The Whale Chicago
Last inspected: Jun 12, 2025
82
Score
Going back to 2019, The Whale Chicago has seven inspections in the public record. The Whale Chicago was last inspected on Jun 12, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around four violations to closer to two violations per visit.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up eight times.
Among Chicago restaurants, this is a fairly standard result. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jun 12, 2025
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING FLOOR GROUT, DAMAGED AND BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN ENTIRE FRONT & REAR PREP, DRY STORAGE, DISH AREA, AND DINING ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A BURNED-OUT LIGHT-BULB IN HOOD SYSTEM IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BULB AND MAINTAIN LIGHTING IN THE UNIT.
56
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL USED AS LINER ON EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
49
82
Feb 7, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
Feb 10, 2023
Complaint
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOME PREP AREA AND DISHWASH AREA FLOOR TILES WITH LOW GROUT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST REGROUT LOW FLOOR TILES AT PREP AND DISHWASH AREAS.
55
95
Aug 9, 2022
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.12 CLEAN THE FLOOR BEHIND BOTH BARS AGAINST THE WALLS AND UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT.
55
95
Aug 2, 2022
Routine
2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENU FOR THE GARDEN AVOCADO TOAST (INCLUDES SUNNY SIDE UP EGGS) ON THE BRUNCH MENU. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO ADD THE ASTERISK DENOTING THAT THIS FOOD CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
25
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LIVE RODENT ACTIVITY AND LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED ONE LIVE MOUSE TRAPPED IN THE FLOOR DRAIN BEHIND THE MAIN BAR. MOUSE WAS DISPOSED OF IMMEDIATELY. PEST CONTROL SERVICE WAS ON SITE DURING INSPECTION. ALSO OBSERVED APPROX. 40 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE STORAGE ROOM NEXT TO THE REAR EXIT DOOR. OBSERVED APPROX. 75 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE WALLS OF THE BEVERAGE SERVICE CLOSET, AND BEHIND BOTH OF THE BARS. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE ALL PEST ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
38
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FRONT DOORS NOT RODENT PROOFED WITH A 1/2" GAP AT THE BOTTOM AND TOP OF THE DOORS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF ALL OUTER OPENINGS.
38
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE SYRUP AND FOOD DEBRIS ON THE SURFACES BEHIND BOTH BARS.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE BEER LINES LEAKING BENEATH THE MAIN BAR ONTO THE TOP OF A BEVERAGE COOLER. MUST REPAIR. DRAIN LINES OR DRAIN COVERS FOR THE BAR SINKS MUST BE RELOCATED TO ELIMINATE SPLASH ONTO THE FLOOR.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
53
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE WASTE RECEPTACLES STACKED AGAINST THE WALL NEAR THE REAR EXIT DOOR TO ELIMINATE PEST ACTIVITY.
54
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE FLOOR BEHIND BOTH BARS AGAINST THE WALLS AND UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT. CLEAN THE BASEBOARD AND WALLS BEHIND BOTH BARS. CLEAN ALL FLOOR DRAINS BEHIND THE BARS AND IN THE BEVERAGE SERVICE CLOSET TO ELIMINATE SMALL FLY ACTIVITY.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CHIPPING PAINT ON THE HVAC SUPPLY VENT ON THE CEILING AT THE END OF THE COOK'S LINE. SEAL THE OPENINGS IN THE CEILING OF THE STORAGE ROOM NEXT TO THE REAR EXIT DOOR.
55
58
Jun 8, 2021
Complaint
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLIGHT PINK BUILD UP INSIDE BASEMENT LARGE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAID ICE MACHINE.
16
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN COOLERS CONDENSERS.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON AND AROUND CEILING VENTILATION COVERS AND CEILING TILES AT PREP AND DISHWASH AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
86
Jun 25, 2019
License
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM AND SIDES OF ALL DOORS AND ROLLING WINDOW DOORS IN DINING AREAS. MUST MAKE DOORS TIGHT FITTING.
38
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST APPLY A SEALANT OR PAINT RAW WOOD TRIM AT SMALL BAR COUNTER TOP.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A DUMP SINK IN BEVERAGE PREP AREA TO DISPOSE OF LIQUID WASTE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST SEAL, REPAIR OR REPLACE GAPS IN WALL & WALL BASES IN SERVICE AREA,BAR AREA,WALL OUTLETS,OUTSIDE OF WALK IN COOLER,UNDERSIDES OF BAR COUNTER TOPS,WALL AT LIGHTING.FLOOR TILES NEEDS GROUTING IN BEVERAGE AREA,1ST FL. MOPSINK CLOSET,LARGE BAR AREA AT DRAIN AND WALL.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS FROM FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEES FOOD HANDLERS TRAININGS .MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
57
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Whale Chicago last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Whale Chicago on file is from Jun 12, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Whale Chicago?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited eight times, more than any other issue at The Whale Chicago.
Has The Whale Chicago's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at The Whale Chicago have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at The Whale Chicago 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 Whale Chicago inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Whale Chicago is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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