Irene's
Last inspected: Feb 9, 2026
95
Score
Public records show seven inspections at Irene's stretching back to 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Feb 9, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around three violations across recent inspections versus roughly five violations before.
The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited six times.
Irene's latest score of 95 sits above the Chicago average of 81. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 9, 2026
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED VARIOUS TYPES OF SMALL TRASH ITEMS AND PIECES OF CLOTHING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH FAR LEFT DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE SMALL TRASH ITEMS FROM UNDERNEATH DUMPSTER AND MAINTAIN.
54
95
Sep 18, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY WITHOUT HOT WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN HOT WATER SUPPLY OF ADEQUATE QUANTITY AND AVAILABILITY TO ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C) NO CITATION ISSUED.
50
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PHYSICAL BARRIER PROVIDED BETWEEN FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA (FRONT BAR AREA) AND CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN PHYSICAL BARRIER OR OTHER ADEQUATE MEANS OF PREVENTING PERSONS UNNECESSARY TO FOOD OPERATIONS FROM ACCESSING FOOD PREPARATION AREAS OR POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION OF FOOD OR EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.
39
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO GREASE WASTE DISPOSAL RECEPTACLE PROVIDED FOR RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE EXTERIOR GREASE WASTE DISPOSAL RECEPTABLE THAT IS COLLECTED AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO REMOVE GREASE WASTE FROM FACILITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(B) NO CITATION ISSUED.
54
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALL COLD-HOLDING EQUIPMENT ON-SITE MISSING INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN A CONSPICUOUS AND EASILY-VIEWABLE LOCATION IN ALL EQUIPMENT USED TO COLD-HOLD TCS FOOD ITEMS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
36
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PLANNED FOOD STORAGE AREA(S) IN BASEMENT AREA DIRECTLY BENEATH UNSHIELDED SEWER LINES. INSTRUCTED TO PROHIBIT STORAGE OF FOOD BENEATH SEWER LINES THAT ARE NOT SHIELDED TO INTERCEPT POTENTIAL DRIPS OR PROVIDE SHIELDING TO SEWER LINES ABOVE FOOD STORAGE AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
39
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CEILING IN THE BASEMENT AREA TO BE MISSING IN PARTS AND/OR NOT SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE IN ALL AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN CEILINGS, FLOORS, AND WALLS IN ALL FOOD PREPARATION OR FOOD STORAGE AREAS SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL HOLES THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT AREA GREATER THAN 1/4" ALONG WALLS AND CEILING SURFACES. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE HOLES AND MAINTAIN ALL PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN GOOD REPAIR.
55
58
Mar 7, 2024
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DOOR LEADING TO KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS WITH PEELING PAINT. RESTORE SURFACE TO A SMOOTH EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.
55
95
Feb 28, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COOLER NOT MAINTAINING 41F OR LESS. COOLER WAS EMPTY AT TIME OF INSPECTION. COOLER WAS TAGGED. PRIORITY VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005 COOLER TAGGED
33
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT 6/23/23 REPORT # 2577730 INCLUDING #51 OBSERVED NO SINK FOR DISCARDING LIQUIDS AT FRONT COUNTER WHERE BEVERAGES ARE PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST INSTALL SINK WITH HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER. #56 OBSERVED ELECTRIC OVEN (12.5 KW) IN REAR PREP NOT UNDER HOOD. MUST INSTALL UNDER HOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090
60
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SPLASH GUARDS NEEDED ON REAR HANDINKS NEAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. ONE HANDINK IS NEXT TO A FLOOR STANDING MIXER. INSTALL SPLASH GUARD ON LEFT SIDE OF SINK TO PROTECT MIXER FROM CONTAMINATION. OBSERVED 2ND HAND SINK NEXT TO A PREP TABLE. INSTALL SPLASH GUARD ON RIGHT SIDE OF SINK TO PROTECT ADJACENT PREP TABLE.
39
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAK UNDER SCRAPE SINK AT DISHWAHER AND HANDSINK IN REAR CLOSEST TO COOKING LINE. OBSERVED PLUMBING LEAK IN BASEMENT AT HOT WATER HEATER. REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DOOR LEADING TO KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS WITH PEELING PAINT. RESTORE SURFACE TO A SMOOTH EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BROOMS AND MOPS NEED TO BE HUNG AND STORED PROPERLY.
55
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 COOLERS ON COOKING LINE WITHOUT THERMOMETERS INSIDE. INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.
36
61
Jun 23, 2023
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: FOUND PACKAGED FOOD STORED UNDER DRAINAGE PIPING AT BASEMENT DRY STORAGE.MUST RELOCATE FROM UNDERNEATH DRAINAGE PIPING.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: FOUND EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS STORED UNDER DRAINAGE PIPING AT BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS.MUST RELOCATE UTENSILS FROM UNDERNEATH DRAINAGE PIPING.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: NO SINK FOR FOOD (DRINK) PREPARATION AND DISCARDING LIQUIDS AT FRONT COUNTER WHERE BEVERAGES ARE PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST INSTALL SINK SUPPLIED WITH HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FOUND UNNECESSARY CLUTTER STORED ON UTENSIL SHELVING UNITS.TOOLS,ETC.MUST REMOVE.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: FOUND ELECTRIC OVEN (12.5KW) IN REAR PREP AREA NOT UNDER HOOD. MUST INSTALL UNDER HOOD.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: FOUND HOOD FILTERS NOT CLEAN AT EXHAUST HOOD.MUST CLEAN FILTERS FOR EXHAUST HOOD.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FOUND NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE.MUST PROVIDE.
58
70
Oct 3, 2022
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SMALL WATER LEAK AT DRAIN PIPE UNDERNEATH MIDDLE COMPARTMENT OF THE DISHWASHING 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND TO MAINTAIN.
51
95
Sep 23, 2022
License
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WASTE WATER BACKING-UP AT THE DISHWASHING 3-COMPARTMENT SINK WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM MIDDLE COMPARTMENT,WATER BACKS UP INTO LEFT AND RIGHT COMPARTMENTS OF THE DISHWASHING 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND WATER SLOW DRAINING.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING ISSUE AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C).
52
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
3
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARD ON TOP OF THE 3-DOOR PREP LINE COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARD.
47
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING SINK STOPPERS FOR THE DISHWASHING 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN 3 ADEQUATE WORKING SINK STOPPERS.
48
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES NOT LOCATED AT ICE MACHINE, HOT WATER DISPENSER UNIT.MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: A TOILET ROOM USED BY FEMALES SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH A COVERED RECEPTACLE FOR SANITARY NAPKINS.
53
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VENTILATION OVER ELECTRIC OVEN IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE VENTILATION OVER OVEN OR PROVIDE THAT THE OVEN IS 7.5 KILLOWATTS OR BELOW.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN WASHROOMS NOT WORKING.MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
56
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Irene's last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Irene's on file is from Feb 9, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Irene's?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Irene's.
Has Irene's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Irene's have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Irene's 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 Irene's inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Irene's is inspected around two times per year on average.
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