Manager Throws Away 45 Pounds of Bad Food at Deli

Patch examined inspection reports in Bucktown and Wicker Park during March and April. Information has been compiled using publicly available data published to the website of the Chicago Department of Public Health's Food Protection Program.

Restaurants can pass, pass with conditions or fail using a standardized procedure. Establishments that pass don't have any critical or serious violations. Those that receive 'pass with conditions' had serious violations, but the violations were corrected during the inspection. Failed establishments had serious violations that weren't correctable during the inspection. A fail rating does not mean the business's license is automatically suspended.

All inspections are done on a routine canvass, unless otherwise noted.

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The Ledge Bar and Grill, 1745 W. North Ave.
Inspection date: March 28
Results: Pass
Violations: This visit was the result of a complaint. The inspector found food debris along the wall base and under equipment. Management needs to install shields on the light bulbs and splashguards for the hand sinks.

El Barco Restaurant, 1035 N. Ashland Ave.
Inspection date: April 1
Results: Pass
Violations: Utensils weren’t stored to prevent contamination and the ice bin in the bar area needs to be covered so dirt doesn’t get in the ice. The inspector found a dirty deep-fryer cabinet and missing floor tiles. Ceiling paint in the bar area was peeling and light bulbs need shields. Management needs to repair multiple leaks on the pipelines and three-compartment sink. There were also missing thermometers inside the coolers.

Luc Thuang Noodle, 1524 N. Ashland Ave.
Inspection date: April 1
Results: Pass
Violations: This visit was the result of a complaint. The inspectors found food that wasn’t properly stored—in reusable grocery bags instead of freezer bags. Utensils also weren’t properly stored to prevent contamination and the cooking equipment, shelves and coolers were dirty.

Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, 1651 N. Western Ave.
Inspection date: April 8
Results: Fail
Violations: One of the doors in the restaurant wasn’t rodent-proofed and there was no pest control logbook indicated the place had been sprayed. The inspector found plumbers’ putty around the gaskets in the three-compartment sink, which must be removed. The coolers were also missing thermometers.

Sultan’s Market, 2057 W. North Ave.
Inspection date: April 9
Results: Pass with conditions
Violations: This visit was the result of a complaint. Management had to throw away about $200 of food that wasn’t at the proper temperature, below 40 degrees. The food, totaling 45 pounds, included spinach and meat and cheese pies. The inspector also observed poor hygienic practices; food handlers were preparing food and then touching hats and their dirty aprons without washing their hands.

The dishwashing machine wasn’t dispensing enough sanitizer and floors were dirty.