROKEN AT DISH ROOM AREA,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
DIRTY DUST PANS AND BROOMS STORED INSIDE THE MOP SINK,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
OBSERVED SEVERAL PREP COOLERS WITHOUT VISIBLE THERMOMETERS. MUST PROVIDE THERMOMETERS INSIDE OF ALL PREP COOLERS.
AIR VENTS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL DUST BUILD UP. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
ICE SCOOP MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN SANITIZED CONTAINER. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND LIGHT SHIELDS IN FRONT PREP AREA.
PROVIDE BARRIER/CLEAR SEPARATION BETWEEN CUSTOMER WASHROOMS AND KITCHEN ENTRANCE.
Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-07-05. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →
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