La Cuchara
Last inspected: Apr 26, 2017
82
Score
Public records show 10 inspections at La Cuchara stretching back to 2013. The latest inspection on file is from Apr 26, 2017. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well. Public records show no inspections at La Cuchara since Apr 26, 2017, so this file may not reflect current conditions.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around two violations each.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed”, showing up six times.
La Cuchara scores about where you'd expect for a Chicago restaurant. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 26, 2017
Complaint
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: USING GARBAGE BAGS FOR FOOD STORAGE, MUST RESTRICT AND PROVIDE FOOD GRADE BAGS TO STORE FOODS,
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: THE FOLLOWING IN NEED OF CLEANING: INSIDE OF FRYERS INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE GREASE AND INTERIOR OF ALL ICE MACHINE, MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
33
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: WALL BY FRONT FIRST FLOOR BAR AREA IN POOR REPAIR, CHIPPING PAINT, INSTRUCTED TO RESEAL,
35
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER RECORDS,
45
82
Jan 11, 2017
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: LEAK AT TWO COMPARTMENT SINK, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR,
38
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: ICE BUILD-UP ON PLASTIC CURTAINS IN WALK IN FREEZER. INSTD TO REMOVE ICE, AND LEAK UNDER ICE MACHINE, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR,
32
90
Sep 27, 2016
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: EXCESSIVE ICE BUILD-UP ON CONDENSOR IN WALK IN FREEZER. INSTD TO REPAIR SAME.
32
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: FLOOR BEHIND ICE MACHINE NOT CLEAN, EXCESSIVE DEBRIS. FLOOR UNDER WIRE RACKS IN WALK-IN FREEZER WTIH EXCESSIVE ICE BUILD-UP. INSTD TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
34
90
Mar 18, 2016
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 11, 2016
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service
Inspector notes: LARGE DEEP PAN OF COOKED RICE DATED YESTERDAY (3/10/16) AT 70.5F IN COOLER. PRODUCT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED. INSTD MANAGER ON PROPER COOLING TECHNIQUES WITHIN 6 HOURS, AND USING SHALLOW PANS. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005A CRITICAL. APPROX 10LBS $50 VALUE.
3
Previous minor violation(s) corrected 7-42-090
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATIONS FROM 6/25/15 REPORT 1559577 NOT CORRECTED. 32- PROVIDE SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN THE HAND SINK IN THE FIRST FLOOR BAR AND THE ICE BIN LOCATED NEXT TO IT. 34- REMOVE POOLING WATER BEHIND AND UNDERNEATH THE ICE MACHINE. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-090 SERIOUS.
29
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: RUSTY SURFACE ON GREASE TRAP. INSTD TO REMOVE RUST. ADDITIONAL SHELVING NEEDED IN WALK-IN COOLER. EXCESSIVE ICE BUILD-UP ON WALK-IN FREEZER CONDENSOR. INSTD TO REMOVE EXCESSIVE ICE.
32
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: EMPLOYEE PERSONAL BELONGINGS IMPROPERLY STORED. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA. STOCK ON FLOOR. INSTD TO ELEVATE 6 INCHES.
41
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER RECORDS, LOGS.
45
78
Jun 25, 2015
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN THE HAND SINK IN THE FIRST FLOOR BAR AND THE ICE BIN LOCATED NEXT TO IT.
32
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: REMOVE POOLING WATER BEHIND AND UNDERNEATH THE ICE MACHINE.
34
90
Jan 23, 2015
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Dec 30, 2014
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Sanitizing rinse for equipment and utensils: clean, proper temperature, concentration, exposure time
Inspector notes: DISH MACHINE IN THE SECOND FLOOR BAR AREA NOT PROPERLY SANITIZING MULTI USE ITEMS. MUST REPAIR.
8
Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles
Inspector notes: MUST PROPERLY INVERT ALL MULTI USE ITEMS. (STORE UPSIDE DOWN)
31
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB IN THE 1ST FLOOR WASHROOM WHERE NEEDED.
36
86
Sep 15, 2014
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: THE FOLLOWING IN NEED OF CLEANING: SIDES OF FRYERS TO REMOVE GREASE AND INTERIOR OF ALL REACH IN COOLERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: FLOORS UNSER AND AROUND ALL EQUIPMENT IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL BUILD UP. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
34
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: ALL FLOOR DRAINS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL BUILD UP, MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
38
86
Mar 26, 2013
License
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST ENCLOSE THE BAR AREA FROM CUSTOMERS.
32
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was La Cuchara last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at La Cuchara on file is from Apr 26, 2017. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at La Cuchara?
Across the inspection record, “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at La Cuchara.
Has La Cuchara's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at La Cuchara have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at La Cuchara means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
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