Inspectors: Rat Poop at Bivona; Black Slime at Kumas Too

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

Information, which is dated May 6 to May 23, 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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Bivona, 2506-2508 N Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: May 6
Results: Fail.
Comments: Inspectors found 15 rat dropping in the middle area of the basement at the base of the stairs. The rear exit screed door of the kitchen was found with a half-inch gap along its bottom. Previous violations listed on May 31, 2012 were not corrected. Those included the need to repair the prep cooler door; remove particleboard cabinets below the dish room sink; provide a window screen for the small ventilation window in the dish room and ensure the walls in the dish room are easily cleanable. Chipped walls were in need of repainting and the ice scoop was not being stored in a clean container with sanitizing solution. Floors in the bar were littered with debris and broken glass. Several other areas were identified for cleaning. Many other minor violations were also listed. 

Augie's, 1721 W. Wrightwood Ave.

Inspection date: May 6
Results: Pass.
Comments: All prepared foods must be labeled and dated, inspectors said. Floors in the following areas were found dirty—under the cooks' line equipment, under the kitchen three compartment sink, and in the walk-in cooler. The shelving under pizza ovens and the coffee maker were filled with food debris. Stoppers were needed in one of the compartment sinks.

Saimai Thai Restaurant, 338 W. Armitage Ave.

Inspection date: May 6
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments were listed in the report.

Next Door Cafe, 659 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: May 8
Results: Pass.
Comments: The inside of the ice machine was dirty and in need of cleaning. The floor under the dry food storage area and another container was filled with debris. Employees in the food preparation area were told to wear hats or hair restraints.

Sushi Mon, 2441 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: May 8
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Inspectors saw food that was not protected during inspection and rice being rinsed in the utility mop sink. The rice was discarded. The tall reach-in cooler was found at 51 degrees—higher than it should be—and tofu, milk and eggs were discarded. The estimated value of the discarded food was $15, according to the report. Dirty cloth curtains were at both entrances of the kitchen. Inspectors said they must be cleaned. A broken self-closing door needed replacing. The eatery fully passed a re-inspection on May 9.

Yogurtland, 2468 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: May 8
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments are listed in the report.

Cook Au Vin, 2256 N. Elston Ave.

Inspection date: May 8
Results: Fail.
Comments: Employees were told to not store personal belongings in the pastry prep area. The chemical dish machine was not dispensing chlorine sanitizer while utensils were being washed. The machine was tagged for repair. A written log was not being maintained to demonstrate rodent proofing. Rear exit doors had a half-inch gap at the bottom of them and there was a hole in one of them. Bulk food containers were not properly labeled. A hole in the ceiling needed repair. A box freezer was in poor condition. It had exposed insulation and part of it was sealed with Duct tape. The restaurant passed a re-inspection on May 15.

Galbee City, 2437 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: May 9
Results: Fail.
Comments: One dozen eggs and 20 pounds of marinating beef were discarded after coolers were found not maintaining proper temperatures. The estimated value of the discarded food was around $300, the report says. There was no soap or paper towels at the front prep hand sink. A certified food manager was not on the premises while potentially hazardous food was being prepared. Previous minor violations from Dec. 6, 2012 were not yet corrected, including the need to clean ventilation hoods, filters, wire storage racks next to the food prep coolers, a microwave, prep tables and a stove. Several other areas were also identified for cleaning. Dirty pots were hanging on rear shelving and dirty utensils were found on the prep table. The restaurant was also not maintaining a log, as is required, to show rodent proofing measures.

Great Falafel, 500 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: May 9
Results: Fail.
Comments: The inside of a rear four-door reach-in cooler was found with black dirt and mold along the rubber door gaskets. The floor coving along the baseboard was missing and open holes were found under the utility mop sink. Splash guards were needed on several sinks. There was no attached drain board on one of the sinks and there were no chlorine chemical test strips on the premises.  An unused cooler in the dining room must be removed, inspectors said. 

Marge's Still, 1758 N. Sedgwick St.

Inspection date: May 9
Results: Pass.
Comments: Bulk food containers must be properly labeled. Broken/missing door handles on a cooks' line cooler needed replacement or repair. Owners were told to provide internal thermometers for a walk-in cooler in the basement.

Toast, 746 W. Webster Ave.

Inspection date: May 14
Results: Pass.
Comments: Bulk food containers were in need of labeling, the report says. Blackened, moldy wall caulking needed replacing. Missing light shields above the cooks' line were in need of replacement. Excessive rust needed to be removed from the metal rack throughout the walk-in cooler. Employees were told to not store personal belongings in the food preparation area. 

Smashburger, 2031 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: May 15
Results: Pass.
Comments: All refrigeration must have internal thermometers.

Berco's Popcorn, 810 W. Armitage Ave.

Inspection date: May 16
Results: Pass.
Comments: All bulk food containers should be labeled, inspectors said. They also said owners must provide a self-closing device for the washroom doors.

Kumas Too, 666 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: May 21
Results: Fail.
Comments: There was a leak in need of repair under a hand sink. Coolers were found maintaining improper temperatures—60.1 degrees—and 5 pounds of stuffed peppers, 10 pounds of marinated chicken, 7 pounds of cheese balls and 20 separate pounds of marinated chicken were discarded. The food was estimated to be around $95. Inspectors saw cross-contamination including tongs and strainers being stored inside the cooks' line hand sink. They also saw an employee on the cooks' line blow into a rubber glove with his mouth to open the glove and put it on. They reviewed hygienic practices with management. The inspection report was not posted and visible to customers. A lid was needed for the bar ice bin. All items behind the bar needed to be elevated off the floor. The floor drains at the front of the kitchen station were dirty "with a black slime substance," the report said. The restaurant passed a re-inspection on May 22.

Wingstop, 2634 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: May 23
Results: Fail.
Comments: There was no hot water on the premesis and inspectors said it must be provided. They also said a hole in the rear storage floor drain must be sealed. Internal thermometers were needed in the walk-in cooler and freezer. Wingstop corrected the violations that day and passed a re-inspection, according to reports.