Big Bar
Last inspected: Dec 29, 2025
100
Score
Across the available record, Big Bar has 18 inspections on file, the first dated 2010. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 29, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near two violations per visit across recent inspections.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up three times.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
18
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 29, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
May 10, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPSOSED INSULATION ABOVE OVENS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON WALLS, CEILINGS, AND DUCT EQUIPMENT IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
90
Nov 8, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: Hand wash sink faucet handles are hard to turn, instructed to provide easy-to-use faucets.
10
95
Jul 21, 2022
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED SOME USE OF MILK CRATES FOR ELEVATION AT THE KITCHEN AREA. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE MILK CRATES FOR ELEVATION TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST. MUST PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SHELVING FOR STORAGE. ALL FOOD ITEMS MUST ALSO BE STORED 6" AWAY FROM THE WALL
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD ON MAIN COOK LINE COVERED WITH DEEP GROOVES AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH, CLEANABLE SURFACES.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
49
86
Aug 10, 2021
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: STANDING WATER UNDER 3-COMP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO KEEP FLOOR DRY AND MAINTAIN TO PREVENT INSECTS BREEDING.
55
95
Feb 20, 2020
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: MUST POST HAND WASHING SIGNS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS BEHIND BAR. INSTRUCTED TO POST AND MAINTAIN.
10
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL SPLASH GUARD AT HANDWASHING SINK BETWEEN THE COFFEE MAKER AND THE FOOD STORAGE RACK ADJACENT TO THE BIG BAR, OR REMOVE ITEMS FROM AROUND THE SINK. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL OR REMOVE AND MAINTAIN.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: FOUND RUST ON STORAGE RACKS IN THE 1-DOOR REACH IN COOLER IN THE PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST, SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE, AND MAINTAIN.
49
86
Feb 1, 2019
Routine
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY/TRAINING ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY/TRAINING SYSTEM AND MAINTAIN WITH VERIFIABLE DOCUMENTS ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED
3
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT, TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY (TCS) FOODS NOT DATE MARKED TO INDICATE THE PRODUCT'S NAME AND DATE IN WHICH THE FOOD MUST BE SOLD, DISCARDED OR CONSUMED WITHIN 7 DAYS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER LABELS FOR DATE MARKING AND DISCARD DATE FOR REFRIGERATED, READY-TO-EAT, TCS FOODS HELD OVER 24HRS PLACED IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
23
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPOSED UTENSILS IN A BIN. PERSON IN CHARGE WAS INSTRUCTED TO REWASH, SANITIZE AND AIR DRY THE UTENSILS PRIOR TO THEM BEING ROLLED FOR CONSUMERS. ADVISED TO PROPERLY COVER UTENSILS WHILE IN BIN.
44
78
Jan 18, 2018
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: PEELING PAINT NOTED ON CEILING DUCTS, INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN.
35
95
Mar 20, 2017
Routine
No violations found.
100
Mar 18, 2016
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Adequate number, convenient, accessible, designed, and maintained
Inspector notes: Observed no cold water at exposed hand sink in kitchen area. Maintenance staff fixed the issued and provided cold water. Citation issued 7-38-030 Critical violation.
11
95
May 28, 2015
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE ALL FOOD HANDLER'S WITH THEIR ILLINOIS FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATION AT ALL TIMES. MUST PROVIDE FOR THE NEXT ROUTINE INSPECTION.
45
95
Nov 10, 2014
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: STANDING WATER BEHIND ICE MAKER, INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE AND MAINTAIN.
34
95
Jun 24, 2014
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles
Inspector notes: ICE BINS STORED ON FLOOR, INSTRUCTED TO STORE 6" OFF FLOOR OR HIGHER
31
Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn
Inspector notes: ICE SCOOPS STORED ON CUBES, INSTRUCTED TO STORE OFF CUBES IN A CLEAN CONTAINER.
42
90
Dec 10, 2013
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: MUST KEEP FLOORS DRY UNDER THE DISH WASHER (3RD DISHWASHER FROM THE RIGHT).
34
95
Jul 18, 2013
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: MUST MAINTAIN FLOORS DRY AT ALL TIMES TO PREVENT PEST BREEDING AT BACK OF BAR AREA AND BEHIND ICE MACHINE.OBSERVED POOLING WATER.
34
95
May 30, 2012
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE.
33
95
Jul 25, 2011
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. FLOOR NOT CLEAN UNDER COUNTER TOPS, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
34
95
Jun 21, 2010
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage. UPPER PANEL OF INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MAKER NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED MGR TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
33
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Big Bar last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Big Bar on file is from Dec 29, 2025. The public record contains 18 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Big Bar?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Big Bar.
Has Big Bar's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Big Bar have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Big Bar means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Big Bar inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Big Bar is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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