BLACKWOOD BBQ.

Chicago Health Dept

222 W MERCHANDISE MART PLZ · RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Jan 2025), 3 critical violations noted.

6 inspections on record since 2019 · Last inspected Jan 2025.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

JAN 2025

INSPECTION HISTORY

JAN 29

2025

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 9 violations 3 CRITICAL

Critical Documentation & Training

PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION

Critical Documentation & Training

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO DISPOSABLE TOWELS AT HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED HANDWASHING SINKS SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH HAND DRYING PROVISIONS AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE DISPOSABLE TOWELS PROVIDED FOR HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR PREP AREA BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Sanitation

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED BUILDUP ON CAN OPENER IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE CAN OPENER.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH COUNTER IN REAR PREP. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

Serious Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED PREP TABLE IN REAR NEAR ICE MACHINE WITH BUILDUP ON LEGS AND PANS AT BASE OF TABLE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE PREP TABLE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED DRAINPIPE OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK LEAKING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR DRAINPIPE OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED DIMLY LIT REAR PREP AREA IN AREA NEAR ICE MACHINE AND PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY IN REAR PREP AREA IN AREA NEAR ICE MACHINE AND PREP TABLE.

Minor Other

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.

MAY 21

2024

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 2 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Food Temperature

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED IMPROPER MINIMUM WATER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 66.7-79.3F AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN MEN AND WOMEN'S WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED A HANDWASHING SINK SHALL BE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE WATER AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 100F THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR COMBINATION FAUCET. CORRECTED ON SITE HANDWASHING SINKS REPAIRED AND AT PROPER MINIMUM TEMPERATURES BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. OBSERVED PROPER MINIMUM WATER TEMPERATURES AT MEN'S HANDWASHING SINK OF 102.7F AND WOMEN'S HANDWASHING SINK OF 101.8F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED CRATES USED TO ELEVATE LARGE CONTAINERS OF BBQ SAUCE(UNDER COUNTER) AND SODA IN A BOX(NEAR BACK DOOR). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

FEB 21

2023

PASS 3 violations

Serious Sanitation

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

4-602.12: OBSERVED INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE TO BE SLIGHTLY SOILED WITH DEBRIS ON INTERIOR EDGES. FACILITY MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Food Temperature

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

4-204.112(B): THERMOMETERS IS NOT PROVIDED IN ALL COLD AND HOT HOLDING UNITS. COLD/HOT HOLDING EQUIPMENT USED FOR TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE THERMOMETER IN AN EASILY VIEWED LOCATION.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

3-307.11: PLASTIC CUP WITHOUT A HANDLE USED AS A SCOOP FOR DRY STORAGE FOOD CONTAINERS. FACILITY MUST REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH A SCOOP THAT HAS A HANDLE.

FEB 14

2023

FAIL 10 violations 3 CRITICAL

Critical Documentation & Training

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

NO ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WAS POSTED NOR PROVIDED ON SITE FOR THE PRESENT MANAGER ON DUTY WHILE TCS FOODS SUCH AS BEEF AND CHICKEN WERE PREPARED AND MADE ON SITE. NO VALID DOCCUMENTATION ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. A LEAST ONE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE WHEN FOOD IS HANDLED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Sanitation

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE TO BE SLIGHTLY SOILED WITH DEBRIS ON INTERIOR EDGES. FACILITY MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Serious Documentation & Training

PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

DATE OF MAC & CHEESE MARKED ON 2/7/23 EXCEEDS THE TIME LIMIT AND HAS PASSED THE 7 DAY EXPIRATION DATE ON 2/13/23. DISCUSSED AND REVIEWED HACCP CONCEPTS WITH PERSON IN CHARGE THAT FOOD IN ESTABLISHMENT CAN BE HELD LESS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 7DAYS. APPROXIMATELY 22.5 POUNDS AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $270.00 HAS BEEN DISCARDED ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Food Temperature

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

THERMOMETERS IS NOT PROVIDED IN ALL COLD AND HOT HOLDING UNITS. COLD/HOT HOLDING EQUIPMENT USED FOR TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE THERMOMETER IN AN EASILY VIEWED LOCATION.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK WITH SERVICE REPORTS NOT PROVIDED ON SITE. FACILITY MUST ENSURE THAT ALL SERVICE REPORT FROM THE LICENSE PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020 (C) CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY OVER 20 SMALL BLACK FLYING INSECTS WHEN ENTERING THROUGH THE BACK DOOR NEAR WALK-IN COOLER AREA. THE PREMISES SHALL BE MAINTAINED FREE OF CRAWLING INSECTS, RODENTSM AND OTHER PESTS, AND THE PRESENCE OF FLYING INSECTS SHALL BE EFFECTIVELY MINIMZED USING A LICENSE PEST CONTROL SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020 (A) CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

PLASTIC CUP WITHOUT A HANDLE USED AS A SCOOP FOR DRY STORAGE FOOD CONTAINERS. FACILITY MUST REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH A SCOOP THAT HAS A HANDLE.

Minor Documentation & Training

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATIONS ON SITE. FACILITY MUST ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT HAVE A CITY MANAGERS CERTIFICATION, MUST OBTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE.

Minor Documentation & Training

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED ON SITE DATED FROM 2/7/2022. REPORT #2549480. #58) OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST COMPLETE TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Other

SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

PREVIOUS SUMMARY REPORT DATED FROM 2/7/22 WAS NOT POSTED IN THE PUBLICS VIEW. FACILITY HAD SUMMARY REPORT IN BINDER AT TIME OF INSPECTION. FACILITY MUST ALWAYS POST UP SUMMARY REPORT IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010 (B) CITATION ISSUED.

FEB 7

2022

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 3 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO SOAP AT EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK LOCATED IN MIDDLE AREA NEXT TO ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN SOAP AT ALL EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Documentation & Training

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST COMPLETE TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Other

MISCELLANEOUS / PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS

OBSERVED NO LIST OF WHICH EMPLOYEES ARE VACCINATED AND WHICH ARE TESTING WEEKLY. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

show all 6 inspections →

DEC 10

2019

PASS · 0 violations

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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