Protein Bar
Last inspected: Nov 5, 2025
86
Score
Inspectors have visited Protein Bar 19 times, with records going back to 2012. Inspectors last stopped by on Nov 5, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around one violation each.
When inspectors have written things up, “food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited six times.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
19
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 5, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER LEAKING UNDERNEATH SCRAPE COMPARTMENT FROM UPPER TOP RIGHT SIDE OF SCRAPE COMPARTMENT OF FOUR COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAK FROM SCRAPE COMPARTMENT OF FOUR COMPARTMENT SINK.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: EXPIRED ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED FOR ONE EMPLOYEE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.
58
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPOSED ICE IN ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA UNDERNEATH COUNTER WITH NO LID/COVER ON ICE BIN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LID/COVER FOR ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA UNDERNEATH COUNTER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF ICE IN ICE BIN DURING STORAGE TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SPLASHES, DUST OR OTHER CONTAMINATION.
39
86
Dec 9, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
Feb 13, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jun 27, 2023
Complaint
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-101.17 OBSERVED A WOOD BOARD IN PLACE OF A BROKEN WINDOW IN THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WINDOW.
47
95
Feb 15, 2023
Complaint
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food handler not wearing hair restraints. instructed to wear.
40
95
Jan 6, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jan 12, 2022
Routine
No violations found.
100
Aug 31, 2021
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: INADEQUATE LIGHTS IN WALL-IN COOLER, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
56
95
Feb 27, 2020
Routine
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HAND SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA, INSTRUCTED TO POST AND MAINTAIN.
10
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: FOUND TORN DOOR GASKETS ON PREP COOLER IN PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: FOUND GREEN CUTTING BOARDS IN PREP AREA IN NEED OF REPAIR OR REPLACING. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY AND MAINTAIN.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: FOUND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON LOWER SHELVES OF PREP TABLES IN THE PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND LEAKY HOSE CONNECTED TO 3-COMP SINK IN DISH AREA. ALSO, FOUND LEAK UNDERNEATH ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: FOUND RUST ACCUMULATION ON TOP AND AROUND GREASE TRAP, INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST, SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE, AND MAINTAIN.
52
74
Oct 17, 2019
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jul 10, 2018
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: NO VOMIT/ DIARRHEA CLEANUP KIT NO POLICY, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. A 90 day grace period was given for all new priority and priority foundation violations. Citations will be issued on the next inspection after the 90 day grace period for these violations. (New violations are marked with an asterisk*)
5
90
Dec 18, 2017
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RUST ON THE GREASE TRAP LOCATED UNDER THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST AND MAINTAIN.
32
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE WALL LOCATED BY THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
35
90
Feb 3, 2017
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: OBSERVED REFRIGERATOR AT THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTER WITHOUT A THERMOMETER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
40
95
Mar 31, 2016
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: Walk in cooler shelving/racks that had peeling paint/rust, shall be repaired/replaced. Cutting boards that had deep cuts in rear prep area shall be replaced. Caulk around exposed hand sinks in state of disrepair, shall be repaired/replaced.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: Non food contact surfaces of ice machine not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). Walk in cooler shelving/racks not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). Prep tables lower shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices).
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: Floors in walk in cooler under shelving/racks not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners).
34
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: Damaged/broken light shield in rear kitchen area by walk in cooler, shall be repaired/replaced.
36
82
May 26, 2015
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR BOTTOM SHELVING AT BOTH 2-DR REFRIGERATORS TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRI.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE FLOORS AT THE MAIN REAR PREP AREA TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRI FROM THE FLOOR AND UNDER ALL HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
34
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST RESET THE HAND WASHING SINK TIMER SO AS TO PROVIDE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER FOR A MINIMUM OF 15 SECONDS AT ALL TIMES IN THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM. ABOVE STATED HAND SINK DOES HAVE COLD AND HOT RUNNING WATER AT THIS TIME.
38
86
Jul 31, 2014
Complaint
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector notes: BULK-FOOD CONTAINERS NOT LABELED, INSTRUCTED TO LABEL AND MAINTAIN.
30
Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles
Inspector notes: FACILITY USING DISPOSABLE PAPER CUPS AS A BULK-FOOD CONTAINER SCOOP, INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER UTENSILS.
31
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: DUST BUILD-UP ON WALK-IN COOLER FAN COVER, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: STANDING WATER AT KITCHEN CORNER, INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE.
34
82
Dec 6, 2013
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE REFRIGERATOR RACKS AT THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER 1DR COOLER TO REMOVE ENCRUSTED VEGETABLES.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREMISES TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRIS.
34
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST ADJUST TEMPERATURE VALVE AT THE MENS RESTROOM HAND SINK.
38
86
Jul 25, 2013
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN STANDING WATER UNDER THE SODA DISPENSING MACHINE.
33
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE JUICING MACHINE AT FRONT AREA.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: MUST MAINTAIN ALL FLOORS DRY AT ALL TIMES IN THE REAR KITCHEN AREA AND BY THE 3COMP SINK AREA TO PREVENT PEST BREEDING. ALSO MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL FLOOR DRAINS IN THE REAR KITCHENA AREA.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE WALLS AND CEILINGS AT THE JUICING AREA STATION.
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST ADJUST TEMPERATURE VALVE AT LADIES RESTROOM HAND SINK.
38
78
Feb 14, 2012
License
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Protein Bar last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Protein Bar on file is from Nov 5, 2025. The public record contains 19 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Protein Bar?
Across the inspection record, “food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Protein Bar.
Has Protein Bar's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Protein Bar have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Protein 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 Protein Bar inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Protein Bar is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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