Taqueria Uptown
Last inspected: Aug 14, 2015
100
Score
Inspectors have visited Taqueria Uptown five times, with records going back to 2014. The newest entry in the record is dated Aug 14, 2015. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit. Public records show no inspections at Taqueria Uptown since Aug 14, 2015, so this file may not reflect current conditions.
Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around zero violations across recent inspections versus roughly eight violations before.
“Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed” comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.
Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 14, 2015
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Jul 31, 2015
Reinspection
8 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Previous serious violation corrected, 7-42-090
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 7-21-14,REPORT #1482868 #29- PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 4-27-15,REPORT#1482695 #32- BROKEN RUBBER GASKET AT TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER BY THE STOVE,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE. HALF OF THRESHOLD IS BROKEN AT BOTTOM REAR DOOR #33-MINIMAL MINERAL BUILD UP INSIDE THE ICE MACHINE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN #41-BASEMENT EXTREMELY UNORGANIZED,CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: WOOD,BOXES,PAINTS,LADDERS,AND OTHER UNKNOWN MATERIAL ALL STORED ON FLOOR WITH EXCESS DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT WITH A STRONG FOUL ODOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE,SAID AREA.ELEVATED ITEMS NEEDED 6" OFF THE FLOOR OBSERVED TODAY 7-21-15 THE SAME VIOLATIONS. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-42-090 TODAY 7-31-15 OBSERVED THE SAME VIOLATIONS.PRESENTLY CORRECTED WASHBOWL INSIDE THE WOMEN'S WASHROOM IS REPAIRED NO LONGER SLOWLY DRAINING CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-42-090
14
Previous minor violation(s) corrected 7-42-090
Inspector notes: UP-GRADED TO VIOLATION#14
29
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED KNIVES STORED BETWEEN THE UNUSED FLAT GRILL AND METAL RACK,ALSO KNIVES ARE STORED INSIDE THE CARDBOARD BOX, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A KNIFE RACK TO MINIMIZE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: DEBRIS UNDER THE FLAT GRILL BY THE EXPOSED HAND SINK,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN JUICE DISPENSER WITH A MINIMUM BUILD-UP OF BLACK SUBSTANCE AT NOZZLE DISPENSER,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: FLOOR TILE AROUND THE FLOOR DRAIN AND IN FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINK ARE BROKEN, ELEVATED FROM FLOOR AND UNEVEN,UNABLE TO CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN FLOOR TILES,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: STAINED CEILING TILES IN KITCHEN AND ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.OBSERVED BLACK SLIME SUBSTANCE BETWEEN THE WALL AND THREE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND RE-CAULK WITH A SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: FAUCET BY THE WALL AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS LEAKING,ALSO PIPE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK,BY THE DRAIN BOARD.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR
38
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TODAY WATER ON FLOOR UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT WHICH IS LEAKING IN BASEMENT FROM CEILING DUE TO PIPE LEAKING FROM UNDER THE THIRD COMPARTMENT SINK BY THE DRAIN BOARD.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
38
67
Jul 21, 2015
Routine
8 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Previous minor violation(s) corrected 7-42-090
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 4-27-15,REPORT#1482695 #32- BROKEN RUBBER GASKET AT TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER BY THE STOVE,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE. HALF OF THRESHOLD IS BROKEN AT BOTTOM REAR DOOR,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WASH BOWL AT WOMEN'S WASHROOM IS SLOWLY DRAINING,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR #33-MINIMAL MINERAL BUILD UP INSIDE THE ICE MACHINE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN #41-BASEMENT EXTREMELY UNORGANIZED,CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: WOOD,BOXES,PAINTS,LADDERS,AND OTHER UNKNOWN MATERIAL ALL STORED ON FLOOR WITH EXCESS DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT WITH A STRONG FOUL ODOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE,SAID AREA.ELEVATED ITEMS NEEDED 6" OFF THE FLOOR OBSERVED TODAY7-21-15 THE SAME VIOLATIONS. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-42-090
29
Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles
Inspector notes: UTENSILS AT FRONT PREP COUNTER(FORKS,KNIVES,SPOONS ETC) NOT PROPERLY STORED,MUST BE INVERTED
31
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: UP GRADED TO VIOLATION#29
32
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED KNIVES STORED BETWEEN THE UNUSED FLAT GRILL AND METAL RACK,ALSO KNIVES ARE STORED INSIDE THE CARDBOARD BOX, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A KNIFE RACK TO MINIMIZE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: DEBRIS UNDER THE FLAT GRILL BY THE EXPOSED HAND SINK,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN JUICE DISPENSER WITH A MINIMUM BUILD-UP OF BLACK SUBSTANCE AT NOZZLE DISPENSER,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: FLOOR TILE AROUND THE FLOOR DRAIN AND IN FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINK ARE BROKEN, ELEVATED FROM FLOOR AND UNEVEN,UNABLE TO CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN FLOOR TILES,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: STAINED CEILING TILES IN KITCHEN AND ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.OBSERVED BLACK SLIME SUBSTANCE BETWEEN THE WALL AND THREE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND RE-CAULK WITH A SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: FAUCET BY THE WALL AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS LEAKING,ALSO PIPE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK,BY THE DRAIN BOARD.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR
38
67
Apr 27, 2015
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Facilities to maintain proper temperature
Inspector notes: DISPLAY PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM COOKING EQUIPMENT NOT MAINTAINING ADEQUATE AIR TEMP.PRESENTLY AIR TEMP OF 50F.UNIT IN USE,POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD STORED INSIDE THE UNIT:SOUR CREAM,SHREDDED CHEESE,DICED TOMATOES ETC.COOLER MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 40F AND BELOW,TAGGED UNIT "HELD FOR INSPECTION" DO NOT USE. CRITICAL VIOLATION: 7-38-005(A)
2
Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service
Inspector notes: POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE: 1 POUND OF SHREDDED CHEESE AT TEMP OF 54F,1/2 POUNDS OF GRATED FRESH CHEESE AT TEMP OF 50F, 1 POUND AND 1/2 DICED AND SLICED TOMATOES AT TEMP OF 47.9F, 3 POUNDS OF CREAM CHEESE AT TEMP OF 50.5F AND CUT HALF AVOCADO AT TEMP OF 54.6F. FOOD MENTIONED WAS DISCARDED AND DENATURED .COLD FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 40F AND BELOW POUNDS 6,VALUE:20 CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
3
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: BROKEN RUBBER GASKET AT TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER BY THE STOVE,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE,SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE. HALF OF THRESHOLD IS BROKEN AT BOTTOM REAR DOOR,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WASH BOWL AT WOMEN'S WASHROOM IS SLOWLY DRAINING,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MINIMAL MINERAL BUILD UP INSIDE THE ICE MACHINE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
33
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: BASEMENT EXTREMELY UNORGANIZED,CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: WOOD,BOXES,PAINTS,LADDERS,AND OTHER UNKNOWN MATERIAL ALL STORED ON FLOOR WITH EXCESS DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT WITH A STRONG FOUL ODOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE,SAID AREA.ELEVATED ITEMS NEEDED 6" OFF THE FLOOR
41
78
Jun 18, 2014
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: FOUND GRILLS AND EXHAUST HOOD NOT CLEAN.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: FOUND FLOORS NOT SWEPT AT BASEMENT.
34
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Taqueria Uptown last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Taqueria Uptown on file is from Aug 14, 2015. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Taqueria Uptown?
Across the inspection record, “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Taqueria Uptown.
Has Taqueria Uptown's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Taqueria Uptown have averaged around zero violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Taqueria Uptown 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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