The Big Cheese on Lincoln
Last inspected: Oct 13, 2015
70
Score
Across the available record, The Big Cheese on Lincoln has five inspections on file, the first dated 2012. On Oct 13, 2015, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe. Public records show no inspections at The Big Cheese on Lincoln since Oct 13, 2015, so this file may not reflect current conditions.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around seven violations per visit lately, up from roughly five violations before.
When inspectors have written things up, “premises maintained free of litter” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
The Big Cheese on Lincoln's latest score of 70 falls below the Chicago average of 81. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 13, 2015
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RAW WOOD SHELVES AT BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL RAW WOOD SHELVES, SHELVES SURFACES MUST BE NON-ABOSORBANT AND SMOOTH/EASY TO CLEAN.
32
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CRACKED/DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN RIGHT SIDE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR/REPLACE DAMAGED FLOOR IN WASHROOM.
34
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: NO LIGHTS THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE WORKING LIGHT BULBS THROUGHOUT BASEMENT.
36
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: DISHWASH AREA EXPOSED HANDWASH BOWL COLD WATER HANDLE STRIPPED ALSO DISHWASH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK PIPE DRAINING SLOWLY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR COLD WATER HANDLE AND ROD OUT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK DRAIN PIPE AT SAID AREA.
38
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: NO THERMOMETERS INSIDE PREP COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE THERMOMETERS INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
40
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: BASEMENT FLOOR CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS 6" OFF FLOOR, MUST CLEAN FLOOR THROUGHOUT BASEMENT.
41
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITH CERTIFICATES OF NAMES OF EMPLOYEES ON PREMISES.
45
70
Aug 21, 2014
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN TOPS AND SIDES OF ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT IN KITCHEN AREA,
33
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN BATHROOM, MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO CUSTOMERS,
41
90
Apr 9, 2013
Routine
8 minor violations.
View 8 violations
* certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served
Inspector notes: NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE OF SANITATION POSTED ON THE WALL OR AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO OBTAIN CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE OF SANITATION AND IT HAS TO BE POSTED IN PLAIN VIEW FOR THE CUSTOMER. MANAGER HAS STATE OF ILLINOIS CERTIFICATE ONLY. CITATION ISSUED SERIOUS: 7-38-012.
21
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL THE INTERIOR OF THE STOVE, AND THE RIM AROUND THE DOOR OF THE STOVE. CLEAN IN DETAIL THE CABINETS AND SHELVES UNDER THE FRONT COUNTERS, REMOVE ALL DEBRIS.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: LITTER AND DEBRIS ON BASEMENT FLOORS, ESPECIALLY ALONG WALLS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS IN BASEMENT.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: MUST SEAL ALL THE HOLES ON THE WALLS BEHIND THE FOOD STORAGE SHELF IN THE REAR AREA CLOSE TO THE MOP SINK.
35
Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters
Inspector notes: SIGHTED MATTRESS AND BEDSHEET IN LOFT AREA WITH FOOD AND SINGLE SERVICE ITEM STORAGE. MUST REMOVE MATTRESS OR STORE IN AREA COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM FOOD/SUPPLY STORAGE.
37
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE WATER LINE TO THE ICE MACHINE AND COFFEE BREWING EQUIPMENT.
38
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER. MUST PROVIDE CALIBRATED STEM THERMOMETER TO MONITOR FOOD TEMPERATURES.
40
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: UNNECESSARY ITEMS/ARTICLES (TV, WASHER/DRYER, ETC) IN THE BASEMENT, NOT BEING USED. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE TO PREVENT RODENT/INSECTS HARBORAGE AND TO FACILITATE CLEANING.
41
67
Oct 12, 2012
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN EXPOSED HAND SINK AND THE FRYER AT PREP AREA, AND SEAL ALL RAW/BARE WOOD SHELVES, COUNTER AND TRIMMINGS THRU-OUT.
32
95
Oct 3, 2012
License
12 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Facilities to maintain proper temperature
Inspector notes: COOLERS OFF, INSTRUCTED COOLERS MUST BE KEPT AT 40F OR BELOW.
2
Water source: safe, hot & cold under city pressure
Inspector notes: NO HOT WATER AT TIME OF INSPECTION, MUST PROVIDE HOT WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE.
9
Hand washing facilities: with soap and sanitary hand drying devices, convenient and accessible to food prep area
Inspector notes: NO SOAP OR PAPER TOWELS AT EXPOSED SINK OR IN THE WASHROOMS, MUST PROVIDE.
12
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector notes: NO PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK, INSTRUCTED TO CONTRACT A LICENSED PEST CONTROL AND PROVIDE LOG BOOK UPON REINSPECTION.
18
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN EXPOSED HAND SINK AND THE FRYER AT PREP AREA, AND SEAL ALL RAW/BARE WOOD SHELVES, COUNTER AND TRIMMINGS THRU-OUT.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN/SANITIZE ALL EQUIPMENT, TABLES, CHAIRS, COUNTERS, SINKS THRU-OUT THE FACILITY.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REGROUT WASHROOMS FLOORS AND CLEAN FLOORS THRU-OUT PREMISES, INCLUDING THE BASEMENT.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: MUST SEAL OPENINGS ON WALLS AND CEILING WHERE NEED TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY/HARBORAGE. ALSO INSTRUCTED TO PAINT WALLS AT DISH WASHING AREA.
35
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE MISSING LIGHT SHIELD ABOVE PREP COOLER AT KITCHEN.
36
Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SELF-CLOSING DEVICES FOR WASHROOM DOORS.
37
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE MISSING FILTER UNDER HOOD AT KITCHEN, AND PROVIDE DRAIN STOPPERS FOR 3PART SINK.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES THRU-OUT PREMISES, INCLUDING THRU-OUT BASEMENT, CLEAN AND ORGANIZE TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. ARTICLES MUST BE STORED OFF FLOORS, AWAY FROM WALLS.
41
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Big Cheese on Lincoln last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Big Cheese on Lincoln on file is from Oct 13, 2015. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Big Cheese on Lincoln?
Across the inspection record, “premises maintained free of litter” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at The Big Cheese on Lincoln.
Has The Big Cheese on Lincoln's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at The Big Cheese on Lincoln have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at The Big Cheese on Lincoln means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
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