The Waterhole Lounge
Last inspected: Dec 4, 2025
67
Score
Across the available record, The Waterhole Lounge has six inspections on file, the first dated 2014. The newest entry in the record is dated Dec 4, 2025. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around six violations to closer to four violations per visit over the last few inspections.
“Insects, rodents, & animals not present” comes up most often, recorded six times in the inspection record.
Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 4, 2025
Routine
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN AN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010 NO CITATION ISSUED
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEAN UP KIT ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VOMIT/DIARRHEA KIT ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
5
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: REAR DOOR WITH A 1/4" GAP NOTED UNDERNEATH, MAKING THE DOOR NOT RODENT/INSECT PROOFED. INSTRUCTED TO RODENT/INSECT PROOF THE REAR DOOR AND MAINTAIN.
38
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: THE TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM HAS NO LID. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A TRASH RECEPTACLE WITH A LID AND MAINTAIN.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOORS IN THE CORNER OF THE BAR AND IN THE BASEMENT WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FOUND 3 GRILLS OUTSIDE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL GRILLS FROM THE PREMISES, FOR GRILLING OUTSIDE IS PROHIBITED PER THE CITY OF CHICAGO CODE.
55
67
Oct 27, 2016
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A BROWNISH SUBSTANCE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
33
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINOR LEAK ON THE FAUCET OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TOOLS IN BASEMENT BEING STORED ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE EVERYTHING AT LEAST 6 INCHES AND MAINTAIN.
41
86
Nov 4, 2015
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: INSTALL LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTERPROOF BULBS IN PREP AND DISHWASHING AREAS.
36
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: REPAIR VENTILATION FANS IN FRONT WASHROOMS.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: REMOVE ALL UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES IN BASEMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
41
86
Oct 26, 2015
Routine
8 minor violations.
View 8 violations
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector notes: OBSERVED OVER 50 FLYING INSECTS IN BAR, PREP, STORAGE, AND WASHROOM AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. MIDDLE SIDE DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED, 1/4" GAP ON BOTTOM CORNERS OF DOOR. SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS ON DOOR TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-020
18
Dish washing facilities: properly designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located and operated
Inspector notes: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR BAR NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED, FAUCET DOES NOT REACH ALL THREE COMPARTMENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INSTALL LONGER FAUCET ON BAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-030
24
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: CLEAN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE, FRYERS, COOLERS, AND FREEZERS.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, STORAGE, AND BASEMENT AREAS.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: SEAL OPENINGS IN WALLS AND CEILINGS IN KITCHEN. SEAL HOLE IN CEILING NEAR DUCT IN REAR ICE MACHINE AREA.
35
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: INSTALL LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTERPROOF BULBS IN PREP AND DISHWASHING AREAS.
36
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: INSTALL VISIBLE BACK FLOW DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. REPAIR VENTILATION FANS IN FRONT WASHROOMS. REPAIR LEAKING FAUCET ON KITCHEN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: REMOVE ALL UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES IN BASEMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
41
67
Mar 21, 2014
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: CUTTING BOARDS STAINED WITH DEEP, DARK GROOVES. INSTD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE SAME
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: ALL FRYERS NEED CLEANING, FREE OF DEBRIS BUILD-UP.
33
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: CEILING LEAKING IN REAR. REPAIR SAME. SEAL ALL SMALL HOLES NOTED AROUND PIPES
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: NO EXPOSED HANDSINKS NOTED IN FRONT OR REAR BAR. INSTD TO INSTALL SAME.
38
82
Mar 14, 2014
Routine
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector notes: OVER 50 MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED ALONG WALLBASE AND ON STORAGE SHELVES IN REAR. INSTD TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS. INCOMPLETE PEST CONTROL LOGBOOK ON SITE, INSTD TO PROVIDE UPDATED SERVICE RECEIPT, COPY OF COMPANY BUSINESS LICENSE AND DIAGRAM OF FACILITY. SIDE EXIT DOOR NOT RODENT PROOF, APPROX 1/2 INCH GAP AT BOTTOM CORNER OF DOOR. INSTD TO RODENT PROOF DOOR SO AS TO BE TIGHT FITTING. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020 SERIOUS.
18
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: CUTTING BOARDS STAINED WITH DEEP, DARK GROOVES. INSTD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE SAME.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: ALL STORAGE SHELVES, COOKING EQUIPMENT, FRYERS, COOLERS, FREEZERS NEED CLEANING, FREE OF DEBRIS BUILD-UP.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: FLOOR THRU-OUT UNDER AND BEHIND HEAVY EQUIPMENT ALONG WALLBASE AND INCLUDING BASEMENT NEEDS CLEANING FREE OF DEBRIS.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: CEILING LEAKING IN REAR. REPAIR SAME. SEAL ALL SMALL HOLES NOTED AROUND PIPES.
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: NO EXPOSED HANDSINKS NOTED IN FRONT OR REAR BAR. INSTD TO INSTALL SAME.
38
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Waterhole Lounge last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Waterhole Lounge on file is from Dec 4, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Waterhole Lounge?
Across the inspection record, “insects, rodents, & animals not present” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at The Waterhole Lounge.
Has The Waterhole Lounge's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at The Waterhole Lounge have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at The Waterhole Lounge 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 The Waterhole Lounge inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Waterhole Lounge is inspected about once every two years on average.
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