Inspectors: Rat Poop at Galway Arms; 'Black Slime' at Rock Wrap & Roll

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

Information, which is dated Jan. 1 to Jan. 17, 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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Flirty Girl Fitness, 2215-2217 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Jan. 3
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments were listed. 

Rock Wrap & Roll, 2187 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 4
Results: Fail.
Comments: Inspectors said they found a substance they described as "black and pink slime" dripping down into ice inside the ice machine. The machine was tagged for inspection and cleaning. The city's inspection report was not on display for all customers, as is required. Excessive grease and food debris was under woks on the cooks' line and on coolers and fryers, according to the report. Employees, who were asked to wear hair nets during a prior visit, were still not wearing them. Thermometers were not placed inside the coolers and paint was peeling on the ceiling in the restrooms. A knife was found improperly stored between the wall and a sink, the report said, and tinfoil was being used as a liner for shelving. Several other violations were also listed. The business passed a Jan. 11 reinspection.

Jaimitos Burrito's, 1718 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 4
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: About 10 pounds of cooked beef, and 2 quarter of sour cream were being stored at improper temperatures of 49.2 degrees and 50.2 degrees, according to the report. The cooler was tagged for inspection. Employees were using cardboard as shelving liners, according to the report, which is a violation of the city's code. Shelving above a prep table was dirty. Inspectors asked that they be cleaned. They also said a leaky nozzle at one of the sinks must be fixed. The business fully passed a Jan. 9 reinspection.

Orange, 2413-2415 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: Jan. 7
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors asked that all bulk food containers be properly labeled. They also told employees the premises must be free of litter including unnecessary items and cleaning equipment, which needed to be properly stored. "Employees must not store personal belongings in food prep or food contact areas," the report said. The cook line's wash clothes also needed to be stored properly—in a clean container with a sanitizing solution. 

Dillinger's, 2470 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 10
Results: Fail.
Comments: When inspectors arrived, there was reportedly no soap or paper towel's in the kitchen's exposed hand sink. Employees were told to repaint hanging and chipped paint in the prep area, the report said, and instal drain lines for all soda gun holders behind the bar. Necessary repairs were identified in the bar's restrooms, inspectors said. They also found doors and shelves being held together with Duct tape, which violates the city's code. "Must not use Duct tape for repairs," the report indicates. Employees in the food prep area were asked to wear hair nets. The restaurant passed a reinspection on Jan. 18.

Fogo to Go, 926 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 11
Results: Fail.
Comments: About 10 pounds of cooked chicken was being held on a grill that was not turned on, according to the report, and about 3 pounds was being held under heat lamps. That food was discarded, the report said, indicating that all hot foods must be heated to 140 degrees or more. "Observed cross contamination of dirty pizza pan being washed inside utility mop sink," inspectors also wrote. Hot water was not available at the kitchen's hand sinks and paper towels were not stocked in one of the areas. Inspectors also said the following items needed to be repaired: the chest freezer door, baseboard in the prep areas and light shields in walk-in coolers. They said they found food scoops submerged in food and knives stored between the wall and prep table. Employees in the food preparation areas were asked to wear hair restraints. The restaurant passed a reinspection on Jan. 18.

Qdoba Mexican Grill, 2191 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 11
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Inspectors found a broken internal thermometer in a reach-in cooler and a certified manager was not present while potentially hazardous foods, such as beef, were being prepared and served. Previous inspection reports were not visible to customers. 

Kabuki Restaurant, 2473 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: Jan. 14
Results: Pass.
Comments: Managers were asked to provide a light shield above one of the sinks and replace an inaccurate internal thermometer in a cooler.

Lito's Empanadas, Inc., 2566 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: Jan. 14
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: At the time of the inspection, about 20 pounds of cooked, shredded chicken was being stored in a large metal bowl covered in plastic wrap in a reach in cooler that was 73.5 degrees, according to the report. Employees were asked to wear hair nets and label all bulk food containers properly. "Dirty food-encrusted Styrofoam plates previously used for raw empanadas found stored on storage shelving in food prep area to be used again," inspectors also wrote. "Excessive grease" dripping from a ventilation hood in the kitchen was also listed as a violation.

Aloha Grill Hawaiian BBQ, 2534 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: Jan. 14
Results: Fail.
Comments: Inspectors said dish washing facilities at three compartment sinks were not being maintained at the time of the inspection. Plumbing underneath one of them was repaired using Duct tape; a Styrofoam cup was being used as a piping extension. The nozzle of one of the sinks did not reach all of the necessary areas, the report said. Frozen chicken was being stored in plastic grocery bags rather than the required food-grade storage gas. Inspectors told managers to detail clean all cooking equipment, the ventilation hood and filters, food storage containers, the inside of the prep coolers and grease build-up on the walls in the prep area. Several other violations were also listed. The restaurant passed a Jan. 23 reinspection.

Sarks in the Park, 444 W. Fullerton Parkway

Inspection date: Jan. 14
Results: Pass.
Comments: Managers were told to properly label bulk food containers, provide internal thermometers for all coolers, repair water-damaged ceiling tiles in various areas, replace a missing water nozzle in the women's restroom and clean both interior coolers and the inside of the ice machine.

Galway Arms, 2440-2442 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: Jan. 15
Results: Fail.
Comments: One cooler was tagged for repair after inspectors reportedly found food including cooked corned beef, mushroom sauce, lamb shanks and chicken, being kept at improper temperatures. Almost 20 pounds of those foods were discarded. Inspectors said a written log detailing rodent proofing was not maintained or available to inspectors. They found "40 to 50 rat droppings throughout the basement storage in rear area of basement." They told managers to remove all of the droppings and sanitize the areas, as well as remove all unnecessary articles in the basement and elevate stored items off the floor. A can of Raid ant and roach insecticide was on an exposed hand sink near dry food storage, according to the report. The following items were identified for cleaning: a dirty hand sink in the first-floor bar; food-splattered microwave; inside of the ice bin; "excessive grease" on floors behind cooks' line; and light shields. Several other violations were also listed. The restaurant passed a reinspection on Jan. 23.

Glazed and Infused, 939 W. Armitage Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 17
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments were included in the report.

Rickshaw Republic, 2312 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: Jan. 17
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments were included in the report.