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PROTEIN BAR

1 W WACKER DR, CHICAGO, IL 60601 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

PROTEIN BAR has been inspected 20 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 14, 2012. The most recent inspection, on November 5, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

7 of 20 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Protecting food from contamination and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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.

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 15, 2023. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 November 5, 2025. 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 February 27, 2020. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 February 3, 2017. For example: REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

  • 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 July 31, 2014. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

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.

20 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED EXPOSED ICE IN ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA UNDERNEATH COUNTER WITH NO LID/COVER ON ICE BIN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LID/COVER FOR ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA UNDERNEATH COUNTER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF ICE IN ICE BIN DURING STORAGE TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SPLASHES, DUST OR OTHER CONTAMINATION.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED WATER LEAKING UNDERNEATH SCRAPE COMPARTMENT FROM UPPER TOP RIGHT SIDE OF SCRAPE COMPARTMENT OF FOUR COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAK FROM SCRAPE COMPARTMENT OF FOUR COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • EXPIRED ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED FOR ONE EMPLOYEE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.
  2. Canvass

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Short Form Complaint

    1 infraction

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 4-101.17 OBSERVED A WOOD BOARD IN PLACE OF A BROKEN WINDOW IN THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WINDOW.
  5. Complaint

    1 infraction

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • Food handler not wearing hair restraints. instructed to wear.
  6. Canvass

    0 infractions

  7. Canvass

    0 infractions

  8. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • INADEQUATE LIGHTS IN WALL-IN COOLER, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
  9. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  10. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HAND SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA, INSTRUCTED TO POST AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • FOUND TORN DOOR GASKETS ON PREP COOLER IN PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • FOUND GREEN CUTTING BOARDS IN PREP AREA IN NEED OF REPAIR OR REPLACING. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • FOUND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON LOWER SHELVES OF PREP TABLES IN THE PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND LEAKY HOSE CONNECTED TO 3-COMP SINK IN DISH AREA. ALSO, FOUND LEAK UNDERNEATH ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • FOUND RUST ACCUMULATION ON TOP AND AROUND GREASE TRAP, INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST, SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE, AND MAINTAIN.
  11. Canvass

    0 infractions

  12. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO VOMIT/ DIARRHEA CLEANUP KIT NO POLICY, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. A 90 day grace period was given for all new priority and priority foundation violations. Citations will be issued on the next inspection after the 90 day grace period for these violations. (New violations are marked with an asterisk*)
  13. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED RUST ON THE GREASE TRAP LOCATED UNDER THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE WALL LOCATED BY THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  14. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 40. REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS
      • OBSERVED REFRIGERATOR AT THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTER WITHOUT A THERMOMETER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
  15. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • Walk in cooler shelving/racks that had peeling paint/rust, shall be repaired/replaced. Cutting boards that had deep cuts in rear prep area shall be replaced. Caulk around exposed hand sinks in state of disrepair, shall be repaired/replaced.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • Non food contact surfaces of ice machine not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). Walk in cooler shelving/racks not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). Prep tables lower shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices).
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • Floors in walk in cooler under shelving/racks not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners).
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • Damaged/broken light shield in rear kitchen area by walk in cooler, shall be repaired/replaced.
  16. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR BOTTOM SHELVING AT BOTH 2-DR REFRIGERATORS TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRI.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE FLOORS AT THE MAIN REAR PREP AREA TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRI FROM THE FLOOR AND UNDER ALL HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST RESET THE HAND WASHING SINK TIMER SO AS TO PROVIDE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER FOR A MINIMUM OF 15 SECONDS AT ALL TIMES IN THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM. ABOVE STATED HAND SINK DOES HAVE COLD AND HOT RUNNING WATER AT THIS TIME.
  17. Complaint

    4 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • BULK-FOOD CONTAINERS NOT LABELED, INSTRUCTED TO LABEL AND MAINTAIN.
    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • FACILITY USING DISPOSABLE PAPER CUPS AS A BULK-FOOD CONTAINER SCOOP, INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER UTENSILS.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • DUST BUILD-UP ON WALK-IN COOLER FAN COVER, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • STANDING WATER AT KITCHEN CORNER, INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE.
  18. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE REFRIGERATOR RACKS AT THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER 1DR COOLER TO REMOVE ENCRUSTED VEGETABLES.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREMISES TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRIS.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST ADJUST TEMPERATURE VALVE AT THE MENS RESTROOM HAND SINK.
  19. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN STANDING WATER UNDER THE SODA DISPENSING MACHINE.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE JUICING MACHINE AT FRONT AREA.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • MUST MAINTAIN ALL FLOORS DRY AT ALL TIMES IN THE REAR KITCHEN AREA AND BY THE 3COMP SINK AREA TO PREVENT PEST BREEDING. ALSO MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL FLOOR DRAINS IN THE REAR KITCHENA AREA.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE WALLS AND CEILINGS AT THE JUICING AREA STATION.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST ADJUST TEMPERATURE VALVE AT LADIES RESTROOM HAND SINK.
  20. License

    0 infractions

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