Nola Cafe & Bar
Last inspected: Mar 4, 2025
82
Score
The health department has logged six inspections at Nola Cafe & Bar, the earliest from 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Mar 4, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near four violations per visit.
The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited six times.
The city-wide average is 81, putting Nola Cafe & Bar squarely in typical territory. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 4, 2025
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11//FLOORS THROUGHOUT KITCHEN, UNDER FRONT MAIN BAR AND KITCHEN 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND FLOOR DRAIN WITH HEAVY GREASE AND FOOD RESIDUE. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: 3-302.12// NOTED BULK DRY INGREDIENTS STORED IN KITCHEN WITHOUT LABELS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN LABELS ON CONTAINERS OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER.
37
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-501.12// NOTED CUTTING BOARD IN KITCHEN WITH DEEP CUTS AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND RESTORE TO SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN SURFACE BY SANDING AND SEALING. OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-601.11// NOTED ENCRUSTED GREASE ON ALL SURFACES(TOPS AND BOTTOMS) OF ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT,STOVE, FRYERS AND OVEN. THE SHELF UNDER STOVE AND GRILL WITH FLOUR AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
49
82
Feb 25, 2025
Complaint
2 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT, TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY (TCS) FOODS (COOKED PASTA IN TALL REFRIGERATOR, JAMBALAYA, GUMBO, COOKED LOBSTER, COOKED CRAWFISH, HOUSEMADE MAYO BASE DIP NOT LABELED TO INDICATE THE PRODUCT'S NAME AND DATE IN WHICH THE FOOD MUST BE SOLD, DISCARDED OR CONSUMED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF PREPARATION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER LABELS FOR DATE MARKING AND DISCARD DATE FOR REFRIGERATED, READY-TO-EAT, TCS FOODS HELD OVER 24HRS PLACED IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS. PERSON IN CHARGE DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROX. 80 LBS VALUED AT $300 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED
23
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN KITCHEN AND AT NORTH WALL BAR WITH A BUILD-UP OF BLACK AND BROWN SUBSTNACE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ICE CUBES STORED AT BELOW ICE BIN. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005.CITATION ISSUED
16
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED NO HANDWASH SIGNAGE IN GUEST/EMPLOYEE WASHROOM AND BASEMENT WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: NOTED BULK DRY INGREDIENTS STORED IN KITCHEN WITHOUT LABELS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN LABELS ON CONTAINERS OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CHIPS STORED ON SHELF ABOVE KITCHEN STOVE IN AN UNCOVERED BIN THAT HAS EXCESSIVE GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO COVER ALL STORED FOOD AND MAINTAIN CLEAN FOOD CONTACT SURFACES
39
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: NOTED FOOD HANDLER IN KITCHEN WITHOUT PROPER HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS IN AND OUT OF KITCHEN.
40
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED CUTTING BOARD IN KITCHEN WITH DEEP CUTS AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND RESTORE TO SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN SURFACE BY SANDING AND SEALING. OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED ALL MICROWAVES IN KITCHEN IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: NOTED ENCRUSTED GREASE ON ALL SURFACES(TOPS AND BOTTOMS) OF ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT,STOVE, FRYERS AND OVEN. THE SHELF UNDER STOVE AND GRILL WITH FLOUR AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
49
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMANS WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOORS THROUGHOUT KITCHEN, UNDER FRONT MAIN BAR AND KITCHEN 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND FLOOR DRAIN WITH HEAVY GREASE AND FOOD RESIDUE. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
55
52
Aug 13, 2024
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 6, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #2578464 DATED ON 07/11/23 NOT CORRECTED-# 49 OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS ON PREP AREA SHELVES AND GREASE BUILD UP ON SHELF UNDER VENTILATION HOOD, MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN PREP AREA SHELVES AND #58 CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090. SAID PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS MUST BE CORRECTED BY DATE OF REINSPECTION.
60
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLIGHT PINK BUILD UP INSIDE BOTH ICE MACHINES UPPER PORTIONS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF BOTH ICE MACHINES AND MAINTAIN.
16
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ON THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE FOOD PREP AREA (UNDER THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK AND UNDER AND ON THE SIDES OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT UNDER THE VENTILATION HOOD, INTERIOR OF DEEP FRYERS) WITH GREASE BUILD-UP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND FLOUR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL SAID EQUIPMENT AND FLOORS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: BASEMENT FLOOR CLUTTERED THROUGHOUT WITH ITEMS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF BASEMENT FLOOR OR REMOVE ITEMS.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION HOOD. MUST CLEAN VENTILATION HOOD AND MAINTAIN.
56
74
Jul 11, 2023
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS ON PREP AREA SHELVES AND GREASE BUILD UP ON SHELF UNDER VENTILATION HOOD. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN PREP AREA SHELVES.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOOR DRAIN COVERS MISSING AT NORTH BAR. MUST PROVIDE FLOOR DRAIN COVERS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: SOME CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES.
58
86
Jun 21, 2022
License
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A HANDWASHING SINK BEHIND THE BAR WITH NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
10
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COLD HOLDING UNITS BEHIND THE NEWLY BUILT BAR AND IN THE FOOD PREP AREA WITHOUT THERMOMETERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETERS AND MAINTAIN.
36
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE COLD HOLDING UNITS IN THE FOOD PREP AREA WITH FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL SAID EQUIPMENT.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ON THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE FOOD PREP AREA (UNDER THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK AND UNDER AND ON THE SIDES OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT UNDER THE VENTILATION HOOD, INTERIOR OF DEEP FRYERS) WITH GREASE BUILD-UP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND FLOUR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL SAID EQUIPMENT AND FLOORS.
55
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nola Cafe & Bar last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Nola Cafe & Bar on file is from Mar 4, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Nola Cafe & Bar?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Nola Cafe & Bar.
Has Nola Cafe & Bar's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Nola Cafe & Bar have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Nola Cafe & Bar 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 Nola Cafe & Bar inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Nola Cafe & Bar is inspected around two times per year on average.
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