SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

L' MERO MOLE.

EAT. 88/100

3661-3665 N ELSTON AVE · NORTH CENTER, CHICAGO

Last inspected April 1, 2025 · passed

4 of 5 inspections passed, with 1 critical violation on file.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
5
4 passed · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
17
includes 1 critical
RECORDS COVER
3 YEARS
since Apr 2022

INSPECTION HISTORY

APR 1
2025
PASSED
4 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINKS LOCATED BEHIND FRONT BAR AND IN BASEMENT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.

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

OBSERVED MULTIPLE CUTTING BOARDS WITH DEEP SCRATCHES AND STAIN ON PREP SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRCUTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO RESURFACE/REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOOR UNDERNATH ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED MULTIPLE FOOD EMPLOYEES WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TH EPRSON IN CHARGE TO RENEW EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.

OCT 23
2024
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

NOTED SERVING PLATES ON SHELVES AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SERVING PLATES TO PREVENT DUST ACCUMULATION.

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

NOTED ICE SCOOP STORED INSIDE ICE MACHINE ON ICE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE AN ICE SCOOP HOLDER. ALSO NOTED ICE BUILD UP INSIDE THE CHEST FREEZERS AT THE BASEMENT FOOR PREP/DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

NOTED LEAKING AT THE BOTTOM PIPE OF THE 2 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. NOTED SPRAYER AT THE 2 COMPARTMENT SINK HANGING BELOW THE RIM OF THE SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE DEVICE TO HOLD THE SPRAYER ABOVE THE WATER RIM OF THE 2 COMPARTMENT SINK.

MAY 18
2023
PASSED
0 violations
MAY 10
2023
FAILED
7 violations
DETAILS
SERIOUSFood Temperature
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

FOUND LOW TEMPERATURE DISH WASHING MACHINE (IN THE BASEMENT) AT IMPROPER FINAL SANITIZING RINSE AT 0 PPM CHLORINE CONCENTRATION. DISHMACHINE NOT IN USE AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO FIX AND MAINTAIN. A MECHANICAL DISHWASHING MACHINES SHOULD PROVIDE A FINAL SANITIZING RINSE OF EITHER 50 – 100 PPM CHLORINE (FOR CHEMICAL SANITIZING MACHINE) OR 180F FINAL RINSE (FOR HOT WATER SANITIZING MACHINE). DISHMACHINE TAGGED ‘HELD FOR INSPECTION’. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL REPAIRED (SEE COMMENTS BELOW). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025

MINOROther
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

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

INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE GROCERY BAGS FOR FOOD STORAGE INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER AND REACH-IN COOLER. MUST USE FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LOOSE FAUCET AT HANDSINK BEHIND THE BAR.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

NOTED MISSING WALL TILE UNDERNEATH HANDSINK IN THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OR REPLACE.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO REORGANIZE REAR STORAGE CLOSET (NEXT TO MEN'S WASHROOM). MUST REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES. USABLE ITEMS MUST BE STORED 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FRO INSPECTION REPORT# 2554807 ISSUED ON 04-26-2022 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #51 - BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT UTILITY MOP SINK LOCATED IN BASEMENT. MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. #51 - OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT BASE OF FAUCET 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN KITCHEN.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND MAINTAIN

APR 26
2022
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED A TORN DOOR GASKET INSIDE OF THE KITCHEN 3 DOOR PREP LINE COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE TORN DOOR GASKET AND MAINTAIN.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT UTILITY MOP SINK LOCATED IN BASEMENT. MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT BASE OF FAUCET 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN KITCHEN.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK 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 →

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