Esme
Last inspected: Feb 26, 2026
70
Score
Esme appears in inspection records six times, starting in 2021. The most recent visit was on Feb 26, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around four violations each.
Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged six times.
Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Esme trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 26, 2026
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: THE CONSUMER ADVISORY ON THE MENU IS NOT PRESENTED TO THE CUSTOMER UNTIL AFTER THE MEAL IS CONSUMED. CUSTOMERS ARE SERVED MEALS AT THE CHEFS CHOICE THEN PRESENTED WITH THE LIST OF FOODS THEY CONSUMED AFTER CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CONSUMER ADVISORY BEFORE ANIMAL ORIGIN FOODS THAT MAY BE RAW OR UNDERCOOKED ARE CONSUMED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
25
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: ALL STORED ITEMS IN THE WEST BASEMENT NEXT TO THE LARGE BOX FREEZER AND THE FAR EAST BASEMENT MUST BE ELEVATED AND ORGANIZED.
45
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MISSING CEILING TILES ABOVE THE UTILITY MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.-----NOTED HOLES IN THE CEILING OF THE BASEMENT STORAGE ROOM AT THE LARGE BOX FREEZER AND IN THE DRY FOOD STORAGE EAST BASEMENT AT THE SMALL BOX FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS STORED THROUGHOUT THE FAR EAST BASEMENT MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES AND ALL OTHER ITEMS MUST BE STORED ORGANIZED AND ELEVATED TO PREVENT PEST HARBORING.
55
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: SOME UPPER PORTIONS OF THE ICE MACHINE IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
16
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: ALL CLEAN STORED STEM WARE MUST BE STORED INVERTED OR COVERED/PROTECTED DURING STORAGE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.----CLEAN POTS/PANS MUST NOT BE STORED HANGING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE WASHBASIN OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
39
70
Mar 28, 2025
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BOXES OF FOOD ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE STAIRS IN THE NORTH EASTERN SECTION OF THE BASEMENT AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING METAL STRIPS ON THE REACH IN COOLER AT THE FRONT OF THE PREP LINE, CAUSING THE DOOR TO SOMETIMES NOT FULLY LATCH CLOSE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FAUCET OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK TO BE CRACKED AT THE BEND, CAUSING A LEAK WHEN WATER IS TURNED ON. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HEAVY DEBRIS AND TRASH UNDER THE AIR HANDLING UNITS ON THE NORTH EASTERN PORTION OF THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AREA FREE OF EXCESSIVE TRASH AND DEBRIS BUILD UP IN BASEMENT.
55
82
Apr 25, 2024
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND WASH SINKS IN KITCHEN AND REAR BAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
10
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: NOTED NO THERMOMETER IN MAIN BAR REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
36
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED MICROWAVE ON "J BAR" SHELF NOT CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED, UNNECESSARY ITEMS AND ELEVATE NEEDED ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCH OFF THE FLOOR.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: NOTED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN SECOND BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
56
78
Oct 26, 2022
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: 4-602.11(B-E): THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE COMPARTMENTS IS NOT CLEAN (INTERIOR BIN). ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN UNIT.
16
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: 6-501.19: WASHROOM DOORS ARE NOT SELF-CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF-CLOSING DEVICE FOR SAID DOORS.
53
90
Oct 20, 2022
Complaint
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: WE OBSERVE OVER 20 RAT DROPPINGS UNDER SHELVES AND CORNERS OF THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN BASEMENT AREA PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED
38
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE COMPARTMENTS IS NOT CLEAN (INTERIOR TOP AND BIN). ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN UNIT.
16
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES IN THE KITCHEN PREPARING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR AND BEARD RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE BEARD AND HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS
40
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: LEAKING DRAIN PIPE UNDER THE HANDWASHING SINK AND ONE-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE PREP AREA.REPAIR ISSUE
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: WASHROOM DOORS ARE NOT SELF-CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF-CLOSING DEVICE FOR SAID DOORS.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: DEBRIS ON THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT. EXCESSIVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND DELIVERED STOCKS ON THE FLOOR. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS TO MINIMIZE PEST HARBORAGE
55
67
Jul 15, 2021
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SPLASH GUARDS NEEDED AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN KITCHEN TO PROTECT IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT PREP TABLES. INSTALL AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SPLASH GUARDS.
39
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ARCHWAY IN DINING ROOM MADE OF RAW WOOD AND NOT SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. PAINT OR SEAL RAW WOOD.
55
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Esme last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Esme on file is from Feb 26, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Esme?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Esme.
Has Esme's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Esme have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Esme means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Esme inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Esme is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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