Kirkwood Bar & Grill
Last inspected: Jul 30, 2025
82
Score
Going back to 2013, Kirkwood Bar & Grill has 13 inspections in the public record. The newest entry in the record is dated Jul 30, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around four violations per visit lately, up from roughly one violation before.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited seven times.
Kirkwood Bar & Grill's latest score is in line with the Chicago average of 81. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
13
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 30, 2025
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED ON BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON WALLS BEHIND ICE MACHINE, AND SYRUP MACHINE IN BASEMENT FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAINT WALLS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BROKEN LIGHT SHIELDS COVERS ABOVE LOW TEMPERATURE DISHWAHING MACHINE AND ABOVE EXPOSED HAND WASHING ON BASEMENT FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPLACE AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP INSIDE LIGHTSHIELDS COVERS ABOVE FOOD PREP TABLES ON BASEMENT FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DAMAGED AND MISSING CEILING TILE ABOVE SYRUP MACHINE LOCATED IN REAR OF BASEMENT. MUST REPAIR/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS OR POSTERS NEAR HAND WASHING SINK LOCATED IN THE OUTSIDE BAR AREA. MUST PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS OR POSTERS.
10
82
Jul 31, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLIGHT BUILD UP INSIDE UPPER PORTIONS OF ICE MACHINES. MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINES AND MAINTAIN.
16
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA CONDENSERS ALSO EXTERIOR OF SINKS AND SHELVES AT REAR BAR NOT CLEAN. MUST CLEAN PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS, SINKS AND SHELVES THROUGHOUT REAR BAR AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOOR AT REAR BAR NOT CLEAN. MUST CLEAN FLOOR BAR AT REAR PREP AREA.
55
86
May 31, 2023
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROPER SINK STOPPERS FOR THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT PREP AREA.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BROKEN LINER UNDER THE LID OF PREP COOLER,REPLACE/REPAIR(USE FOOD GRADE MATERIAL ONLY) LEAKING FAUCET AND POP PLATE UNDER THE BAR COUNTER ABOVE THE ICE BIN ARE LEAKING FORMING A PUDDLE OF WATER OM TOP LID OF ICE BIN. MUST RELOCATE UNITS .
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: WE OBSERVED BROKEN OR UNEVEN CEMENT FLOOR AT BASEMENT PREP AREA,NORTH AND SOUTH BARS. REPAIR ISSUE WITH A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.ALSO UNDETACHED PLASTIC BASEBOARD UNDER THE NORTH BAR MUST BE RESEALED.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: ADDITIONAL FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE ON SITE.INSTRUCTED TO RENEW.
58
78
Jun 22, 2022
Complaint
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: NOTED INNER LINING OF ICE MACHINE NOT CLEANED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
16
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: NOTED LEAKING FAUCET AT THE BASEMENT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED HOLES AND OPENINGS ON WALLS AND ALONG PIPPING AT THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP/DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL HOLES AND OPENINGS TO PREVENT ENTRY POINTS FOR PESTS.
55
86
Nov 10, 2020
Complaint
No violations found.
100
Mar 17, 2020
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT MOP SINK. MUST PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR MOP SINK.
51
95
Jan 23, 2019
Routine
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: NOTED TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED FOR SAFETY FOOD ITEMS INSIDE WALK IN COOLER AND REFRIGERATION UNITS NOT PROPERLY LABELED. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL READY TO EAT FOOD ITEMS WITH PRODUCT NAME AND USED BY DATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005(A). NO CITATION ISSUED TODAY
23
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED A PREP TABLE WITH JUICE MACHINE/BLENDER ON PREP TABLE LEADING TO THE LIQUOR WALK IN COOLER WITH NO HAND WASH SINK BY. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO EITHER INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL HAND WASH SINK BY THE PREP, TABLE HAVE WALL AND CEILING SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE AROUND THE RREP AREA OR REMOVE PREP TABLE FROM THE AREA.
10
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: NOTED SLIGHT DISCOLORATION AT UPPER COMPARTMENT OF ICE MACHINE ICE MACHINES (3). INSTRUCTED CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
16
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED ICE BUILD UP INSIDE THE CHEST FREEZER AT THE BASEMENT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED HEAVY CLUTTER THROUGHOUT THE REAR EXTERIOR DRY STORAGE AND CRAWL SPACE AT THE BASEMENT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREAS ON SHELVES AND FLOORS . INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN, ORGANIZE AND REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY OR UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED CRACKS ON WALLS WALLS AND CEILING AT THE BASEMENT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREA TOWARDS THE BEER WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED CLEAN AND MAINTAIN WALLS WITH CRACKS.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: NOTED EMPLOYEE BELONGINGS ON SHELVES AT THE DRY STORAGE AREA AND PREP AREA WITH FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A DESIGNATED AREA FOR EMPLOYEES TO STORE THEIR BELONGINGS
56
67
Jun 28, 2017
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE MISSING SODA GUN DRIP PANS AND DRAIN LINES AT NORTH BAR AND SOUTH BAR.
32
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: MUST REPAIR MISSING/DAMAGED COVING UNDER NORTH BAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND UNDER KITCHEN HAND SINK.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNSEALED DRY WALL EXPOSED UNDER KITCHEN HAND SINK. OBSERVED FRP DETACHING FROM WALL AND EXPOSING ROUGH CEMENT WALL UNDERNEATH. MUST REPAIR THESE AREAS TO BE SMOOTH, NON-ABSORBENT AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
35
86
Aug 10, 2016
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 3, 2016
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector notes: FOUND FRUIT FLY ACTIVITY AT PREMISES. OBSERVED ABOUT 30 FRUIT FLIES ON WALLS AT MAIN BAR AND SMALL INDOOR BAR. SERIOUS VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-020. MUST NOTIFY PEST CONTROL OPERATOR.
18
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: FOUND NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES AT WATERLINES FOR FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT: 2 ICE MACHINES, 1 TEA MACHINE, AND 1 COFFEE MACHINE. (LOCATED AT BASEMENT) MUST PROVIDE CHECK VALVES FOR EQUIPMENT MENTIONED.
38
90
Sep 24, 2015
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON REFRIGERATION UNITS ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
32
95
Aug 21, 2014
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: RUSTY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER IN BASEMENT. MUST RE-PAINT OR REPLACE.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN STORAGE SHELVING IN BASEMENT REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA. REMOVE DIRT AND DUST.
33
Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters
Inspector notes: NORTH SIDE WOMEN'S WASHROOM DOOR IS NOT SELF CLOSING. MUST PROVIDE A SELF-CLOSING DEVICE.
37
86
Aug 19, 2013
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: CLEAN EXTERIOR SURFACE AND INTERIOR BOTTOM CABINET OF DEEP FRYERS TO REMOVE GREASE AND FOOD PARTICLES.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: CLEAN FLOORS UNDER DEEP FRYERS TO REMOVE GREASE AND FOOD PARTICLES. CLEAN FLOOR IN LIQUOR STORAGE ROOM TO REMOVE DEBRIS/DUST FROM BRICK WALL AND STICKY RESIDUE FROM SYRUP BOXES FOR SODA.
34
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Kirkwood Bar & Grill last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Kirkwood Bar & Grill on file is from Jul 30, 2025. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Kirkwood Bar & Grill?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited seven times, more than any other issue at Kirkwood Bar & Grill.
Has Kirkwood Bar & Grill's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Kirkwood Bar & Grill have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Kirkwood Bar & Grill 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 Kirkwood Bar & Grill inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Kirkwood Bar & Grill is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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