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LITTLE SMOQUE

125 S CLARK ST, CHICAGO, IL 60603 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

LITTLE SMOQUE has been inspected 9 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since July 21, 2016. The most recent inspection, on September 3, 2024, found no infractions.

4 of 9 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: Cleaning and sanitizing and Food source, labelling and allergens.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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.

  • 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 2 times on November 28, 2022. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 once on November 28, 2022. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 5, 2023. For example: ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 28, 2022. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 22, 2019. For example: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

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.

9 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • 6-304.11 OBSERVED A PANINI PRESS AND A FLAT TOP GRILL WITHOUT ADEQUATE MECHANICAL VENTILATION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION OR REMOVE SAID COOKING EQUIPMENT.
  3. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE NOT PROPERLY SANITIZING AT 0PPM OF CHLORINE DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER SAID EQUIPMENT MUST PROPERLY SANITIZE AT 50PPM-100PPM OF CHLORINE ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-025.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED PECANS OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS AND IN STAINLESS STEEL CONTAINERS BY THE WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOODS AND SPICES WITH COMMON NAME THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEAD NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEAD TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATES MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
  4. Canvass

    0 infractions

  5. Canvass

    0 infractions

  6. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • FOUND CUTTING BOARD CART WITH BLACK DEEP GROOVES. MUST REPLACE TOP CUTTING BOARD PORTION.
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • FOUND INDOOR GARBAGE RECEPTACLE LID WARPED, SAID LID IS UNABLE TO CLOSE. MUST PROVIDE: CLOSED, TIGHT FITTING, LIDS AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND WOOD DRY STORAGE SHELVES UNSEALED. MUST PROVIDE SEALED SHELVES SO THAT THEY ARE SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN. FOUND WALLS UNDERNEATH COUNTER FILLED WITH AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FOOD DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND BASEBOARDS THROUGHOUT FOOD PREPARATION AREA DETACHED FROM WALL. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
  7. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED MINOR DUST ACCUMULATED ON THE LIGHTS LOCATED ABOVE THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  8. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLER WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER EDUCATION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER EDUCATION.
  9. License

    0 infractions

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