Every year hundreds of restaurants in Chicago fail health inspections for various reasons.
We looked at city data for the year so far and found multiple recognizable names among the list of failed reports.
According to food inspection data from the city, almost 2,000 Chicago restaurants inspected this year have failed.
There are about 16,000 food establishments in the city, including restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, hospital, nursing home, and day care school kitchens, seasonal facilities, wholesale food establishments and temporary food events -- all of which are subejct to inspections by the city.
Of the locations listed with fails so far this year, more than half of the violations are categorized as "high" risk violations.
The website The Six Thirty first examined the list earlier this week, analyzing data from 200 recent inspections. We combed through hundreds of inspections from the year as well, and found some equally alarming results, though most of the violations have since been fixed and many of the restaurants passed a reinspection, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Among some of the violators were popular chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Panera and Subway. Also listed as “high-risk” fails in the reports were some big-name restaurants in the city, including:
Local
John Barleycorn (3524 N. Clark St.)
Inspectors say they observed 10 live roaches inside a wooden box under a sink in a second-floor ice machine room. The initial inspection was done on Sept. 25, but the facility passed a later inspection on Oct. 2. The restaurant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Grand Lux Café (111 E. Ontario St.)
A live roach was seen crawling on the ceiling of the Michigan Avenue side waiter station and another was seen on a wall at an expo area outside of an oven station. Inspectors also saw 20 small flying insects on a wall, the ceiling and shelves near the rear of the restaurant where glassware is kept. More than 30 small flying inspects were also seen at both ends of the main bars’ soda stations and at the bar itself. The initial inspection was done on Sept. 15, but the facility later passed an inspection on Sept. 22. The restaurant declined to comment on the matter.
Lincoln Hall (2424-2426 N. Lincoln Ave.)
A black mold-like substance was seen in the ice machine, inspectors said. A fruit fly infestation was also seen throughout the first and second floor bars, the dishroom and the kitchen. The initial inspection was done on Sept. 22, but it was not immediately clear if any reinspections were done after. The restaurant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bar Louie (5500 S. Shore Dr.)
About 15 or more live roaches were seen on the floor under the hand sink, in coolers and freezer in the rear prep area, the dish machine area, the basement area under a staircase and about 10 live small flies were in the same areas and the men’s toilet room. The inspection was conducted on Sept. 3, but it was not immediately clear if the facility has had a reinspection since. The restaurant declined to comment on the matter.
Moe’s Cantina (3518-3522 N. Clark St.)
The interior of the ice machine water reservoir had a “black slime substance” dripping into the water where ice is made, according to inspectors. The facility was first inspected on June 19, but later passed an inspection on June 29. The restaurant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sluggers Grill (3540 N. Clark St.)
Up to 60 rodent droppings were found in a rear storage room and 20 droppings were found in a side part room. The initial inspection was done on Sept. 25, but a reinspection on Oct. 2 indicated the restaurant had passed. The restaurant could not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Johnny O’Hagan’s (3374 N. Clark St.)
The front white plastic cover inside the ice bin of the ice machine had a black and pink slime substance dripping from it onto the ice. The interior of the ice machine water reservoir also had a pink and orange slime substance dripping into the water reservoir. The initial inspection was done on Sept. 9, but a reinspection on Sept. 22 indicated the eatery had passed. The restaurant did not immediately respond to a request for for comment.
Hopleaf Bar (5146-5148 N. Clark St.)
A pink, yellow and brown discoloration was seen in the upper compartment of an ice machine on the condenser, ice chute and trays in direct contact with the ice and water. The initial inspection was done on June 25, but city data hadn't yet shown results from a reinspection. The bar's owner Mike Roper said the ice machine was leased from another company and that company was later brought in to clean it. Roper said the bar was reinspected last week and passed.
Bub City (435-437 N. Clark St.)
The interior panel of a small ice maker had a wet, black, moldy-like substance and a rusted surface, inspectors said. The initial inspection was done on April 8, but the restaurant passed a reinspection on April 15. The restaurant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Merkle’s Bar & Grill (3516 N. Clark St.)
A black, mold-like substance was seen on the interior of the ice machine. The initial inspection was done on Sept. 25, but a reinspection on Oct. 2 found the restaurant had passed. When asked for comment, the restaurant noted that it had passed its latest inspection.
See the complete data here.
