Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar

2577-2579 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Seafood

Last inspected: Jul 16, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

There aren't many inspections to draw from yet: just two so far. The latest inspection on file is from Jul 16, 2025. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.

Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around nine violations lately compared to roughly three violations before.

Looking across the full record, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.

Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar's latest score of 55 falls below the Chicago average of 81. The record is unremarkable in either direction.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jul 16, 2025

Complaint

3 major violations. 6 minor violations.

View 9 violations

Proper date marking and disposition

Inspector notes: NOTED TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED FOR SAFETY FOOD ITEMS INSIDE WALK IN COOLER WITH EXPIRATION DATES AS FOLLOWS:- LOBSTER (6/28), SOUP (7/9), KEYLIME (7/9), SAUSAGE GRAVY (NOT DATE), PEMENLOS (7/01), CHICKEN SALAD (7/1), TOMATOE GRAVY (7/9). INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL READY TO EAT FOOD ITEMS WITH PRODUCT NAME AND USED BY DATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005(A). CITATION ISSUED TODAY.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: NOTED NO PAPER TOWELS AT HAND WASH SINKS OF THE BAR AND THE SINK BETWEEN THE PREP TABLES AND SERVICE PREP COOLERS AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION#7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED. CONSOLIDATED WITH ABOVE CITATION.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: NOTED NO SOAP AT HAND WASH SINKS OF THE BAR. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS MUST BE EQUIPED WITH SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

In-use utensils: properly stored

Inspector notes: NOTED SERVING PLATES ON SHELVES AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND DINING AREA NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SERVING PLATES AT THE KITCHEN AND DINNING TABLES TO PREVENT DUST ACCUMULATION.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: NOTED HEAVY CLUTTER THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT FOOD DRY STORAGE ON THE FLOORS UNUSED EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN, ORGANIZE AND REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY OR UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG WALL BASE AND UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT ESPECIALLY UNDER THE COOKING STOVE AND BASEMENT FOOD DRY STORAGE AREA BY THE GREASE DISPOSING CONTAINER.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: NOTED HEAVY DIRT AND GREASE ACCUMULATION INSIDE, ON PIPES/CONDUITS AND ON EDGES OF THE EXHAUST HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN HOOD, FILTERS AND PIPES/CONDUITS.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: NOTED INNER LINING OF ICE MACHINES NOT CLEANED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: NOTED DIRTY WIPING CLOTHS ON PREP TABLES AT FRONT AND REAR PREP AREAS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE ALL WASHCLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION ESPECIALLY WHEN NOT IN USE.

Feb 20, 2024

License

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: SOME HANDWASH SINKS WITHOUT HANDWASH SINGNAGE. MUST PROVIDE HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDWASH SINKS.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED 1/4 INCH GAP BETWEEN FRONT ENTRANCE DOUBLE DOOR SWEEPS AND AT REAR EXIT DOOR. MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOORS.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar on file is from Jul 16, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar?

Across the inspection record, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar.

Has Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

Nearby Restaurants

Hop-Cat Chicago

2577 N Clark St

Score: 67 — Medium Risk

Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar

2577-2579 N Clark St

Score: 100 — Low Risk

Hop-Cat Chicago

2577 N Clark St

Score: 78 — Low Risk

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