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THE HAPPY LOBSTER

131 N CLINTON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60661 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

THE HAPPY LOBSTER has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since January 25, 2019. The most recent inspection, on November 1, 2022, found no infractions.

2 of 6 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 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 7, 2022. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 7, 2022. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 8 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on February 14, 2022. For example: ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

  • 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 on January 29, 2019. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

  • Permits, records and postingLower risk

    Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.

    Recorded once on March 17, 2021. For example: SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

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

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13-FOUND NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALLEGREN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS.
  3. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • FOUND NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER OR CERTIFICATE POSTED ON SITE WHILE TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (LOBSTER) IS BEING STORED ON SITE. A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED, STORED, AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY THAT INCLUDES A SIGNED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7.38.010. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINK LOCTED AT BOOTH NEXT TO LOW TEMPWEARTURE DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • FOUND LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE INADEQUATELY SANITIZING AT 0 PPM AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A SANITIZING SOLUTION OF 200 - 400 PPM (FOR QUAT SOLUTION). PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-025.CITATION ISSUED
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • FOUND NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALLEGREN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS.
  4. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICIES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AND MAINTAIN WITH VERIFIABLE SIGNED COPIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2261262 DATED 1/29/2019: #58 ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION LICENSE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-42-090. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • NOTED NO RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY POSTED IN PUBLIC VIEW. MANAGEMENT WAS GIVEN TODAY'S INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO POST IT IN PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-42-010(B). NO CITATION ISSUED.
  5. License

    6 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ONSITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE CITY'S HEALTH FORM OR SIMILAR DOCUMENTS USED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010 NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURES ONSITE FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CLEAN UP KIT AND POST PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST DETAIL CLEAN DUST AND DIRT FROM CEILINGS AND WALLS THROUGHOUT AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REPAIR UNFINISHED FRONT AND SIDE WALLS IN PREP AREA, SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. INFORMATION PROVIDED.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALLERGEN TRAINING TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION LICENCE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
  6. License

    0 infractions

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