EL MEZCALITO CANTINA & GRILL.
5147-5151 S ARCHER AVE · BRIGHTON PARK, CHICAGO
Failed 2 of 4 inspections. 9 critical violations on the cumulative record. Pattern of issues, not a one-off.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTION HISTORY
JAN 152026PASSED4 violationsDETAILS
5-205.15: OBSERVED LEAKING FROM BOTH PIPES AND DRAINPIPE OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO FIX ALL LEAKS AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND MAINTAIN.
5-501.17: OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM FOR SANITARY PRODUCTS.
6-501.14: OBSERVED BUILDUP ON FILTERS OF BOTH HOODS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE BUILDUP AND CLEAN FILTERS IN BOTH HOODS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR PREP AREA AND MAINTAIN.
2-102.13: AT TIME OF INSPECTION NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING PROVIDED FOR ANY FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
JAN 82026FAILED12 violations5 CRITICALDETAILS
OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ARRIVED TO FACILITY AT 10:50AM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ARRIVED TO FACILITY AT 10:50AM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED ALL NECESSARY ITEMS NOT ON PREMISES FOR COMPLYING WITH PROCEDURE AVAILABLE ON SITE WHEN EMPLOYEES RESPOND TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW WHEN RESPONDING TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
OBSERVED SHELLSTOCK TAG FROM NOVEMBER 2025 WITH NO DATE WHEN THE LAST SHELLSTOCK FROM THE CONTAINER IS SOLD OR SERVED. INSTRUCTED THE DATE WHEN THE LAST SHELLSTOCK FROM THE CONTAINER IS SOLD OR SERVED SHALL BE RECORDED ON THE TAG OR LABEL AND OBSERVED CONTAINER OF FRESH OYSTERS IN WALK IN COOLER WITH NO SHELLSTOCK TAG IN CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED SHELLSTOCK TAGS OR LABELS SHALL REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE CONTAINER IN WHICH THE SHELLSTOCK ARE RECEIVED UNTIL THE CONTAINER IS EMPTY. CORRECTED ON SITE CONTAINER OF FRESH OYSTERS VOLUNTARILY DENATURED AND DISCARDED BY MANAGEMENT, VALUED AT $110 AND WEIGHING 20LBS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
OBSERVED SOME ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS THAT CAN BE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED OR COOKED TO ORDER WITH NO ASTERISK IDENTIFYING THEM AS SUCH. INSTRUCTED TO ADD AN ASTERISK TO ALL ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS THAT CAN BE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED OR COOKED TO ORDER. OBSERVED DISCLOSURE ON MENU NOT STATING THAT SOME ASTERISKED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ARE SERVED RAW AND UNDERCOOKED. INSTRUCTED TO UPDATE DISCLOSURE ON MENU TO STATE THAT ASTERISKED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED OR COOKED TO ORDER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE OF WESTSIDE SIDE EXIT DOOR ON KOLIN STREET. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
OBSERVED LEAKING FROM BOTH FAUCETS, PIPES AND DRAINPIPE OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. OBSERVED LEAKING FROM FAUCET OF HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO FIX ALL LEAKS AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND REAR PREP/DISHWASHING SINK AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED IMPROPER MINIMUM WATER TEMPERATURE OF 44.4F AT RIGHT HANDWASHING SINK MEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED A HANDWASHING SINK SHALL BE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE WATER AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 100F THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR COMBINATION FAUCET. (NOTE: THE LEFT HANDWASHING SINK IN THE MEN'S WASHROOM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.)
OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM AND WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM AND WOMEN'S WASHROOM FOR SANITARY PRODUCTS.
OBSERVED BUILDUP ON FILTERS OF BOTH HOODS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE BUILDUP AND CLEAN FILTERS IN BOTH HOODS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR PREP AREA AND MAINTAIN.
AT TIME OF INSPECTION NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING PROVIDED FOR ANY FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
AT TIME OF INSPECTION NO ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYEE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VALID PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.
OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2611388 DATED 01/30/2025 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. CERAMIC/CLAY DRINKING CUPS AND BOWLS ON SITE. INSTRUCTED O ENSURE CUPS ARE LEAD-FREE OR LEAD-SAFE LEVELS AND MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF SUCH ON-SITE OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
FEB 32025PASSED3 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
4-501.11 OBSERVED NO STOPPERS AT THREE-COMPARTMENT SINKS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SINK STOPPERS AT ALL THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS.
4-101.13(C) CERAMIC/CLAY DRINKING CUPS AND BOWLS ON SITE. INSTRUCTED O TO ENSURE CUPS ARE LEAD-FREE OR LEAD-SAFE LEVELS AND MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF SUCH ON-SITE OR REMOVAL FROM PREMISES.
5-402.12 OBSERVED NO GREASE TRAP ON THREE-COMPARTMENT THE SINK IS LOCATED IN THE BAR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE GREASE TRAP AND MAINTAIN.
JAN 302025FAILED8 violations3 CRITICALDETAILS
OBSERVED NO HAND WASH SINK IN REAR PREP AREA THAT WILL BE USED TO PREPARE BREAKFAST FOODS. COLD HOLD PREP COOLER OBSERVED IN SPACE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDSINK ACCORDING TO FOOD CODE STANDARDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C).
OBSERVED RUSTED COMPONENTS ON INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE DRIPPING ONTO ICE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPLACE COMPONENTS, DISCARD ICE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005.
OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 50 MOUSE DROPPINGS SCATTERED AROUND PERIMETER OF BAR BEHIND EQUIPMENT AND IN CORNERS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL MOUSE DROPPINGS, SANITIZE AREAS, AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A).
CERAMIC/CLAY DRINKING CUPS AND BOWLS ON SITE. INSTRUCTED O ENSURE CUPS ARE LEAD-FREE OR LEAD-SAFE LEVELS AND MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF SUCH ON-SITE OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
OBSERVED NO STOPPERS AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SINK STOPPERS AT ALL THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS.
OBSERVED WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AREA. WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM 2ND SINK BASIN, WATER BACKS UP INTO 1ST AND 3RD SINK BASINS. GREASE TRAP OVERFLOWING ONTO FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025.
OBSERVED NO GREASE TRAP ON THREE COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN BAR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE GREASE TRAP AND MAINTAIN.
OBSERVED LARGE GAPS AND CRACKED TILES IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health. We'd love to link you straight to this restaurant's record — turns out Chicago considers that a luxury. The full dataset is what's on offer →