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MARIA'S TAP

5357 W BELMONT AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60641 · Restaurant (Liquor)

Inspection summary

MARIA'S TAP has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since April 23, 2015. The most recent inspection, on October 18, 2024, found no infractions.

2 of 5 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, Pests and Protecting food from contamination.

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 2 times on October 3, 2024. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 once on October 3, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on October 3, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 October 3, 2024. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 7 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 3, 2024. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

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.

5 inspections

  1. Complaint Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Complaint

    12 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER NOR CERTIFICATE ON SITE. NOTED EVIDENCE OF FOOD EQUIPMENT AND FOOD ONSITE - NO PREPPING AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. ALSO NOTED UNAUTHORIZED FOOD PREP AREA AND NO RETAIL FOOD 1006 LICENSE ONSITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE AND NO ADEQUATE SUPPLIES ON SITE TO PROPERLY RESPOND TO VOMIT AND/OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO MAINTAIN A KIT WITH ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES INCLUDING A SANITIZER RATED AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF FOOD EQUIPMENT IN CUSTOMER RECREATION AREA OF BAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO INSTALL A HANDSINK IN AREA THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY USED FOR PREP AND IS CURRENTLY BEING USED AS A PREP AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(c) NO CITATION ISSUED. SEE COMMENTS.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF ROACH INFESTATION ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 10 LIVE COCKROACHES ON GLUE TRAP UNDERNEATH THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK BEHIND THE FRONT BAR. AND 5 LIVE COCKROACHES ON COUNTER AT FRONT BAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL ROACHES CLEAN SURFACES, AND MAINTAIN PREMISES FREE OF PEST. RECOMMENDED RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF FOOD EQUIPMENT IN CUSTOMER RECREATION AREA OF BAR, NO BARRIERS WERE NOTED A THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO INSTALL A BARRIER IN AREA THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY USED FOR PREP AND IS CURRENTLY BEING USED AS A PREP AREA. During preparation, unPACKAGED FOOD shall be protected from environmental sources of contamination. PPRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED. THE FACILITY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE RETAIL FOOD ONSITE SEE COMMENTS.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL SANITIZING TEST STRIPS FOR THE THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK BEHIND THE FRONT BAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE CHEMICAL SANITIZING TEST STRIPS FOR THE CHEMICAL SANITIZER THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED NO SERVICE SINK ON THE PREMISES AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO INSTALL A SERVICE SINK FOR THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF DIRTY MOP WATER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM. INSTRCUTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE FOR THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED REAR STORAGE AREA WITH CLUTTER AND ITEMS ON FLOOR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ORGANIZE REAR STORAGE AREA AND KEEP ITEMS ELEVATED OFF OF FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DIRT AND BEER BOTTLE CAPS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK BEHIND THE FRONT BAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN BOTH CUSTOMER TOILET ROOMS IN THE REAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND MAINTAIN.
    • 62. COMPLIANCE WITH CLEAN INDOOR AIR ORDINANCE
      • OBSERVED COUNTER IN REAR STORAGE AREA WITH USED ASHTRAYS ON THEM. ASHTRAYS HAD LIT CIGARETTES IN THEM AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE CIGARETTES AND ASHTRAYS FROM PREMISES AND INFORMED MANAGER OF CLEAN INDOOR AIR ORDINANCE. 7-32-020(C) CITATION ISSUED.
  3. Complaint Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Short Form Complaint

    2 infractions

    • 29. PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATION(S) CORRECTED 7-42-090
      • PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATION FROM 4-23-15 NOT CORRECTED. #38- MUST INSTALL AN EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK FOR HAND WASHING PURPOSES ONLY BEHIND THE BAR. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-42-090.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • SEE VIOLATION #29
  5. Complaint

    3 infractions

    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FLOOR BEHIND THE REAR BOX COOLER WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS
      • MUST PROVIDE A SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON THE MENS WASHROOM DOOR.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST INSTALL AN EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK FOR HAND WASHING PURPOSES ONLY BEHIND THE BAR.

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