City Hall — Recess

838 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60642
Bar / Pub
Last inspected: Dec 9, 2025
100
Score
Low Risk

Going back to 2019, City Hall — Recess has five inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 9, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.

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

Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting City Hall — Recess on the better side of that line. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.

5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 9, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Oct 17, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE EXTERIOR OF THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE BEHIND THE MAIN BAR AND SANITIZE THE ICE BINS AT THE OUTDOOR PATIO BAR.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE FLOOR UNDER THE MAIN BAR AND OUTSIDE PATIO BAR.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VENTILATION FAN IN THE SINGLE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
56
86
Apr 18, 2023
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Apr 10, 2023
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 DRAWER PREP COOLER CONTAINING TCS ITEMS SUCH AS PORK AND HAMBURGERS MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 49.1F. COOLER TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL COOLERS CONTAINING TCS ITESM AT OR BELOW 41F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
33
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS ITEMS IN 2 DRAWER PREP COOLER AND WALK-IN COOLER STORED AT THE STATED IMPROPER TEMPERATURES: PORK AT 47.5F, HAMBURGERS AT 46.0F, CHICKEN AT 46.1F, AND CHICKEN WINGS AT 48.9F. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 60 LBS OF PRODUCT VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $400. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN TCS ITEMS AT OR BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
22
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALL DUMPSTERS IN THE ALLEY OVERFLOWING WITH GARBAGE AND UNABLE TO HAVE LIDS SHUT. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN DUMPSTERS SO THAT LIDS CAN SHUT AND CLOSE TIGHTLY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(B). CITATION ISSUED.
54
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE ADA COMPLIANT ALL GENDER TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
53
64
May 30, 2019
License
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ONSITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE CITY'S HEALTH FORM OR SIMILAR DOCUMENTS USED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN CONSTRUCTION DUST FROM FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREMISES, INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL COVING TO LOWER WALLS THROUGHOUT 2ND FLOOR STORAGE AREAS, INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. INFORMATION PROVIDED.
57
78

Frequently Asked Questions

When was City Hall — Recess last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at City Hall — Recess on file is from Dec 9, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at City Hall — Recess?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at City Hall — Recess.

Has City Hall — Recess' inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at City Hall — Recess have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at City Hall — Recess 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 City Hall — Recess inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, City Hall — Recess is inspected about once every two years on average.