Inspectors: Dead Rat at Buffalo Wild Wings on Lincoln

Patch examined some of this winter's food inspection reports in Lincoln Park.

Information, which includes all inspections between Jan. 18 and Feb. 6, has been compiled using publicly available data published to the website of the Chicago Department of Public Health's Food Protection Program.

Businesses 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 they 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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Treasure Island Foods, 2221 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 31
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors said managers needed to repair a leak on both spray arm nozzles of a deli sink, as well as a hole in a west wall of the business and several water-damaged ceiling tiles.

Starbucks Coffee, 1157 W. Wrightwood Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 30
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments were listed in the report.

Yak-Zies Bar and Grill, 506 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 29
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: There was no city of Chicago sanitation certificate posted on the premises, inspectors said. They also said they found a leaky nozzle that was repaired using plastic wrap, tin foil being used as a shelving liner and personal belongings being kept near food preparation areas. They asked that managers place internal thermometers for coolers in a "conspicuous" location. 

Duffy's Tavern and Grille, 420 1/2 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 29
Results: Fail.
Comments: Inspectors said they found one of the dish washing sinks with a severe leak; a rusted, leaky nozzle that was repaired using Duct tape; a grease trap with a missing screw that typically holds the lid in place; a broken baseboard; and an unusable toilet in the women's restroom. Several other violations were listed, including missing floor tiles, surfaces in need of cleaning/dusting and a torn rubber door gasket on the ice machine. The restaurant successfully passed a Feb. 7 reinspection.

Isabel's Restaurant, 501 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 29
Results: Fail.
Comments: When inspectors arrived, there were no paper towels at a kitchen hand sink. "Also observed cook on cooks' line not washing hands between cleaning tasks, preparing foods, retrieving foods from walk-in cooler and not changing plastic gloves being worn during that time," the report says. A written log of pest control measures was not on display, as is required. The restaurant passed two follow-up inspections on Feb. 7 and Feb. 13.

Butcher & The Burger, 1021 W. Armitage Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 28
Results: Pass.
Comments: Bulk food containers must be properly labeled, inspectors said, and single-use utensils should not be reused. The restaurant's wall-mounted fry slicer must be cleaned after each use, the report indicates, and raw wooden shelving must be sealed to ensure easy cleaning. Several other minor violations were also listed.

Matisse, 674 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 25
Results: Pass.
Comments: The lone comment included in the report is that managers may no longer use tin foil as a liner for shelving.

The Edge, 2720-2722 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: Jan. 24
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors asked that all bulk food containers be properly labeled.

Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi, 730 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 25
Results: Fail.
Comments: Inspectors discarded rice that was being held at an improper temperature, they said. They also said there was no evidence of rodent proofing, as is required by the city's code. The last pest control report dated back to August 2011, according to the report. Inspectors also reportedly spotted a can of Raid brand flying insect insecticide stored under a dish washing machine. A pest control company must visit the restaurant, the report said. Inspectors asked that all employees in the food prep area wear hair restrains and that they not reuse single-use utensils. Cardboard should not be used as lids for bulk food storage, the report says, and tin cans cannot serve as legs for metal shelving. Several other violations were also listed. The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Feb. 7.

Delightful Pastries, 1710 N. Wells St.

Inspection date: Jan. 25
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Ready-to-eat foods were found unprotected from contamination from the public, the report says. Those included 1 pound of sliced bread being held in a basket, an uncovered plate of cookies on display and available for customers and six doughnuts. Those foods were discarded. A certified food manager was reportedly not present during inspection while foods were being prepared and served. Spices in paper containers must be labeled, inspectors said, and tin foil should not be used as shelving liner.

Buffalo Wild Wings, 2464-2468 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 24
Results: Fail.
Comments: Inspectors said there were no paper towels at a basement sink near an area where raw chicken was being prepared. There was also no evidence of rodent or insect proofing. A log must be available to serve as proof, according to the report. Inspectors found a dead rat on a glue board in the basement's liquor storage room, they said. There were 10 to 15 rat droppings in the following areas—a back, caged storage section of the basement; under shelving across from a two-compartment sink; and behind stored C02 tanks in a back hallway storage area. Managers were told to remove the dead rodent and sanitize all affected areas.

They were also asked to remove all food waste garbage, debris and clutter from the basement floors. "All articles must be stored elevated and organized to prevent rodent harboring," the report said. The outside of the kitchen's dish machine was found with dirt and grease accumulated on a chemical dispensing area. Extensive rust was found on the door of the ice machine. There were dirty floor drains on the cooks' line and dirty ceiling tiles. Dead insects were found in a basement prep light shield, according to the report. Several other violations were also listed.

The restaurant passed a reinspection on Feb. 13.