The Bad Apple
Last inspected: Oct 16, 2025
90
Score
The Bad Apple appears in inspection records nine times, starting in 2019. The latest inspection on file is from Oct 16, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near four violations each time.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
The Bad Apple's latest score of 90 sits above the Chicago average of 81. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 16, 2025
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE, BUT FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HANDWASHING SINK HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO BE SOILED: CEILING TILES ABOVE MAIN COOK LINE (ADJACENT TO VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM) SOILED WITH GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS, FLOOR AND WALLS BENEATH AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT ALONG THE MAIN COOK LINE HEAVILY SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS, AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE, DUST, DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, OR OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
55
90
Oct 2, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GRILL DRAWER COOLER AT THE MAIN COOK LINE AT IMPROPER INTERIOR TEMPERATURE FOR COLD-HOLDING TCS FOOD ITEMS, 55.0F INTERNAL AMBIENT AT TIME OF INSPECTION. ALL TCS FOOD STORED INSIDE NOT YET AT IMPROPER COLD-HOLDING TEMPERATURES, RELOCATED TO FUNCTIONAL COOLER AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE COOLER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE FOR MAINTAINING TCS FOOD ITEMS AT 41.0F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. TAGGED EQUIPMENT WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTACT CDPH ONCE EQUIPMENT IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND PRIOR TO USE. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
33
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING CORE VIOLATION(S) FROM PREVIOUS CANVASS INSPECTION (INSPECTION NO. 2604140) ON 10/4/2025 NOT CORRECTED AT TIME OF CURRENT CANVASS INSPECTION: #47 4-501.11 OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON INTERIOR OF DRAWER COOLER LOCATED UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT ALL CORE VIOLATIONS BY THE CORRECT-BY DATE ON INSPECTION REPORT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.
60
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE, BUT FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HANDWASHING SINK HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO BE SOILED: CEILING TILES ABOVE MAIN COOK LINE (ADJACENT TO VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM) SOILED WITH GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS, FLOOR AND WALLS BENEATH AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT ALONG THE MAIN COOK LINE HEAVILY SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS, AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE, DUST, DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, OR OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 DEAD COCKROACHES ON PEST CONTROL GLUE TRAPS THROUGHOUT THE FLOOR OF ALL BASEMENT AREAS, NO LIVE PEST ACTIVITY OBSERVED AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND REPLACE GLUE TRAPS WITH PEST CONTROL OPERATOR AND REMOVE DEAD OR TRAPPED INSECTS AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT ACCUMULATION OR DECOMPOSITION AND MAINTAIN.
38
67
Oct 4, 2024
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN FIRST FLOOR KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK INGREDIENTS SUCH AS FLOUR, SUGAR, ETC NOT LABELED IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL WITH THE COMMON NAME.
37
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON INTERIOR OF DRAWER COOLER LOCATED UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE CONNECTED TO MOP SINK LOCATED IN BASEMENT UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BASEMENT PREP AREA DOES NOT HAVE SMOOTH, CLEANABLE FLOORS, WALLS, AND CEILINGS. INSTRUCTED TO EITHER REMOVE SLICER, POTATO CUTTER, MIXER, ETC FROM BASEMENT OR PROVIDE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE FLOORS, WALLS, AND CEILINGS.
55
78
Nov 16, 2023
Complaint
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CURRENT ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
58
95
Oct 20, 2022
Routine
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE KITCHEN 2 DOOR PREP LINE COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RUSTS ON THE WIRE STORAGE RACKS IN THE BASEMENT WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUSTS AND REPAINT OR REPLACE THE SHELVES.
47
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN WASHROOM NOT WORKING LOCATED IN GAMEROOM AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING LIGHT SHIELD ON LIGHT FIXTURE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE KITCHEN PREP COOKING AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD/FILTERS TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF GREASE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLER (S) WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
57
74
May 6, 2021
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HAND SINK IN THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
10
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE WALK-IN COOLER & WALK-IN FREEZER AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING AND DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN THE KITCHEN NEAR THE PREP TABLE AND IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
86
Aug 8, 2019
Complaint
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ORGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE ON PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS (BEEF, CHICKEN, ETC.) ARE PREPARED. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ORGINAL FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE PREPARED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012.
2
90
Jun 13, 2019
Complaint
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST BUILD UP ON CONDENSER OF BURGERS REACH IN COOLER BELOW COOKLINE. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN COOLERS CONDENSERS.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BAR HANDWASH BOWL FAUCET SLIGHTLY LEAKING. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
90
Mar 7, 2019
License
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Bad Apple last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Bad Apple on file is from Oct 16, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Bad Apple?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at The Bad Apple.
Has The Bad Apple's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at The Bad Apple have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at The Bad Apple 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 The Bad Apple inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Bad Apple is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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