Inspectors: Rat Turds at Tonic Room, Fruit Flies at J. Alexander's

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

Information, which is dated Dec. 18, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012, 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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Second City, 1608 N. Wells St.

Inspection date: Dec. 18, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors had very few comments regarding Second City. Managers were asked to replace missing floor tiles near the freezer in the bar area. Next door at the business' other location, employees were asked to store disposable utensils with the handles up to prevent contamination.

Up Comedy Club, 1616 N. Wells St.

Inspection date: Dec. 18, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: Managers were asked to replace a missing ceiling tile above the bar area.

Twin Anchors, 1655 N. Sedgwick St.

Inspection date: Dec. 18, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors said some cooking equipment was in need of cleaning and a leak under one of the prep area sinks was in need of repair. They also asked managers to remove the cardboard flats from the floor in the kitchen area.

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, 2024-2028 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Dec. 19, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors found "cold plate and soda lines in contact with consumable ice in the ice bin behind the main bar" and asked managers to separate the two. They also said the inside of the ice cream freezer needed detail cleaning, as well as the floor of the walk-in cooler, wine cooler and dry storage room. Water stained ceiling tiles in a basement prep area needed to be replaced.

Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Dec. 19, 2012
Results: Fail.
Comments: There was no pest control log book provided on the premises, inspectors said, noting that a log book is necessary to ensure managers are properly rodent proofing the building. Inspectors also found 50 rat droppings on the basement floor "in several areas." There were about 10 live fruit flies behind the bar as well, according to the report. The bar equipment needed to be sanitized and detail cleaned, the report said, and the wood floor behind the bar needed to be replaced with an "easily cleanable surface." The floor also needed to be repaired in a section of the basement, where inspectors asked managers to remove debris from the area behind the bar and beer coolers. They were also asked to "fill in any rodent burrows along the side of the building," according to the report. The bar passed a re-inspection on Dec. 28.

Alinea, 1723 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Dec. 19, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: The inside of the ice machine needed detail cleaning and an opening in the ceiling of the wine storage closet needed to be repaired, the report said.

Gaslight Bar & Grille, 2426 N. Racine Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 20, 2012
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Inspectors said they found food being stored at improper temperatures at Gaslight. Managers voluntarily discarded about $60 with of cut tomatoes, mayonnaise, eggs, chicken, hamburgers, fish and pesto sauce, the report says. Staff were asked to label bulk food storage containers in the basement, add a handle to the microwave, replace the torn door seals inside a prep cooler and detail clean the microwave and stove. Other areas in need of cleaning included the basement prep cooler and tiles in the kitchen. Inspectors asked that visible thermometers be placed inside all coolers.

Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, 1625 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Dec. 20, 2012
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Shrimp, chicken, chickpeas, cooked rice, beef, feta cheese and cut tomatoes were being stored at improper temperatures, according to the report. Management voluntarily discarded $300 worth of food. Inspectors also said ice was not protected from contamination during storage. They found discoloration and a "slimy substance" on the inside surfaces of the machine, they said. The manager cleaned and sanitized it during the inspection. A container of frozen beef and a tomato mixture was found thawing on top of the oven when it should have been thawing inside a cooler, under running water or in the microwave if it was being cooked immediately afterward. Managers discarded that food. There was no visible inspection report for customers to see and the chefs' large cooking pots didn't fit in the compartment sink for washing. Managers were asked to discard the oversized pots.

Itto Sushi, 2616 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Dec. 21, 2012
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Tofu and cream cheese were being stored at improper temperatures and $70 worth was discarded. Cleaning was needed on the floor behind the ice cream freezer and the tiles in the back of the prep area. The temperature in a walk-in cooler was 43.8 degrees, inspectors said. It was tagged for repair.

Solstice Bar, 2666-2668 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: Dec. 24, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: All previous violations were corrected during the license re-inspection, the report said. 

Jimmy John's, 2231 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 26, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: No comments available.

J. Alexander's, 1840 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 26, 2012
Results: Fail.
Comments: About 40 live fruit flies were found behind the main bar and north beverage service stations. Inspectors asked that managers contact a pest control service and properly maintain a pest control log. A clogged drain was found at a hand sink at a beverage service station, which inspectors said must be repaired so it can be used for hand washing. Managers were asked to label all bulk food storage containers and regret the floor in the kitchen area. The restaurant passed a re-inspection on Jan. 3.

Subway, 1762 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 26, 2012
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Inspectors found discoloration and a "slimy substance" on the inside of the ice machine. They said it must be cleaned and sanitized.

Dairy Queen, 2200 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 28, 2012
Results: Pass.
Comments: Managers were asked to replace a stained cutting board on top of the sandwich prep cooler, detail clean the caster wheels on the equipment in the prep area, clean the floor in the basement and storage room and instruct employees to wear hair nets.

Sushi Para, 543 W. Diversey Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 31, 2012
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: The hand sink was being used to thaw fish that was inside a plastic container, which is not allowed according to the restaurant code, inspectors said. A broken lid for a rice container was in need of replacement and managers were asked to properly label all bulk food storage containers. Cleaning was needed in several areas and grease and food debris needed to be removed from walls, according to the report. Employees handling food were asked to wear hair restraints.

Cameron's Ice Cream & Grill, 1401 W. Diversey Parkway

Inspection date: Dec. 31, 2012
Results: Fail.
Comments: Boxes and containers were blocking people from being albeit o use one of the restaurant's hand sinks. Managers moved those items. The hot water valve below the hand sink was turned off, inspectors said, and managers were asked to maintain hot water at all hand sinks at all times. Managers were not keeping a written log of pest control measures. The last inspection was dated in March 2011. Inspectors said a current pest control receipt from a licensed company was necessary. Cleaning was needed on the inside of prep coolers, inside the ice machine, on the floor under the ice cream freezer and in several other areas. 

Taco & Burrito House, 1548 W. Fullerton Ave.

Inspection date: Dec. 31, 2012
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: The hand sink drain line was leaking excessively when the water was on, inspectors said, and needed to be repaired. The plastic framing inside a door in the basement chest freezer was broken and showing exposed insulation. Frozen meats were being stored in plastic grocery bags inside the freezers and managers were asked to replace them with food-grade storage bags. The grease trap in the basement needed cleaning.