Taco Joint Tosses 20 Pounds of Food; Polka Sausage Discards Kraut, Gravy

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

Information, which is dated March 18 to April 1, 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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Pasta Palazzo, 1966 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: March 18
Results: Pass.
Comments: There was a missing cold water handle on a nozzle of one of the compartment sinks, the report said.

Racine Plumbing, 2642 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: March 18
Results: Fail.
Comments: A basement sink was not maintained—there was wastewater backup from one compartment into another, the report said. Dirt and food debris was found on the floor under and around a sink's grease trap. Metal wire stairwell to basement walk-in cooler and dish area was dirty with "encrusted food debris." Wiping cloths were not being stored in a clean container with a sanitizing solution. Dirty dishes from previous days must not be left with food in open bus pans or dish areas, inspectors said. Racine fully passed a March 25 inspection when no violations were listed in the report.

Taco Joint, 1969 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: March 19
Results: Fail.
Comments: About 20 pounds of beef, cheese, cooked chicken and raw chicken was discarded after it was found being stored at unsafe temperatures, according to the report. There was no city of Chicago certified manager present during inspection and while potentially hazardous foods were being stored. The low-temperature dishwashing machine was not dispensing sanitizer while dishes were being washed, inspectors said. The walls under the bar—pans are stored there—were found covered with food splatter. An "unknown source of water" was leaking from a wall baseboard onto the floor and into the floor drain near the bottom of the basement stairs. Inspectors asked that it be repaired. Several other violations were also listed. Taco Joint passed a March 27 re-inspection.

Subway, 1513 W. Fullerton Ave.

Inspection date: March 22
Results: Pass.
Comments: Manager must provide stronger light inside both walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer, the report says.

Polka Sausage, 2401-2403 N. Clybourn Ave.

Inspection date: March 25
Results: Fail.
Comments: Sour kraut, marinara sauce and beef gravy were discarded after investigators reportedly found them being stored at unsafe temperatures. A handwashing sink was found unusable, "completely blocked by metal rack shelving being used for T-shirt display." There was no city of Chicago certified food manager present during inspection or while hazardous foods were being prepared. Managers were asked to install a splashguard in between two of the sinks, properly label foods in the walk-in cooler, to not use tin foil as a liner for equipment and to have employees in food prep area wear hair restraints. Polka sausage passed a re-inspection on April 1.

Pat's Pizzaria, 2679 N. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: March 25
Results: Pass.
Comments: Two counter tops were found in poor condition; revealing their pressed wood surface. The metal siding on shelves above the cooks' line cooler were in poor condition, as well. One of the doors to a walk-in cooler had exposed insulation in need of repair. Managers were asked to not use cardboard as a liner for shelving. Bulk food containers must be properly labeled. A leaky nozzle in the employee washroom needed repair. A few other minor violations were also listed.  

Sprout, 1417 W. Fullerton Ave.

Inspection date: March 26
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors said internal thermometers must be provided in the cooks' line cooler; tall, reach-in cooler; walk-in cooler; and basement cheese cooler. The floors behind the ice machine and under employee lockers had dirt and food debris on them. Items throughout the garage must be elevated from the floor and organized. Employees were asked to not store bicycles in the basement dry food storage area.

The Goddess Lincoln Park, 2222 N. Elston Ave.

Inspection date: March 26
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: Two coolers were found not maintaining proper temperatures. About 15 pounds of roasted peppers, one gallon of salsa and six pints of hummus were discarded. Wiping cloths at the front prep area must be held in a clean container with sanitizing solution, inspectors said. Bulk food containers must be properly labeled. Floors throughout the closet with water tanks were covered with dirt and food debris. They must be cleaned, inspectors said. Several other violations were also listed. 

Insomnia Cookies, 2260 W. Lincoln Ave.

Inspection date: March 27
Results: Pass.
Comments: Managers were asked to provide a self-closing device on washroom doors and install a ventilation system in the employee washroom.

Beaumont, 2020 N. Halsted St.

Inspection date: March 27
Results: Pass.
Comments: There were damaged floor tiles behind the front bar that needed replacing. Managers were asked to re-label bulk food containers.

Dee's Restaurant Inc., 1114 W. Armitage Ave.

Inspection date: March 27
Results: Pass.
Comments: Inspectors asked that single-service articles not be reused. "Most not use plastic shopping bags for food storage in box freezer," the report said. "Must be food grade bags or washable containers." 

Green Tea Japanese Restaurant, 2206 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: March 28
Results: Pass.
Comments: Bulk rice wasn't properly labeled and nor were all prepared foods in the freezer. Prepping towels on the sushi prep line were improperly stored.

Tarascas International, 2585 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: March 28
Results: Pass with conditions.
Comments: There was no valid city of Chicago sanitation certificate posted on the premises, inspectors said, nor was there an inspection report available to customers. The ventilation systems in each bathroom were broken. The pressed wood shelving across from the dish machine was in poor condition and had chipping, raw wood. A few other minor violations were also listed. 

Cosi, 2200 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: March 28
Results: Pass.
Comments: Wiping cloths should be stored in a clean container with sanitizing solution, inspectors said. All bulk food containers must be properly labeled. A two-door cooler was repaired using Duct tape, according to the report. Inspectors also asked that stoppers be provided for all sinks.

Austrian Bakery & Deli Inc., 2523 N. Clark St.

Inspection date: April 1
Results: Pass.
Comments: All bulk food containers should be properly labeled, inspectors said. Wiping cloths in prep areas needed to be stored in a clean container with a sanitizing solution, the report says, and a splash guard needed to be installed near one of the prep sinks. Raw, wooden shelving throughout the front prep area must be painted or sealed and cleaned with food splatter removed. Thermometers needed to be placed in "conspicuous" locations in the coolers. A few other violations were also listed.