Health Inspection: Insects Spark Failure at Local Coffee Shop

Patch reviewed heath inspection reports in Lake View, and a new slew of businesses were examined since our last inspection report.

Information was 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' license is automatically suspended.

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

New Tokyo

3139 N. Broadway
Inspection Date: Nov. 26
Pass

• New Tokyo may have passed their health examination, but the inspector noticed a few things the restaurant needed to change. Black mold was found around a sink, the ladies restroom didn’t have proper ventilation and dirty food was splatted on a wall. Owners made the changes requested and were approved.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

3455 N. Clark St.
Inspection Date: Nov. 27
Pass

• Health inspectors found dirt and grime at Einstein Bros. Bagels, but it wasn’t serious enough to warrant a failure. According to the report, employees were instructed to clean the microwaves, refrigerator and cabinets. In addition, floors and walls needed to be cleaned and sanitized “to remove food debris and grime build up at all corners.”

Caribou Coffee

3300 N. Broadway
Inspection Date: Nov. 27
Fail

• While the popular East Lake View coffee joint passed a Dec. 4 re-inspection, health inspectors had to fail Caribou Coffee during their initial exam. According to the report, about 40 insects were counted behind the food prep area. It was considered to be a serious violation.

Panes Bread Café

3002 N. Sheffield Ave.
Inspection Date: Nov. 27
Pass

• Panes Bread Café passed its health inspection, but not before fixing a few noted errors. Inspectors instructed owners to “remove all dead insects” from the kitchen light fixtures, as well as provide an ice scoop for the ice machine. In addition, employees weren’t wearing required hair restraints when the inspector came through.

Coffee & Tea Exchange

3311 N. Broadway
Inspection Date: Nov. 27
Pass

• The East Lake View store almost passed their examination with flying colors, but like almost every report, inspectors found a few things owners needed to address. For example, a leaky pipe under a sink needed to be fixed. In addition, inspectors told owners to remove the clutter from the food storage area so rodents wouldn’t create a cozy home there.

Penny’s Noodle Shop

3400 N. Sheffield Ave.
Inspection Date: Nov. 27
Pass

• A health inspector visited Penny’s Noodle Shop recently, and while it passed, a few items of interest were noted in the report. According to the inspector, owners were instructed to repair multiple holes in walls, as well as fix a leaky nozzle in a sink. The inspector also found damaged floorboards and unlabeled foods in the cooler.

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