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The Welcome Back Lounge

2423 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Bar / Pub
Last inspected: Oct 28, 2025
90
Score
Low Risk

The Welcome Back Lounge has been inspected eight times since 2020. The most recent visit was on Oct 28, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.

Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near two violations each time.

“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.

That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.

8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 28, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EATING UTENSILS, PLATES AND BOWLS NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO AVOID CONTAMINATION BY INVERTING UTENSILS WITH HANDLES EXPOSED AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.
44
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNDER REACH IN FREEZER IN PREP AND UNDER DEEP FRYERS CASTER WHEELS ENCRUSTED WITH GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS, INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF CLEANING IN THESE AREAS.
55
90
Dec 4, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT ITEMS TO BE SOILED: EXTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE IN BASEMENT AREA SOILED WITH DUST AND DEBRIS, EXTERIOR SIDES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT (BETWEEN EQUIPMENT ALONG LINE) IN MAIN KITCHEN AREA SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DEBRIS AND SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK WASH BASIN (RIGHT-MOST BASIN) DRAIN PLUG LEVER IN POOR REPAIR, UNABLE TO FULLY CLOSE AND SEAL DUE TO OBSTRUCTION OF SINK LEG WHEN TWISTING LEVER. DRAIN PLUG FUNCTIONAL AND PREVENTS WATER FROM DRAINING AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK WASH BASIN DRAIN PLUG LEVER OR PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO ALLOW FOR FILLING OF THE BASIN DURING WAREWASHING AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT (DISH MACHINE, STORAGE SHELVES, DEEP FRYERS) IN THE MAIN KITCHEN AREA TO BE SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
55
86
Aug 8, 2023
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Jul 31, 2023
Routine
4 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WAS PRESENT WHILE TCS FOOD (1001 ISLAND DRESSING) WAS BEING PREPARED IN THE KITCHEN. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN UP SUPPLIES ON THE PREMISES TO RESPOND TO A VOMIT OR DIARRHEAL EVENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
5
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROX. 20 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS BEHIND THE FRONT BAR AND ON THE WOOD PANELLING. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
38
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO IRREVERSIBLE REGISTERING TEMPERATURE INDICATORS TO MEASURE THE UTENSIL SURFACE TEMPERATURE WHILE INSIDE OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
48
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE DUST ON THE WALLS OF THE FOOD PREP AREA.
55
64
Aug 26, 2022
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jun 14, 2021
Routine
No violations found.
100
Apr 28, 2020
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED READY TO EAT, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (AROUND 2 LBS SAUSAGE IN PICKLE SAUCE)NOT PROPERLY DATED WITH MARKED EXPIRATION DATE IN FEBRUARY 26 2020, STORED LONGER IN COOLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER DATE MARKING WITH DISPOSITION DATE OF MAXIMUM 7 DAYS FROM PREP DATE FOR FOODS PREPARED ON SITE IN COLD HOLDING UNIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005
23
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED SOME USE OF MILK CRATES FOR ELEVATION AT THE DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE MILK CRATES FOR ELEVATION TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST. MUST PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SHELVING FOR STORAGE. ALL FOOD ITEMS MUST ALSO BE STORED 6" AWAY FROM THE WALL
47
86
Jan 21, 2020
License
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MUST PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
90

Frequently Asked Questions

When was The Welcome Back Lounge last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at The Welcome Back Lounge on file is from Oct 28, 2025. The public record contains eight inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at The Welcome Back Lounge?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at The Welcome Back Lounge.

Has The Welcome Back Lounge's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at The Welcome Back Lounge have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at The Welcome Back Lounge 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 Welcome Back Lounge inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, The Welcome Back Lounge is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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