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REEMY'S FOOD GRILL & TOBACCO

8701 S COTTAGE GROVE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60619 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

REEMY'S FOOD GRILL & TOBACCO has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 2, 2024. The most recent inspection, on February 6, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

2 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 11 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Pests and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 29, 2026. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 on January 29, 2026. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 once on January 29, 2026. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 2, 2024. For example: PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

  • 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 10 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 6, 2026. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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.

6 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13// OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSONS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLETION OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.
  2. Canvass

    9 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT PROOF OF FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT TRAINING DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED FACILITY FOOD HANDLERS PREPARING AND HANDLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY(TCS) FOODS (NACHOS, ITALIAN BEEF, COLD SANDWICHES, ELOTES) WITHOUT VALID PROOF OF A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER AND CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE CERTIFICATE HOLDER IS TO BE ON SITE DURING TCS FOOD PREP, COOKING, SERVING AND OPERATING HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED HAND SINK IN FRONT FOOD PREP AREA WITH UTENSILS AND REAR HANDSINK IN DISHAREA WITH UTENSILS, PLASTIC CONTAINERS, CUP LIDS, SOS PADS. INSTRUCTED THAT SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED ICE MACHINE NOT CLEAN & ICE SCOOP STORED ON TOP OF A CARDBOARD BOX STORED NEXT TO THE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE INTERIOR SURFACES AND PROVIDE CONTAINER FOR ICE SCOOP STORAGE WHEN NOT IN USE.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED PEST CONTROL LOGBOOK WITH REPORTS FROM 2/4/25 & 4/9/2025; NO 2026 SERVICE REPORTS. ALL RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS MUST MAINTAIN A LOGBOOK THAT IS TO BE KEPT FOR A PERIOD OF TWELVE (12) MONTHS AND INCLUDE A COPY OF THE SERVICE TICKETS AND THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY’S ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC (IDPH) HEALTH LICENSE NUMBER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(C).
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • NOTED STICKY AND ELECTRIC FLY TRAP HANGING DIRECTLY ABOVE PREP COOLER AND ABOVE HOT HOLDING UNITS IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE EXISTING FLY TRAP DEVICES.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAK FROM 3 COMPARTMENT SINK DRAINPIPES. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR, RESTORE LEAK-FREE DRAINAGE.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSONS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLETION OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    11 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • PIC HAS NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID CFM CERTIFICATE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION CITATION ISSUED ON VIOLATION #2.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CHICAGO CFM ON SITE WHILE PREPARING/SERVING TCS FOODS (I.E BEEF, NACHO CHEESE, ETC.). INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A CFM ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHEN PREPARING/SERVING TCS FOODS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE HAS A BUILD UP OF A THICK BLACK AND PINK SUBSTANCE COVERING THE WHITE PANEL AND DRIPPING ON THE ICE. ICE IS PACKAGED AND SOLD. INSTRUCTED TO DISPOSE OF ICE AND DETAIL CLEAN ICE MACHINE. MUST MAINTAIN. UNIT IS TAGGED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • ICE SCOOP NOT PROPERLY STORED INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE HANDLE UP (TO PREVENT FROM HANDS TOUCHING THE ICE) OR STORE IN A CLEAN BIN/CONTAINER. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • INTERIOR OF TOILET ROOM WITH CLUTTER AND NOT CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN TOILET ROOM.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • REAR TOILET ROOM IS USED FOR STORAGE OF FOOD CONTAINERS. AREA IS CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED TO STORE CONTAINERS IN THE STORAGE AREA, ELIMINATE CLUTTER AND ORGANIZE TOILET ROOM. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS UNDER THE STORAGE RACKS IN THE REAR/FRONT AND IN THE CORNERS WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEANA AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MOPS NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE HANGING UP FOR PROPER AIR DRYING AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • WATER STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE FRONT PREP AND REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN CEILING TILES.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOOD HANDLER ON SITE WITH NO PROOF THAT HE TOOK THE FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING. INSRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALL CFM'S MUST TAKE THE ALLERGEN TRAINING COURSE AND PROVIDE A CERTIFICATE. MAINTAIN SAME.
  5. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. License

    3 infractions

    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • OBSERVED THE WALK/REACH IN COOLERS NOT ON AND BEING REPAIRED DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE UNITS MAINTAINING A TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR LOWER. PRIORITY 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED TOILET ROOM DOOR IS NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO MAKE THE DOOR SELF CLOSING AND MAINTAIN.
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF DEBRIS AND LEAVES IN THE OUTDOOR FRONT/REAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DEBRIS, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN OUTDOOR AREA.

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