El Morelense

7616 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Jul 11, 2017

Score

Medium Risk

El Morelense appears in inspection records four times, starting in 2016. On Jul 11, 2017, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either. Note that El Morelense's inspection history hasn't been updated since Jul 11, 2017; current conditions may have shifted from what the file shows.

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

The pattern that stands out is “walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code”, which has been cited two times.

That's lower than the typical Chicago restaurant, which scores around 81. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jul 11, 2017

Routine

9 minor violations.

View 9 violations

Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service

Inspector notes: FOUND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE INSIDE REACH-IN COOLER (AIR TEMPERATURE OF 40.9F).NOTED INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF THE FOLLOWING FOOD PRODUCTS: MEXICAN RICE AT 45.7F, REFRIED BEANS AT 45.9F, SOUR CREAM AT 48.1F, COOKED CHICKEN AT 46.8F, CHORIZO AT 53.2F, GROUND BEEF AT 46.5F. ALSO NOTED INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF COOKED RICE AT 128.4F AND REFRIED BEANS AT 127.8F STORED IN HOT HOLDING UNIT (MANAGER ADJUSTED TO HIGH SETTING OF HOT HOLDING UNIT). INSTRUCTED MANAGER, POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MUST MAINTAIN COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 40F OR BELOW AND HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 140F OR ABOVE. MANAGER DISCARDED THE SAID FOOD PRODUCTS. TOTAL VALUE $ 200.00, TOTAL WEIGHT 30 LBS. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005 (A)

Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO LABEL AND DATE PREPARED AND COOKED FOOD ITEMS HELD OVER 24 HOURS INSIDE COOLERS.

Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE GROCERY BAGS FOR FOOD STORAGE INSIDE COOLERS AND FREEZERS. MUST USE FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS.

Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF EXPOSED HAND SINK IN REAR PREP AREA.

Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS WITH DRIED FOOD ACCUMULATION ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN REAR PREP AND STORAGE AREA.

Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN WALL WITH FOOD SPILLAGE AROUND REAR PREP AREA.

Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET NECK AND SPRAYER AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA.

Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE AND ACCURATE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.-------MUST PROVIDE METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR HOT AND COLD INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF FOOD PRODUCTS.

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES AND CLUTTER STORED INSIDE DINING CLOSET AND IN REAR PREP/STORAGE AREA BY EXIT DOOR. USABLE ITEMS (FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS) MUST BE STORED 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING.

Jun 15, 2016

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Jun 14, 2016

Reinspection

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Previous serious violation corrected, 7-42-090

Inspector notes: CONTINUED NON COMPLIANCE ON PREVIOUS ORDER ISSUED, DATED 05/31/2016, REPORT # 1931825, VIOLATION LISTED BELOW: 19 OVERFLOWING GARBAGE CONTAINERS, INSTRUCTED TO RESTRICT OVERFLOWING GARBAGE CONTAINER, INCREASE CONTAINERS OR ADD ADDITIONAL SERVICE, CRITICAL VIOLATION: 7-38-020

Dish washing facilities: properly designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located and operated

Inspector notes: THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN POOR REPAIR, SLOW DRAINING AND PIPES LEAKING WATER WITH OFFENSIVE SEWER ORDERS, SERIOUS VIOLATION: 7-38-030

May 31, 2016

License

6 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Outside garbage waste grease and storage area; clean, rodent proof, all containers covered

Inspector notes: OVERFLOWING GARBAGE CONTAINERS, INSTRUCTED TO RESTRICT OVERFLOWING GARBAGE CONTAINER, INCREASE CONTAINERS OR ADD ADDITIONAL SERVICE, SERIOUS VIOLATION: 7-38-020

Facilities to maintain proper temperature

Inspector notes: LACK OF ADEQUATE REFRIGERATION, MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATION FOR FOOD STORAGE, CRITICAL VIOLATION: 7-38-005(A)

Adequate number, convenient, accessible, designed, and maintained

Inspector notes: NO EXPOSED HAND SINK FRONT PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE, CRITICAL VIOLATION: 7-38-030

Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

Inspector notes: STAINED CEILING TILE IN KITCHEN AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE,

Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

Inspector notes: NO THREE SINK STOPPERS, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE, LOW WATER PRESSURE AT HAND SINK NEAR THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND IN CUSTOMERS BATHROOM , INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR,

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector notes: CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES FRONT STORAGE AREA, AND REAR OUTSIDE AREA, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND BETTER MAINTAIN, ALL AREAS,

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Morelense last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Morelense on file is from Jul 11, 2017. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Morelense?

Across the inspection record, “walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Morelense.

Has El Morelense's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at El Morelense have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at El Morelense means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

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