Inspector Catches Employees Smoking, Violating Clean Air Ordinance

Patch examined inspection reports in Lincoln Square during the month of February and March. Information has been compiled using publicly available data published to the website of the Chicago Department of Public Health's Food Protection Program.

Restaurants 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 the violations 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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Monaco Restaurant, 2625 W. Lawrence Ave.
Inspection date: April 1
Results: Pass
Violations: The inspector found food debris and dust on the freezers, cooking equipment, grease trap, three-compartment sink and basement prep tables. There was also debris behind the equipment, along the walls and around the bar area. An excessive amount of dust was found on the vent covers inside the bathrooms.

Management needs to repair the three-compartment sink faucet leak and make sure employees wear hair restraints. The food inside the storage coolers was also not properly labeled and cleaning towels weren’t properly stored.

Olympic Club, 2615 W. Lawrence Ave.
Inspection date: April 1
Results: Pass with conditions
Violations: The inspector didn’t find a sanitary hand-drying device or paper towels and saw employees using regular towels instead. Paper towels must be used at all times and a critical citation was issued. Not all foods were labeled with date stamps and the cutting boards need to be replaced.

The inspector found “excessive” food debris and grease build-up on the following: coolers, cooking equipment, freezers, storage shelves, floors and walls. Management must detail clean and repair broken floor tiles and leaky faucets.

Employees need to wear hair restraints and properly store cleaning towels. The inspector also found two employees smoking in the restaurant in the dining area where smoking is prohibited. This is the restaurant’s first offense of Chicago’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance.

Subway, 4771 N. Lincoln Ave.
Inspection date: March 21
Results: Pass
Violations: Floors throughout the entire restaurant need to be detail cleaned. The inspector found unnecessary clutter throughout the basement, which needs to be stored at least 6 inches off the floor and away from walls to prevent pest harborage.

Cutting boards also need to be replaced.

Subway, 5341 N. Lincoln Ave.
Inspection date: March 19
Results: Pass
Violations: Management needs to install a splash guard between the counter and the hand sink. The inspector also found openings around the pipes near the ceiling, which need to be sealed.