Chicago Health Dept
1543-1545 N DAMEN AVE · WICKER PARK, CHICAGO
Passed most recent inspection (May 2025), 1 critical violation noted.
17 inspections on record since 2014 · Last inspected May 2025.
3-302.12 : MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS (SHAKERS & SQUEEZE BOTTLES) WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE.
6-202.15 : OBSERVED A GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF REAR DOOR MUST MAKE TIGHT FITTING.
6-201.17 : MUST CLEAN DUST BUILD UP FROM CEILING VENT IN FRONT PREP AREA.
OBSERVED POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES BY FOOD HANDLERS BY HANDLING COOKED FOODS AT GRILL, THEN TURNED TO PREP TABLE AND SLICED READY TO EAT FOODS, AND THEN THE DISH WASHER HANDLED DIRTY DISHES AND THEN CLEAN DISHES WITHOUT WASHING HANDS AFTER EVERY POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION. (PRIORITY 7-38-010)(CITATION ISSUED)(COS)
OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY REMINDER ON MENU FOR RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS(EGGS) MUST BE PROVIDED AND MAINTAINED.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS (SHAKERS & SQUEEZE BOTTLES) WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE.
OBSERVED A GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF REAR DOOR MUST MAKE TIGHT FITTING.
MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE LOOSE CAULKING AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT.
MUST CLEAN DUST BUILD UP FROM CEILING VENT IN FRONT PREP AREA.
OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE UPON ARRIVAL WHILE TCS FOODS WERE COOKED AND SERVED. THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ARRIVED APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AFTER THE INSPECTION BEGAN. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER IS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEES USE BARE HANDS TO PICK UP GARNISH AND SPRINKLE DIRECTLY ON TOP OF READY-TO-EAT PLATED FOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE EMPLOYEES DO NOT USE BARE HANDS WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED VACUUM PACKAGING MACHINE ON SITE. NO VACUUM-PACKAGED FOOD WAS OBSERVED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN APPROVED HACCP PLAN BEFORE OPERATION. THE VACUUM PACKAGING MACHINE IS TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL HACCP PLAN IS PROVIDED. MUST CONTACT THE CHICAGO DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR APPROVAL. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
OBSERVED NO VARIANCE OR HACCP PLAN PROVIDED FOR VACUUM PACKAGING. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE AN APPROVED HACCP PLAN AND VARIANCE APPROVED BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED
OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING SINKS NOT MAINTAINED WITH HOT WATER: IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF HOT WATER OBSERVED AT HANDSINK LOCATED IN THE REAR DISH AREA (67.8F). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE HOT WATER AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS MUST BE AT LEAST 100F. SERVICE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED ON SITE AND NOW ALL SINKS ARE MAINTAINED AT 100F. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED BOXES/CONTAINERS OF FOOD STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE BUILDUP ON THE FLOOR/WALLS/CEILING OF THE WALK IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE EXCESS ICE, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD CERTIFIED MANAGER WITH NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE.
PLASTIC DELI CUPS NOT AIR DRIED AFTER WASHING, INSTRUCTED TO AIR DRY UTENSILS AFTER WASHING
PAPER DISPOSABLE CUPS USED AS A FOOD SCOOP, INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER UTENSILS.
OBSERVED EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IN REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA NOT MAINTAINED. OBSERVED HOT WATER AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME WATER TEMPERATURE 89.1F. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR HOT WATER AND MUST HAVE CONTINUES SUPPLY OF HOT WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE AT ALL TIMES WITH THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 100F. EMPLOYEES MUST USE THE OTHER HAND WASHING SINK FOR HAND WASHING. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.
FOOD ICE NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION DURING STORAGE. OBSERVED BLACK AND BROWN SLIME SUBSTANCE IN THE INTERIOR CONTACT SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE SLIME LIKELY TO CONTAMINATE ICE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO DISCONTINUE USING ICE MACHINE UNTIL SERVICE CLEANED AND SANITIZED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED NO PROPER DATE MARKING ON TCS FOODS HELD MORE THAN 24 HOURS INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER AND PREP COOLERS. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER STATEMENT ON THE MENU. INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE WHICH FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDER COOKED AND LINK THOSE FOODS WITH ASTERISK (*) TO REMINDER STATEMENT THAT STATES THAT EATEN RAW OR UNDER COOKED FOODS CAN INCREASE RISK OF FOOD BORN ILLNESS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
NOTED PRESENT TABLEWARE COFFEE SPOONS IN DINING AREA, UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION. MUST REMOVE, COVERED OR INVERT ALL FOOD CONTACT SURFACES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
NOTED CLEAN UTENSILS AND DISHES IMPROPERLY STORED IN FRONT SHELVING DINING AREA. MUST INVERT ALL CLEAN UTENSILS AND DISHES TO PREVENT THEM FROM CONTAMINATION.
OBSERVED DUST ACCUMULATED ON VENTILATION VENTS ABOVE 3-COMPARTMENT IN REAR DISH WASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
FLOORS AND FLOOR DRAINS NEED CLEANING UNDERNEATH THE DISH WASHER TO REMOVE DEBRIS. ALSO CLEAN THE VENT ABOVE THE HIGH TEMP DISH MACHINE TO REMOVE DUST.
OBSERVED EATING UTENSILS PRESET ON THE TABLE AND COUNTER NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO WRAP PRESET SILVERWARE ON TABLES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
FLOORS INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER AND FREEZER NEED CLEANING TO REMOVE SPILLS.
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE CEILING VENT ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR TO REMOVE DUST DEBRIS BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES: OBSERVED A LARGE PAN OF PORK STORED IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AT 50.8F AND A CONTAINER OF EGGS OUT ON THE LINE BETWEEN THE TEMEPRATURE RANGE OF 65.4F-86F. ALL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MUST BE STORED BELOW 40F OR ABOVE 140F AT ALL TIMES. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED 10# OF FOOD WORTH $60. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005A
FOOD (ICE) NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION DURING STORAGE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE: OBSERVED BLACK AND PINK MOLD LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE ICE MACHINE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ICE. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE MACHINE AND MAINTAIN. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-005A
INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE RIPPED GASKETS ON THE REFRIGERATION UNIT ON THE LINE TO PROVIDE A TIGHT FITTING SEAL AROUND THE REFRIGERATION DOORS AND MAINTAIN.
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE FLOORS IN THE WALK-IN DRY STORAGE AREA LOCATED IN THE REAR BEHIND THE RESTAURANT TO REMOVE BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN.
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE CEILING VENT ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR TO REMOVE DUST DEBRIS BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN.
GREASE AND DUST ON WHEELS AND INSIDE THE DEEP FRYERS,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
ALL THREE LIGHT SHIELD IN DISH ROOM ARE BROKEN,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE.FOUND 12 COOKED TAMALES STORED ON TOP THE COUNTER BY THE SMALL HOT HOLDING UNIT AT TEMP OF 76.6F TO 77.7F.HOT FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 140F AND ABOVE,COLD FOOD 40F AND BELOW. FOOD DISCARDED AND DENATURED POUNDS 12 EACH,VALUE 10.CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
NO SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS PROVIDED AT EXPOSED HAND SINK BEHIND THE BAR. SAID ITEMS WERE PROVIDED UPON MY REQUEST. INFORMATION GIVEN ON HAND WASHING. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-030
NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT PROVIDED ON PREMISES TO BE ABLE TO CHECK SANITIZER SOLUTION.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-030
GREASE AND DUST ON WHEELS AND INSIDE THE DEEP FRYERS,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
ALL THREE LIGHT SHIELD IN DISH ROOM ARE BROKEN,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
OBSERVED NOT ALL EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT IN PREP AREA,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
OBSERVED ICE SCOOP INSIDE THE ICE BIN AT BAR AREA, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN ICE SCOOP HOLDER.
CLEAN SIDES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE ALL BUILD UP. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
PROVIDE ADEQUATE REFRIGERATION IN PREP AREA.
INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INSTALL 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LARGE ENOUGH TO SUBMERGE LARGEST UTENSIL. ONLY BAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK ON SITE.
PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP/BAR AREA.
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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