Pilot Project
Last inspected: Oct 29, 2025
70
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Pilot Project, the earliest from 2019. Inspectors last stopped by on Oct 29, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near two violations per visit.
“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.
That's lower than the typical Chicago restaurant, which scores around 81. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 29, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: Low temp dish washing machine not sanitizing at final rinse, 0ppm of Chlorine obtained on final rinse. Instructed to provide proper sanitizer concertation, Priority violation 7-38-025.
16
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: No certified food service manager on site while handling and serving TCS foods ( deli meat, Hummus...) instructed to obtain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012.
2
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: Bulk food container not labeled ( salt ) instructed to label and maintain.
37
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: Dust build-up noted on electric conduits and wall above food prep and dish washing facilities, instructed to clean and maintain.
55
70
Nov 15, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BAR AREA AND KITCHEN AREA HANDWASHING SINKS MISSING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE TO ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
10
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED POROUS WOOD BLOCKS, USED AS SUPPORTS TO ELEVATE COFFEE MACHINE AT THE FRONT BAR AREA, TO BE SOILED AND NOT EASILY-CLEANABLE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE WOOD BLOCKS AND REPLACE WITH SUPPORTS MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NON-POROUS, SMOOTH, AND EASILY-CLEANABLE AND MAINTAIN.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WALL AND FLOOR BENEATH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE KITCHEN AREA TO BE SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN WALLS, FLOORS, AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
55
86
Jun 9, 2023
Recent Inspection
No violations found.
100
Jun 2, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: NO SANITIZING TEST STRIPS ON PREMISES FOR GLASSMACHINE AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE SANITIZING TEST STRIPS ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
48
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: NO THERMOMETER INSIDE BAR REACH IN COOLER. MUST PROVIDE A WORKING THERMOMETER INSIDE SAID COOLER.
36
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN COOLERS CONDENSERS.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: EMPLOYEES WASHROOM HANDWASH SINK PIPE DRAINING SLOWLY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER SAID HANWASH SINK MUST DRAIN QUICKLY.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES HAVE EXPIRED. INSRUCTED MUST UPDATE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
58
74
May 13, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: NO HOT WATER WAS PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES. THE HOT WATER TEMPERATURE AT THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINKS AND 3 COMPARTMENT SINKS WERE AT 73-77F. TCS FOODS WERE BEING PREPARED AND DIRTY DISHES WERE STORED IN COLD WATER WITH DETERGENT AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HOT WATER ABOVE 110F AT ALL 3 COMPARTMENT SINKS AND ABOVE 100F AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
50
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT TCS FOODS (BEER CHEESE, HUMMUS, SAUTEED ONIONS) STORED IN THE WALK-IN COOLER PAST THE 7 DAY MAXIMUM USE BY DATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD ALL READY-TO-EAT TCS FOODS AFTER THE 7 DAY USE BY DATE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
23
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE.
49
70
Aug 20, 2020
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 10, 2020
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 20 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE WALL BEHIND THE BAR AREA. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
38
90
Jul 22, 2019
Reinspection
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 2-102.14(O) Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICIES.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED
3
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 6-201.13 Inspector Comments: MUST SEAL GAP BETWEEN BAR TOP AND COUNTER AT BAR AND GAP AT CONCRETE FLOOR NEAR FRONT WINDOW AND SIDE WALL SEATING IN DINING AREA,WALL OUTLET IN MILL ROOM.ALL OPENING AROUND PIPES LEADING INTO WALLS IN PREP/TOILET AND MOP SINK AREAS AND WHERE NEEDED
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 2-102.13 Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN
57
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 6-202.15 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED AN APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF ALL EXIT DOORS.MUST MAKE TIGHT FITTING
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: Inspector Comments: MUST INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD IN BETWEEN DRAIN BOARD AND ICE BIN IN BAR AREA
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 4-101.19 Inspector Comments: MUST APPLY A SEALANT OR PAINT RAW WOOD PANELS AT BAR AREA
47
70
Jul 11, 2019
License
3 critical violations. 4 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 15 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PLUMBING FIXTURES NOT CONNECTED AT ICE MACHINE,BOTH 3- COMPARTMENT SINKS,MOP SINK,DISH MACHINE,HAND SINKS.MUST CONNECT TO WORK PROPERLY AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY -NO CITATION ISSUED)
51
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT RUNNING WATER ON PREMISES AT ALL FIXTURES AT THIS TIME.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY -NO CITATION ISSUED)
50
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO RUNNING WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE ON PREMISES AT SOME FIXTURES THROUGHOUT PREMISES SUCH AS (3- COMP,HAND SINKS/PREP & TOILET ROOMS/BAR) AREAS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.(PRIORITY -NO CITATION ISSUED)
50
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICIES.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY PROCEDURE AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)
5
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SOAP AT ALL HAND SINK ON SITE.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)
10
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HAND DRYING DEVICES AT ALL HAND SINKS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)
10
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF ALL EXIT DOORS.MUST MAKE TIGHT FITTING.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD IN BETWEEN DRAIN BOARD AND ICE BIN IN BAR AREA.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST APPLY A SEALANT OR PAINT RAW WOOD PANELS AT BAR AREA.
47
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A GREASE TRAP AT PREP AREA 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.
52
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE GARBAGE CANS WITH LIDS IN STAFF UNISEX AND WOMEN'S TOILET ROOMS.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST SEAL GAP BETWEEN BAR TOP AND COUNTER AT BAR AND GAP AT CONCRETE FLOOR NEAR FRONT WINDOW AND SIDE WALL SEATING IN DINING AREA,WALL OUTLET IN MILL ROOM.ALL OPENING AROUND PIPES LEADING INTO WALLS IN PREP/TOILET AND MOP SINK AREAS AND WHERE NEEDED
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD MANAGERS AND MAINTAIN.
58
29
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pilot Project last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Pilot Project on file is from Oct 29, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Pilot Project?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Pilot Project.
Has Pilot Project's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Pilot Project have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Pilot Project 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 Pilot Project inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Pilot Project is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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