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CHICAGO CHAR GRILL

5731 N LINCOLN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60659 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CHICAGO CHAR GRILL has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since March 5, 2020. The most recent inspection, on August 27, 2024, found no infractions.

2 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food source, labelling and allergens and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 30, 2023. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 23, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 28, 2021. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded once on June 28, 2021. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on March 5, 2020. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    9 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • DRY FOOD IN CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH COMMON NAME.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • PIPE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK LEAKING.REPAIR ISSUE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • STAFF WASHROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT SAID DOOR
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXPANDING SPRAY FOAM USED AS A SEALANT FOR OPENINGS AROUND FLOOR PIPING UNDER THREE COMPARTMENT SINK(SOUTH WALL) MUST REMOVE TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD BOXES AS MATTING FOR FLOORS. MATTING MUST BE WASHABLE/CLEANABLE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • EXCESS UNUSED ITEMS AT REAR STORAGE AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND ELEVATE ITEMS NEEDED 6"OFF THE FLOOR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • NOTED SOILED MOP HEADS IMPROPERLY STORED AT THE UTILITY SERVICE SINK. MUST STORE INVERTED AT SINK.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • HOLES ON WALLS IN DISHROOM AND MOP SINK STORAGE,REPAIR ISSUE
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON SITE,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
  3. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE EXPOSED HANDSINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE FOR ALL HANDSINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS PREPPING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE HANDLING FOOD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED RUSTY SHELVES IN THE REACH-IN COOLERS IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE RUST AND ENSURE ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES REMAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DIRTY FLOOR DRAINS UNDERNEATH THE THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA ---ALSO OBSERVED DIRT ON FLOORS AND IN ALL CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN FLOOR DRAINS, FLOORS, AND IN ALL CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED UNFINISHED CONCRETE FLOORS IN THE PREP AND WAREWASHING AREAS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO SEAL UNFINISHED FLOORS TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH , NONABSORBENT AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEE PERSONAL ITEMS STORED IN DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A STORAGE AREA FOR EMPLOYEES' CLOTHING AND OTHER POSSESSIONS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITH EXPIRED ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO RENEW THE ALLERGEN EXPIRED AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS WITH DEEP SCRATCHES AND STAIN IN REAR PREP AREA ON MILOS PITA SIDE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO RESURFACE OR MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILE IN DINING AREA NEXT TO BEVERAGE COOLER ON MILO'S PITA SIDE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY PROVIDED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND SINKS THROUGHOUT ESTABLISHMENT. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED RAW CHICKEN AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 44.2F IN 2-DOOR SLIDING COOLER. ALSO OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS FOOD ITEMS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE. COOKED CHICKEN AT 44.1F, CHOPPED LETTUCE AT 45.9F AND RAW BEEF AT 46.1F. TCS COLD HOLDING FOOD ITEMS MUST BE HELD AT A PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 41.0F OR BELOW. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND DENATURE FOOD. ALL FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS AT A COST OF $125.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED ICE CREAM TOPPINGS IN CONTAINERS WITHOUT A LABEL. MUST PROVIDE A LABEL ON ALL FOOD CONTAINERS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. MUST SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED BROKEN DOOR ON LEFT SIDE WHEN OPENING AT 2-DOOR PREP COOLER ON MILO'S PITA SIDE. MUST REPAIR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED WATER DAMAGE ON CEILING ABOVE PREP TABLE IN HALLWAY ON MILO'S PITA SIDE. MUST REPAIR ISSUE.
  6. Canvass

    0 infractions

  7. License

    4 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • - OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. MUST SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS. -
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • - MUST PROVIDE A DRAINBOARD, THAT IS SELF DRAINING, BY THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK FOR ALL UTENSIL AIR DRYING. -
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • - OBSERVED SOME ARTICLES AND OLD EQUIPMENT IN THE OUTDOOR STORAGE ROOM. MUST REMOVE ALL ARTICLES THAT ARE UNNECESSARY TO THE OPERATION, AND MAINTAIN. -
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • - MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS WORKING AT THIS FACILITY, AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATES ON SITE. -

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