The Whale Chicago

Chicago Health Dept

2427-31 N MILWAUKEE AVE · LOGAN SQUARE, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Jun 2025).

7 inspections on record since 2019 · Last inspected Jun 2025.

The numbers

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

JUN 2025

Inspection history

JUN 12

2025

PASS 4 violations

Minor Sanitation

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

OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL USED AS LINER ON EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED MISSING FLOOR GROUT, DAMAGED AND BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN ENTIRE FRONT & REAR PREP, DRY STORAGE, DISH AREA, AND DINING ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED A BURNED-OUT LIGHT-BULB IN HOOD SYSTEM IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BULB AND MAINTAIN LIGHTING IN THE UNIT.

FEB 7

2024

PASS · 0 violations

FEB 10

2023

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED SOME PREP AREA AND DISHWASH AREA FLOOR TILES WITH LOW GROUT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST REGROUT LOW FLOOR TILES AT PREP AND DISHWASH AREAS.

AUG 9

2022

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.12 CLEAN THE FLOOR BEHIND BOTH BARS AGAINST THE WALLS AND UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT.

AUG 2

2022

FAIL 9 violations 2 CRITICAL

Serious Other

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENU FOR THE GARDEN AVOCADO TOAST (INCLUDES SUNNY SIDE UP EGGS) ON THE BRUNCH MENU. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO ADD THE ASTERISK DENOTING THAT THIS FOOD CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED LIVE RODENT ACTIVITY AND LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED ONE LIVE MOUSE TRAPPED IN THE FLOOR DRAIN BEHIND THE MAIN BAR. MOUSE WAS DISPOSED OF IMMEDIATELY. PEST CONTROL SERVICE WAS ON SITE DURING INSPECTION. ALSO OBSERVED APPROX. 40 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE STORAGE ROOM NEXT TO THE REAR EXIT DOOR. OBSERVED APPROX. 75 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE WALLS OF THE BEVERAGE SERVICE CLOSET, AND BEHIND BOTH OF THE BARS. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE ALL PEST ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED THE FRONT DOORS NOT RODENT PROOFED WITH A 1/2" GAP AT THE BOTTOM AND TOP OF THE DOORS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF ALL OUTER OPENINGS.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

CLEAN THE SYRUP AND FOOD DEBRIS ON THE SURFACES BEHIND BOTH BARS.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED THE BEER LINES LEAKING BENEATH THE MAIN BAR ONTO THE TOP OF A BEVERAGE COOLER. MUST REPAIR. DRAIN LINES OR DRAIN COVERS FOR THE BAR SINKS MUST BE RELOCATED TO ELIMINATE SPLASH ONTO THE FLOOR.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Pest Activity

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

CLEAN THE WASTE RECEPTACLES STACKED AGAINST THE WALL NEAR THE REAR EXIT DOOR TO ELIMINATE PEST ACTIVITY.

Minor Pest Activity

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

CLEAN THE FLOOR BEHIND BOTH BARS AGAINST THE WALLS AND UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT. CLEAN THE BASEBOARD AND WALLS BEHIND BOTH BARS. CLEAN ALL FLOOR DRAINS BEHIND THE BARS AND IN THE BEVERAGE SERVICE CLOSET TO ELIMINATE SMALL FLY ACTIVITY.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED CHIPPING PAINT ON THE HVAC SUPPLY VENT ON THE CEILING AT THE END OF THE COOK'S LINE. SEAL THE OPENINGS IN THE CEILING OF THE STORAGE ROOM NEXT TO THE REAR EXIT DOOR.

show all 7 inspections →

JUN 8

2021

PASS 3 violations

Serious Sanitation

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED SLIGHT PINK BUILD UP INSIDE BASEMENT LARGE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAID ICE MACHINE.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN COOLERS CONDENSERS.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON AND AROUND CEILING VENTILATION COVERS AND CEILING TILES AT PREP AND DISHWASH AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

JUN 25

2019

PASS 6 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED AN APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM AND SIDES OF ALL DOORS AND ROLLING WINDOW DOORS IN DINING AREAS. MUST MAKE DOORS TIGHT FITTING.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST APPLY A SEALANT OR PAINT RAW WOOD TRIM AT SMALL BAR COUNTER TOP.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

MUST INSTALL A DUMP SINK IN BEVERAGE PREP AREA TO DISPOSE OF LIQUID WASTE.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

MUST SEAL, REPAIR OR REPLACE GAPS IN WALL & WALL BASES IN SERVICE AREA,BAR AREA,WALL OUTLETS,OUTSIDE OF WALK IN COOLER,UNDERSIDES OF BAR COUNTER TOPS,WALL AT LIGHTING.FLOOR TILES NEEDS GROUTING IN BEVERAGE AREA,1ST FL. MOPSINK CLOSET,LARGE BAR AREA AT DRAIN AND WALL.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

MUST CLEAN DEBRIS FROM FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT.

Minor Other

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEES FOOD HANDLERS TRAININGS .MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-09-06. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →

Report an error on this page →