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PIZZERIA BY ALEX

4801 N AUSTIN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60630 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

PIZZERIA BY ALEX has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since April 3, 2015. The most recent inspection, on September 28, 2016, found no infractions.

1 of 4 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: Protecting food from contamination and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 8, 2015. For example: FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION

  • 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 April 3, 2015. For example: NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

  • 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 8 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 10, 2015. For example: VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 8, 2015. For example: FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS 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.

4 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NO MOP SINK ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE MOP SINK ON PREMISES WITH RUNNING HOT AND COLD WATER AND BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE.
  3. License Re-Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 16. FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION
      • FOOD NOT PROTECTED DURING PREPARATION.FOUND PIZZA DOUGH MACHINE AT FRONT/SIDE AREA IN USE.ALSO NO EXPOSED HAND SINK PROVIDED AT MENTIONED AREA.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AN EXPOSED HAND SINK AT MENTIONED REAR AREA.EXPOSED HAND SINK MUST BE INSTALLED UNDER CITY PLUMBING CODE WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER. AND SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS/HAND DRYING DEVICE MUST BE PROVIDED AT SAID SINK. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • ALUMINUM FOIL USED FOR SHELF LINER NEED TO BE REMOVED,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • ENCRUSTED DEBRIS AND FOOD INSIDE THE PANELS AND RUBBER GASKETS OF THE PIZZA REACH-IN COOLER,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.GREASE BUILD-UP INSIDE THE DEEP FRYERS,BOTTOM PART.GREASE AT OUTSIDE OF COOKING EQUIPMENT,AND FOOD BURNED ON TOP THE 10 BURNER STOVE.CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • CEMENT IN FRONT THE EXIT SIDE DOOR NOT SMOOTH,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NO MOP SINK PROVIDED ON PREMISES,INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MOP SINK WITH HOT/ COLD RUNNING WATER.A BACK FLOW PREVENTER DEVICE MUST BE INSTALL AT SAID SINK.FOLLOW CITY PLUMBING CODE. FAUCET AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS LEAKING FROM BASE.PIPE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS HEAVILY LEAKING,PIPE UNDER THE WASHBOWL INSIDE THE STAFF WASHROOM HEAVILY LEAKING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR ALL LEAKING PIPES. TWO WRONG STOPPER WERE BOUGHT FOR THE THEE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECTED STOPPERS FOR PROPER WASH-RINSE AND SANITIZE FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINK SLOWLY DRAINING,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR
  4. License

    7 infractions

    • 16. FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION
      • FOOD NOT PROTECTED DURING PREPARATION.FOUND PIZZA DOUGH MACHINE AT FRONT/SIDE AREA IN USE. RAW PLYWOODS WITH LONG NAILS INSTALLED AROUND UNIT IN LIEU OF THE WALLS,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE.FOUND A SNOW SHOVEL BESIDE USED LARGE DOUGH MIXER AT REAR PREP AREA.ALSO NO EXPOSED HAND SINK PROVIDED AT MENTIONED AREA.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AN EXPOSED HAND SINK AT MENTIONED REAR AREA.EXPOSED HAND SINK MUST BE INSTALLED UNDER CITY PLUMBING CODE WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER. AND SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS/HAND DRYING DEVICE MUST BE PROVIDED AT SAID SINK.FOUND OPENED BOTTLE OF WINDEX SPRAYER UNDER THE FRONT COUNTER BY THE OPENED FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS.CHEMICALS MUST BE STORED AWAY FROM FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS.MANAGER STATED WINDEX IS USED TO WASH TABLE,INSTRUCTED TO USE A FOOD GRADE/SAFE CHEMICAL TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE DINING TABLES. ALSO 3 LARGE WOOD PIZZA SPATULAS WITH ENCRUSTED FOOD,BROKEN AROUND AND TOP OF THE SPATULAS WERE PIZZA DOUGH TOUCHES THE SURFACE,BEFORE PUT IN OVEN.INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
    • 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS
      • OUTER OPENINGS NOT PROTECTED.FOUND FRONT DOORS WITH A 1/4" TO 1" GAP AT BOTTOM OF THE DOORS.REAR EXIT DOOR ALSO WITH 1/4' TO 1" GAP AT BOTTOM OF THE DOOR AND TOP OF THE DOOR.FOUND MESH AT SCREEN DOOR WITH LARGE HOLE AND NOT COMPLETELY ENCLOSED TO DOOR.ESTABLISHMENT SHOULD HAVE TIGHT FITTING OUTER OPENINGS(FRONT AND REAR DOORS).SCREEN MATERIAL SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN 16 MESH TO THE INCH. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-020
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • RUSTY SHELVES INSIDE THE PIZZA TWO DOOR COOLER(EAST WALL),ALSO OBSERVED RUSTY WIRES HOLDING SHELVES AT SAME UNIT, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL SAID SHELVES.ALUMINUM FOIL USED FOR SHELF LINER NEED TO BE REMOVED,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE CUTTING BOARD IN POOR REPAIR WITH BLACK,BROWN , AND YELLOW HEAVILY STAINS INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE FRONT PREP DISPLAY COOLER BEHIND FRONT COUNTER.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • ENCRUSTED DEBRIS AND FOOD INSIDE THE PANELS AND RUBBER GASKETS OF THE PIZZA REACH-IN COOLER,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.GREASE BUILD-UP INSIDE THE DEEP FRYERS,BOTTOM PART.GREASE AT OUTSIDE OF COOKING EQUIPMENT,AND FOOD BURNED ON TOP THE 10 BURNER STOVE.CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • BROKEN PLASTIC FLOOR ALSO HEAVILY STAINS WITH BLACK SLIME SUBSTANCE INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL.ALSO REPLACE BROKEN MISSING BASEBOARD WALL/COVING AT SAID AREA.CEMENT IN FRONT THE EXIT SIDE DOOR NOT SMOOTH,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • CEILING WALL INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER WITH OPENED SAEMES,AND STAINED WALL INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OPENINGS AND CLEAN STAINS.HOLE ON WALL BY THE 10 BURNER STOVE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND REAR SMALL PREP AREA WERE MIXER IS STORED.HEAVY PEELING PAINT UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS.INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL BROKEN WALL REMOVE PEELING PAINT AND PROVIDE A SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NO MOP SINK PROVIDED ON PREMISES,INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MOP SINK WITH HOT/ COLD RUNNING WATER.A BACK FLOW PREVENTER DEVICE MUST BE INSTALL AT SAID SINK.FOLLOW CITY PLUMBING CODE. FAUCET AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS LEAKING FROM BASE.PIPE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS HEAVILY LEAKING,PIPE UNDER THE WASHBOWL INSIDE THE STAFF WASHROOM HEAVILY LEAKING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR ALL LEAKING PIPES. TWO WRONG STOPPER WERE BOUGHT FOR THE THEE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECTED STOPPERS FOR PROPER WASH-RINSE AND SANITIZE FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINK SLOWLY DRAINING,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR

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