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THE WORM HOLE

1462 N MILWAUKEE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60622 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

THE WORM HOLE has been inspected 12 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since March 15, 2010. The most recent inspection, on August 7, 2025, found no infractions.

6 of 12 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, Cleaning and sanitizing and Pests.

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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 31, 2025. 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 2 times on July 31, 2025. 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 31, 2025. 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 July 31, 2025. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 November 13, 2017. For example: SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME

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.

12 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • No certified food service manager on site while handling and serving TCS foods ( steaming milk ) instructed to obtain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • No hands washing signs in staff restrooms, Instructed to provide.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • Low temp dish washing machine not sanitizing at final rinse, 0ppm obtained on Cl test strips. Instructed to provide proper sanitizer concentration level at final rinse. Priority violation 7-38-025. Machine is tagged not allowed to use. Must contact the office of CDPH for tag removal request.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • No proof of pest control service, No log book. Instructed to provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(c)
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • Customers have access to dry food/spices storage room and clean utensils, Instructed manager to prevent access.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • Ice scoop stored in unclean scoop holder, water pooling at bottom of scoop.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • Unable to locate backflow prevention device at basement's ice maker, instructed to install.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass Re-Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • THE PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WHILE TCS FOOD IS PREPARED/SERVED. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • 6-301.14 MUST PROVIDE HAND WASH SIGNS IN RESTROOMS, MAINTAIN.
    • 50. HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE
      • FOUND INADEQUATE TEMPERATURE OF HOT WATER AT RESTROOM HAND SINK, 3-COMPARTMENT SINK, AND PREP HANDWASHING SINK (68.2F-70.4F). INSTRUCTED HOT WATER AT HANDWASHING SINKS MUST BE 100F-120F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.114 FOUND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASEMENT. MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6" OFF FLOOR, MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.12 MUST CLEAN DUSTY CEILING VENTS IN RESTROOMS, AND MAINTAIN THEM
  5. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • MUST PROVIDE HAND WASH SIGNS IN RESTROOMS, MAINTAIN.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • FOUND APPROXIMATELY 150-200 RODENT DROPPINGS IN THE BASEMENT ON THE FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND BEHIND THE ICE MACHINE. RECOMMEND CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR SERVICE BEFORE REINSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DROPPINGS AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN DUSTY CEILING VENTS IN RESTROOMS, MAINTAIN THEM.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASEMENT. MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6" OFF FLOOR, MAINTAIN.
  6. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 NO CITATION ISSUED
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED BLACK MILK CRATES USED TO STORE FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE FOOD GRADE SHELVING.
  7. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 8. SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME
      • LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE IN USE AND UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY SANITIZE (OPPM CHLORINE) AT TIME OF INSPECTION: THE DISH MACHINE MUST SANITIZE BETWEEN 50-100PPM CHLORINE AT ALL TIMES. MACHINE WAS TAGGED AND CANNOT BE USED UNTIL IT REPAIRED AND PROPERLY SANITIZING AND RE-INSPECTED BY CDPH TO VERIFY ADEQUATE SANITIZING LEVELS. INSTRUCTED TO USE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TO PROPERLY WASH,RINSE, AND SANITIZE EQUIPMENT. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-030
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE ICE MACHINE TO REMOVE PINK BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN.
  8. Canvass

    0 infractions

  9. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • FOUND EXPOSED WOOD SURFACES AROUND FRONT COUNTER AREA. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL EXPOSED WOOD SURFACES AROUND FRONT COUNTER AREA AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON REACH IN COOLER UNDER COFFEE POTS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON VENTILATION FAN IN THE EAST BATHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  10. License

    0 infractions

  11. License

    0 infractions

  12. License

    0 infractions

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