Cuates Grocery

3247-3249 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Grocery / Market

Last inspected: Jan 3, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

Public records currently show only two inspections for Cuates Grocery. Inspectors last stopped by on Jan 3, 2025. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

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

The most common issue across all inspections has been “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable”, showing up two times.

Cuates Grocery's latest score of 67 falls below the Chicago average of 81. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 3, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Proper hot holding temperatures

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE TCS FOODS IN HOT HOLDING UNIT AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE: COOKED STEAK 114.5F AND COOKED PORK 120.9F. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 20LBS OF TCS FOODS VALUED AT $250 THROUGH DENTATURING PROCESS. ALL HOT TCS FOOD MUST BE MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE OF 135F OR ABOVE DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY AND SERVICE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE CUTTING BOARDS WITH DEEP SCRATCHES AND STAINS ON PREP STATIONS IN REAR PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO RESURFACE/REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMUALTED FOOD DEBRIS ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL COLD HOLDING EQUIPMENT ON THE PREMSIES. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND ENSURE ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES REMAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE MISSING CEILING PANELS NEAR CHEST FREEXER IN REAR BUTCHER PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBERVED ACCUMULATED MEAT AND DIRT ON FLOORS IN WALK-IN COOLER AND ALL PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.

Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE OPEN CANS OF ENERGY DRINKS STORED IN MEAT DISPLAY COOLER IN THE REAR BUTCHER PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO STORE PERSONAL ITEMS AWAY FROM EXPOSED FOOD AND MAINTAIN.

Mar 14, 2024

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CHEST FREEZER DIRECTLY OUTSIDE OFFICE WITH TOP DOOR IN DISREPAIR. REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Sewage & waste water properly disposed

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FROZEN CONDENSATE BUILT UP ON COILS ABOVE FOOD IN LONG COOLER OUTSIDE OFFICE. DEFROST ALL FROZEN CONDENSATE AND MAINTAIN COOLER.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Cuates Grocery last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Cuates Grocery on file is from Jan 3, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Cuates Grocery?

Across the inspection record, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Cuates Grocery.

Has Cuates Grocery's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Cuates Grocery have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Cuates Grocery 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

Score: 64 — Medium Risk

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