Chef's Special Cocktail Bar

2163-2165 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Grocery / Market

Last inspected: Feb 10, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Going back to 2020, Chef's Special Cocktail Bar has seven inspections in the public record. On Feb 10, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near two violations per visit across recent inspections.

When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.

Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 10, 2026

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BOWLS, PLATES AND OTHER MEANS STORED ON SHELVING RACKS IMPROPERLY. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FORMS OF CONTAMINATION.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WALL COVING IN DISREPAIR AND DETTACHED UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASMENT PREP. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN TO PREVENT SPACED FOR PEST HARBORAGE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA (FRYERS, TABLES ETC) THE CONNECTD GAS SUPPLY LINE INCLUDING YELLOW HOSE WITH GREASE, DIRT AND GRIME BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AT FREQUENCY AND MAINTAIN FREE OF ACCUMULATED SOIL.

Mar 25, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FOUND HOLES IN WALLS AT LOWER LEVEL DISHWASHING AREAS BY DISHMACHINE. MUST SEAL.

Jun 11, 2024

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND SINKS.MUST PROVIDE.

Nov 22, 2023

Reinspection

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS WITHOUT A HAIR RESTRAINT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPAING FOOD.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: CLEAN THE TOP OF THE CONVECTION OVEN IN THE 1ST FLOOR FOOD PREP AREA.

Nov 14, 2023

Routine

1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 6 violations

No bare hand contact with rte food or a pre-approved alternative procedure properly allowed

Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE CUTTING AND HANDLING READY-TO-EAT FOOD (GREEN ONIONS) WITH BARE HANDS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT NO BARE HAND CONTACT IS ALLOWED WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.

Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp

Inspector notes: OBSERVED A VACUUM PACKAGING MACHINE IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA AND VACUUM PACKAGED FOODS (PORK, BEEF, ETC.) BEING STORED IN THE CHEST FREEZER AND WALK-IN COOLER WITHOUT AN APPROVED HACCP PLAN. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A CDPH APPROVED HACCP PLAN BEFORE THE USING THE VACUUM PACKAGING MACHINE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Variance obtained for specialized processing methods

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO APPROVED CDPH HACCP PLAN ON THE PREMISES TO VACUUM PACKAGE MEATS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE AN APPROVED CDPH HACCP PLAN BEFORE USING THE VACUUM PACKAGING MACHINE TO PACKAGE FOOD UNDER REDUCED OXYGEN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. SEE VIOLATION #29 ABOVE FOR CITATION.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROX. 15 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE BOXES AND SHELVES IN THE 1ST FLOOR FOOD PREP AREA AND ON THE WALLS AND CEILING OF THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICES IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Personal cleanliness

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: CLEAN THE TOP OF THE CONVECTION OVEN IN THE 1ST FLOOR FOOD PREP AREA.

Jun 2, 2022

Complaint

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SPLASHGUARD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK NEXT TO THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE IN THE 1ST FLOOR FOOD PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.

Jan 9, 2020

License

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLES IN THE WOMEN'S WASHROOM OR THE EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Chef's Special Cocktail Bar last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Chef's Special Cocktail Bar on file is from Feb 10, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Chef's Special Cocktail Bar?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Chef's Special Cocktail Bar.

Has Chef's Special Cocktail Bar's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Chef's Special Cocktail Bar have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Chef's Special Cocktail 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 Chef's Special Cocktail Bar inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Chef's Special Cocktail Bar is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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